..Advanced Underground also was responsible for the construction and installation of a number of various structures such as transition structures, junction structures, a catch basin, wing walls and drop inlet structures. The project required the importation of 1,500 tons of 3/4 inch rock and 2500 tons of sand.

Equipment played an important role in Advanced Underground's ability to handle a project of this scope and size quickly and efficiently. Advanced Underground utilized their Case 721 fork loader to handle the vast amount of pipe. “The advantage of the 721 is that it works like two machines in one,” said owner/operator Randy Becker. “You've got a 3 1/2 yd. bucket that can be easily dropped and attach a fork in its place.” The fork is 8 ft. wide and can lift 5,000 lbs. of pipe. “We used the fork to lift and unload pipe and to stage it as well. This is an extremely handy piece of machinery that basically does the job of two machines.”

Advanced Underground is currently working on a project in Lancaster for Frontier Homes and their Falcon Point Development. The project consists of excavating and installing water, sewer and storm drains for an eventual 175 homes. On this project Advanced Underground laid 516 lineal ft. of 6 inch ductile iron pipe for the waterline. Additionally 7,500 lineal feet of 8 inch ductile pipe and 12,478 lineal ft. of 12 inch ductile pipe were also installed. For the storm drain portion of the project, Advanced Underground used 1,990 lineal feet of 96 inch RCP, 1,433 ft. of 42 .inch RCP, 2,998 ft. of 30 inch RCP and 3,064 ft. ______of 24” RCP.

...They also installed 36 ft. of 60 inch corrugated metal pipe and 783 lineal ft. of 36 inch corrugated metal pipe. For the sewer portion of the project, Advanced Underground installed 1,580 lineal ft. of 15 inch main, 1,402 ft. of 12 inch main and 7,180 lineal ft. of 8 inch main in addition to 175 sewer laterals and 30 manholes.

As can be seen with the vast amount of piping needed for installation of water, sewer and drainage on both projects, utilizing the Case 721 just made common sense. When it came to employing the fork to lift all that piping, the versatility of the 721 and the speed in which the attachments could be switched out certainly streamlined the work. Advanced Underground purchases and rents their equipment from D3 Equipment. “Kent Taylor has worked with us for years,” said Becker. “Kent has been very helpful and worked with us on the lease/purchase of our equipment. In addition to purchasing all of our Case equipment, we have also rented a number of pieces from D3 as well. Advanced Underground currently has two 210 CX excavators, two 721 loaders and a 550 dozer. “We use Case because they are durable machines and very cost efficient,” said Randy.

Advance Underground may be a relatively new company, but Randy Becker has worked in the business for three decades. Except for a brief 18 month period when Becker went to work for another company, Randy has always owned his business. Becker founded Advanced Underground along with his partner, Randy Citlau in September 2005. “About eight years ago I helped Randy get started with his excavation business,” said Becker. “After I sold my company and went to work for a couple of other firms, I decided that I wanted to go back to owning my own business. Randy was there to help me get the company set up. That's what friends do for each other.”

In addition to having a long time friend for a partner, Randy's wife of 11 years works for the company as well. Karen Becker is the office manager and all round crisis solver. In addition, all four of Becker's sons work for the company as well. Rob Becker is the company's estimator. Randy Jr. and Ryan are project managers and Derek, the youngest, is working his way up the ranks as an equipment operator. Advanced Underground's general superintendent, Roboam Rodriguez also plays an integral role in the company's daily operations.

When the company began its operations a year ago, it started with 14 employees. Just 15 months later, Advanced Underground now boasts 75 employees. “One of the biggest challenges we face is the economy,” Becker explained. “We have been fortunate here in California for the last few years; we have had a healthy economy. Last September when the housing market started to slow down, we were faced with the decision to either cut back on personnel in order to cut costs or to grow. We decided to take a roll of the dice and add on more workers.” Over the past year, Advanced Underground has hired a dry utilities crew and a structure crew. “I could cut back on personnel and continue to sub out that type of work, or take a chance and add on the necessary crews so we could keep the money from those projects in-house. We decided to grow.”

Advanced Underground handles projects from Victorville, Hesperia, Hemet and San Jacinto Valley as well as the Inland Empire. The company is looking to expand their operations into the Bakersfield area in the coming year.
“I really like the people that work for the company,” said Becker. He was equally emphatic regarding his praise for the company's employees. “Hands down, I have the greatest group of employees anywhere,” said Randy. “We are lucky to have some very good clients as well. That's what I really like about my job, getting to work with a great bunch people. That really makes all the difference in ...the world when you go to work everyday.”Cc