Directional drilling & HDD consulting · Helena, Montana
Directional drilling
consulting built on
real field work.
Bore planning, bids, problem jobs, crews and equipment — from a team of consultants backed by real horizontal directional drilling (HDD) and underground work — in utilities since 2003. We’ll come to your job site anywhere in the world, or work it remotely by phone and video. If it isn’t a fit, we can help find a company that is.
Consulting
HDD and underground construction consulting — on your job site anywhere, or remote.
Explore consulting
Underground
Directional drilling (HDD), plowing, trenching, hydro-ex, fiber, power, water, sewer and traffic control.
Field services
Knows how to get it done
Beau has been in utilities since 2003. If a job isn’t a fit, we can help find a company that is.
Our capabilityUnderground & HDD capability
The work behind
the consulting.
Consulting comes first worldwide. Field crews cover Montana and the region. Either way, the point is the same: get the underground job done right.
Consulting services
Consulting from
field experience
Contractors, utilities and engineers call when a bore needs planning, a bid needs a second look, or a job is stuck. Tell us what you need — or just call.
Bore Planning
Bore path, depth, entry and exit, tooling and crossing strategy — worked out before the rig shows up.
Explore 02Bids & Estimating
Footage, production rates, crew and equipment loading and the risk items that sink bids.
Explore 03Troubleshooting
Rock, cobble, lost returns, steering trouble, stuck tooling — a second set of eyes on the job.
Explore 04Crew Training & Safety
Driller, locator and flagger training; JHA and safety programs built from what we ran on our own crews.
Explore 05Equipment & Fleet
Drills, plows, trenchers, vacs and tooling — what fits your work, with Ditch Witch and Vermeer expertise.
Explore 06Fiber & Telecom Builds
Route review, method selection, constructability and production planning for fiber and telecom builds.
Explore 07Start & Scale a Contractor
Practical advice on starting and scaling an underground contractor — from people who have done it.
Explore 08On-Site & Remote, Worldwide
On your job site anywhere in the world, or phone, video and plan reviews from wherever you are.
ExploreHow it works
Call, scope it,
then get to work
We agree the format and price before anything starts. No surprise retainers.
Call or send a request
Call (406) 521-0015 or send the consult form with the job details, drawings or photos.
Scope it together
A short conversation to understand the problem and agree what help looks like — and what it costs.
On-site or remote
We'll come to your job site, anywhere in the world, or work it remotely by phone, video and document review.
Clear deliverables
Written recommendations, marked-up plans, bid notes, training — whatever was agreed up front.
Remote — hourly
Phone and video calls, plan and photo reviews, bid reviews. Anywhere in the world.
On-site — day rate
A consultant on your job site, anywhere in the world, for planning, troubleshooting or training. Travel costs agreed up front.
Project retainer
Ongoing support across a project, a season or a growth plan — priority access when you need it.
Worldwide
On your site.
Or on the phone.
We'll come to your job site, anywhere in the world, or work it remotely by phone and video. Travel costs are agreed up front.
How HDD works
Under the road,
not through it
Horizontal directional drilling puts pipe and conduit under roads, rivers and existing utilities without open trenching. Tap a step to see each stage.
Helena, Montana2013406 Underground foundedThe field experience behind the advice
Advice from people who know the ground
Consulting is backed by real underground work. Based in Helena, 406 Underground specializes in telecommunications and horizontal directional drilling — with hydro excavation, plowing and trenching, traffic control and restoration — for utilities, carriers, contractors and property owners across Montana and the region.
- Turnkey or component. A single bore for your crew or the entire underground scope.
- Proactive locating. Every utility crossing located and potholed before the bore.
- Clean job sites. Spoils contained and removed; tight footprints so traffic keeps moving.
- Free estimates for field work after an inspection of the proposed project.
Underground field services · Montana & region
Underground utilities,
from bore to restore
Water, sewer, power, gas and communications cable — bored, plowed or trenched to the owner's spec, with traffic control and restoration to finish the job.
HDD / Boring
Steerable bores under roads, creeks, driveways and landscaping — the surface stays intact.
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Cable Plowing
Vibratory plowing places cable and conduit at depth with little surface evidence.
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Trenching & Excavation
Open-cut trenching for multiple pipes, drainage and new-construction utilities.
Learn moreHydro Excavation
Non-destructive digging to daylight utilities, pothole crossings and dig pole holes.
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Fiber Optic
Conduit, innerduct and drops for carriers, broadband builds and campuses.
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Coax / CATV
Underground cable-TV and broadband coax plant, pedestals and drops.
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Telephone / Copper
Underground telco plant, copper replacement and service drops.
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Power / Electrical
Distribution conduit, services, street lighting and pole holes for utilities.
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Water Lines
Water services, mains, well lines and irrigation — bored or trenched.
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Sewer Lines
Sewer laterals and lines bored or trenched, plus sewer and storm clean-out.
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Traffic Control
Flagging, lane closures, detours and compliant work zones.
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Telecom Construction
Turnkey underground telecom plant: bore, plow, trench, restore.
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Restoration
Asphalt crack fill, pothole repair and job-site / landscape restoration.
Learn moreConsulting
Bore planning, bids, troubleshooting, training — worldwide.
ConsultingNot sure what you need?
Talk it through with Beau
Describe the job and get a straight answer on method and cost.
(406) 521-0015Also from 406 Underground: a concrete side division in the Helena area.
Equipment expertise
Equipment we run and consult on
Ditch Witch and Vermeer drills, trenchers, plows and vacuum excavators — and independent advice on choosing, running and tooling them.
Ditch WitchDitch Witch directional drills, trenchers, vibratory plows and vacuum excavators are a staple of underground utility work.Equipment we run and consult on 
VermeerVermeer Navigator horizontal directional drills, trenchers and vacuum excavators cover everything from compact utility bores to large pipeline crossings.Equipment we run and consult on Ditch Witch and the Ditch Witch logo are trademarks of The Charles Machine Works, Inc. Vermeer and the Vermeer logo are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company. All trademarks belong to their respective owners and are used with permission. 406 Underground is an independent contractