Always Underground Inc. (AUI), based in Lake Village, Ind., grew from one HDD rig in 2013 to 62 rigs operating across eight states. That growth created a maintenance challenge they were not staffed to support.
David Paulin, vice president of Always Underground, knew reactive maintenance would kill productivity on schedule-driven fiber projects. With crews spread across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky and eastern Missouri, the company needed a different approach to equipment service.
“Every market that we go into, we set up a yard or a shop,” Paulin said. “That yard or shop has their own PM, their own mechanics.”
Internal mechanics handle day-to-day service, but major service intervals, warranty work and detailed documentation for resale value needed dealer support. That’s where the Vermeer Confidence Plus® program and dealer support from Vermeer Midwest changed how AUI manages equipment across multiple markets.
Always Underground scales fleet with Vermeer dealer support
Paulin got his start in underground construction in 1999 before launching Always Underground in 2013. What began as subcontracting fiber-to-the-home work shifted in 2018 when AUI secured prime contracts with AT&T and later contributed to Verizon One Fiber construction.
Today AUI employs 540 people across eight states and maintains Gold Shovel Standard certification with an Experience Modification Rate (EMR) of 0.74. Last year the company installed 7.2 million ft (2.2 million m) of underground construction. That work requires 62 Vermeer HDD rigs ranging from compact D10x15 S3 units to D100x140 S3 drills for carrier crossings. The fleet also includes six Vermeer RTX1250 plows, Vermeer vacuum excavators, including a VXT600 vacuum truck, fluid mixing systems and a complete line of Vermeer HDD tooling.
Vermeer Midwest became AUI’s primary dealer partner. The family-owned dealership has operated since 1971 and covers much of AUI’s core territory with 13 locations across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Missouri. Adam Huber, territory manager at Vermeer Midwest, works directly with AUI on equipment selection, service scheduling and support coordination.
What Vermeer Confidence Plus program covers and why it matters
The Vermeer Confidence Plus asset protection program turns unpredictable maintenance costs into fixed, budgetable expenses. The program packages scheduled maintenance and extended service coverage into a single cost that can be included in equipment finance packages.
Confidence Plus comes in Base and Premium coverage levels. Premium coverage runs two or three years with unlimited hours on qualifying equipment. Premium coverage adds the first 500, 800 or 1,000 hours of planned maintenance, depending on the machine.
All maintenance under Confidence Plus is performed by Vermeer dealer-certified technicians using genuine Vermeer parts. The dealer maintains detailed records and conducts multipoint inspections during each visit. The program is fully transferable if equipment is sold, and complete service documentation may support higher resale values.
“It takes the burden off of Always Underground,” Paulin said. “It is just easier to maintain and keep track of.”
How Vermeer Midwest and the dealer network support multi-state operations
AUI runs fiber projects across eight states, which means equipment moves between markets as work opens up. Vermeer Midwest’s 13-location network covers much of AUI’s operating territory. When AUI enrolls equipment in Confidence Plus, the dealer handles scheduled services at whichever location is most convenient to where the equipment is working.
The dealer relationship splits maintenance responsibility efficiently. Internal mechanics at AUI’s satellite yards handle day-to-day service work. The larger scheduled services covered under Confidence Plus go to Vermeer Midwest, where certified techs perform work according to manufacturer specifications and document everything.
When AUI crews work outside Vermeer Midwest’s territory in states like Iowa, Ohio or Kentucky, Confidence Plus coverage is honored at all participating Vermeer dealers. The coverage travels with the equipment. A drill working in western Kentucky can get Confidence Plus service at the nearest Vermeer dealer without waiting for a service truck from Illinois.
Why Vermeer Confidence Plus makes financial sense
Equipment maintenance costs are unpredictable without a structured program. On schedule-driven fiber work, unplanned downtime cascades through entire neighborhoods and can push completion dates back by weeks.
Confidence Plus turns variable costs into fixed expenses. The program cost is known upfront and can be included in the equipment finance package, spreading maintenance expense over the same payment schedule as the equipment purchase.
The program also reduces internal labor costs. AUI’s mechanics focus on field support rather than major service intervals, which frees up internal staff for work that keeps crews productive. The dealer handles manufacturer-specified maintenance while field staff handles quick-turnaround daily work.
Resale value protection adds long-term financial benefit. Equipment with complete, dealer-documented maintenance records sells for more than equipment with gaps in service history. The transferable Confidence Plus coverage makes machines even more attractive because buyers inherit the remaining coverage term.
For a 62-rig fleet working across eight states, standardizing on Confidence Plus creates consistent maintenance across all equipment, predictable budgeting and a single point of contact through the primary dealer.
Planned maintenance reduces unplanned downtime. Regular service intervals catch wear items before they fail. Multipoint inspections identify issues early. That structure supports the predictable revenue that comes from steady fiber installation work.
“It is very much the same thing every day,” Paulin said. “Drilling the bore, setting handholes, running fiber and splicing it and handing it over to the customer.”
Ready to learn more about Vermeer Confidence Plus and Vermeer dealer support?
Contact your local Vermeer dealer to discuss how Confidence Plus can help manage maintenance costs and protect equipment value as your fleet scales.
This article contains third-party observations, advice or experiences that do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Vermeer Corporation, its affiliates or its dealers. Testimonials and/or endorsements by contractors in specific circumstances may not be representative of normal circumstances experienced by all customers.
Vermeer Corporation and Vermeer MV Solutions, Inc. reserve the right to make changes in engineering, design and specifications; add improvements; or discontinue manufacturing at any time without notice or obligation. Equipment shown is for illustrative purposes only and may display optional accessories or components specific to their global region. Please contact your local Vermeer dealer for more information on machine specifications. Vermeer, the Vermeer logo and Vermeer Confidence Plus are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries.
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