Crane lowering a directional drill rig into an excavation pit

Family Owned & Operated

Building Canada's Underground Infrastructure with Precision

Direct Drilling & Utilities Inc. is a family-run underground construction contractor providing hydrovac excavation, horizontal directional drilling, and restoration services across Canada — safely, on schedule, and built to last.

Trusted Standards & Equipment Partners

VermeerDitch WitchCSA GroupInfrastructure OntarioISN Networld

Our Story

Decades of underground expertise, built on trust above ground

From a two-rig operation to a full-service underground utilities contractor, our story is one of careful, deliberate growth.

Who We Are
01

Who We Are

Direct Drilling & Utilities Inc. is proudly family owned and operated, providing hydrovac excavation, horizontal directional drilling, and restoration services across Canada. As a family-run organization in a specialized market, the same personnel see a project from inception to completion — so nothing gets lost in translation between the office and the field.

Our Values
02

Our Values

Every project runs on the same principles: tell clients the truth about schedule and cost, protect the crews and the public, and leave the site better than we found it. Teamwork and innovation through collaborative thinking guide how we work with our partners — and we turn down work we can't do safely, no exceptions.

Commitment to Safety
03

Commitment to Safety

Our COR-certified safety program governs every bore, trench, and excavation. Daily toolbox talks, continuous locate verification, and a zero-shortcuts policy keep our safety record among the best in the industry.

Technical Expertise & Craftsmanship
04

Technical Expertise & Craftsmanship

Certified operators, licensed engineers, and guided tracking technology mean tighter tolerances and fewer surprises underground — whether the bore is 50 metres or 1,200.

Our People

All of our employees are…

  • Deeply Committed
  • Courteous
  • Complete Work on Schedule
  • Attention to Detail
  • Hard Workers
  • Team Players

What We Do

Services Built for Demanding Job Sites

From trenchless bores to emergency call-outs, our crews are equipped for every stage of underground construction.

Who We Serve

Powering Projects Across Key Industries

From municipal infrastructure to residential subdivisions, our crews work wherever underground utilities need to be installed, repaired, or expanded.

Municipal

Municipal

Water, sewer, and storm infrastructure for cities and townships.

Telecommunications

Telecommunications

Fiber backbone and last-mile builds for national carriers.

Energy

Energy

Pipeline tie-ins and power corridor installations.

Commercial

Commercial

Site servicing and utility installs for commercial developers.

Residential Developments

Residential Developments

Subdivision servicing from rough grade to final utility tie-in.

Infrastructure Projects

Infrastructure Projects

Large-scale civil works for transportation and public infrastructure.

Our Fleet

A Premium Equipment Lineup

Modern, well-maintained machines matched to the job — from tight-access trenchers to maxi-rig directional drills.

Request Fleet Availability
D8x12 Navigator
Utility Drill Rigs

D8x12 Navigator

Compact utility rig for tight-access residential and fiber bores.

Max Thrust / Pullback
8,000 lbs
Max Torque
1,200 ft-lb
D10x15 S3
Utility Drill Rigs

D10x15 S3

Entry-level rig for short residential and utility service bores.

Max Thrust / Pullback
10,000 lbs
Max Torque
1,500 ft-lb
D20x22 S3
Utility Drill Rigs

D20x22 S3

Mid-size rig for neighbourhood water, gas, and power runs.

Max Thrust / Pullback
20,000 lbs
Max Torque
2,200 ft-lb
D23x30 S3
Utility Drill Rigs

D23x30 S3

Higher-torque utility rig for longer municipal service runs.

Max Thrust / Pullback
23,000 lbs
Max Torque
3,000 ft-lb
D24 Utility
Utility Drill Rigs

D24 Utility

Our workhorse rig for the majority of municipal and telecom bores.

Max Thrust / Pullback
24,000 lbs
Max Torque
4,000 ft-lb
D24x40 S3
Utility Drill Rigs

D24x40 S3

High-torque variant of our D24 platform for harder soil conditions.

Max Thrust / Pullback
24,000 lbs
Max Torque
4,000 ft-lb
D40x55 S3
Utility Drill Rigs

D40x55 S3

Heavier utility rig for longer runs and larger-diameter product pipe.

Max Thrust / Pullback
40,000 lbs
Max Torque
5,500 ft-lb
D40x55 DR S3
Utility Drill Rigs

D40x55 DR S3

Dual-rod variant of the D40x55 for straighter, more accurate bores.

Max Thrust / Pullback
40,000 lbs
Max Torque
5,500 ft-lb
D60x90 S3
Utility Drill Rigs

D60x90 S3

Our largest utility-class rig, bridging into pipeline-scale work.

Max Thrust / Pullback
60,000 lbs
Max Torque
9,000 ft-lb
D100x140 S3
Pipeline Drill Rigs

D100x140 S3

Maxi-rig for long transmission bores and major river crossings.

Max Thrust / Pullback
100,000 lbs
Max Torque
14,000 ft-lb
D220x500 S3
Pipeline Drill Rigs

D220x500 S3

Heavy pipeline rig for large-diameter energy and transmission bores.

Max Thrust / Pullback
220,000 lbs
Max Torque
50,000 ft-lb
D330x500
Pipeline Drill Rigs

D330x500

High-thrust pipeline rig for the longest, largest-diameter installations.

Max Thrust / Pullback
330,000 lbs
Max Torque
50,000 ft-lb
D550
Pipeline Drill Rigs

D550

Our flagship rig for the largest transmission pipeline projects.

Max Thrust / Pullback
550,000 lbs
Max Torque
80,000 ft-lb
Ride-On Trencher RTX1250
Trenchers

Ride-On Trencher RTX1250

High-flow trencher for fast, clean utility runs.

Trench Depth
1.8 m
Trench Width
100 – 300 mm
Compact Track Excavator
Excavators

Compact Track Excavator

Low ground-pressure excavator for tight, sensitive sites.

Dig Depth
4.2 m
Operating Weight
8.1 t
Heavy-Duty Excavator
Excavators

Heavy-Duty Excavator

Full-size excavator for bulk earthworks and deep digs.

Dig Depth
7.6 m
Operating Weight
22 t
Hydrovac Excavation Truck
Support Vehicles

Hydrovac Excavation Truck

Non-destructive vacuum excavation for utility daylighting.

Debris Tank
12 m³
Water Tank
2,800 L

About us

Built on Trust

Twenty-five years of underground construction has taught us one thing: clients don't remember the bore length, they remember whether you did what you said, safely, and on time.

Technician working in an underground utility vault
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Projects Completed

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Years of Experience

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Safety Record

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Certified Operators

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Provinces Serviced

Safety First

Safety Isn't a Department. It's How We Work.

Our COR-certified safety program governs every project, every crew, every day — no exceptions.

Certified Crews

Every operator holds current CSTS, ground disturbance, and confined space certifications before stepping on site.

Ongoing Training

Continuous refresher training and equipment-specific certification keep crews current as tools and codes evolve.

Environmental Responsibility

Erosion control, spill containment, and habitat protection plans are built into every project before ground is broken.

Regulatory Compliance

Full compliance with provincial ground disturbance regulations, utility locate standards, and municipal bylaws.

Quality Assurance

Independent inspection and pressure-testing on every installation, with full documentation before sign-off.

Zero-Incident Culture

Daily toolbox talks and a stop-work-authority policy mean any crew member can halt work over a safety concern.

Training Is Continuous

Every crew stays current

  • Electrical Safety for Hydrovac Operators
  • Confined Space Awareness for Construction
  • Working at Heights
  • Driver’s Licence Required: DZ / AC / AZ
  • Electrical Safety for Telecom
  • Emergency First Aid
  • OTM Book 7
  • Traffic Control Person
  • COVID-19 Safety

Avetta 2025 ESG Innovator

Recognized for our commitment to sustainable, responsible practices across safety, sustainability, and security.

Avetta Safety Star Award

Awarded for outstanding worksite and employee safety initiatives, upheld year after year.

Approved Contractor

Bell Approved · CN Approved · CP Approved

How We Work

A Clear Process, From First Call to Final Sign-Off

Every project runs through the same six stages, so you always know what's next.

01

Consultation

We review project scope, site conditions, and timeline with your team to understand the goal before anything is scheduled.

02

Planning

Engineering, utility locates, permitting, and route design are finalized so the crew arrives with a fully mapped plan.

03

Site Assessment

Crews confirm ground conditions, existing infrastructure, and access on site before mobilizing equipment.

04

Construction

Drilling, trenching, or excavation proceeds under certified supervision with daily progress reporting.

05

Testing

Installed utilities are pressure-tested, verified, and inspected against code before backfill and restoration.

06

Project Completion

Site restoration, as-built documentation, and final sign-off close out the project to your specification.

Client Feedback

See What Our Clients Say About Us

“Direct Drilling bored under a live rail corridor for us with zero disruption to service. Their locates, tracking, and daily reporting made a high-risk crossing feel routine.”

KW

Karen Whitfield

Senior Project Manager, Northfield Municipal Works

“We've used their crews on three fiber builds now. Consistent production rates, clean restoration, and a project manager who actually answers the phone at 6am.”

DO

Daniel Ostrowski

Construction Director, Fibrecore Networks

“Their emergency crew had a hit gas service isolated and repaired in under two hours on a Sunday night. That response time is why they're our first call.”

PN

Priya Nathan

Operations Manager, Crestline Energy

Get In Touch

Request a Quote or Talk to Our Team

Tell us about the project and a project manager will follow up within one business day.

Business Information

24/7 Emergency Utility Line

Utility strike or active leak? Call now for immediate dispatch.

1-800-555-0199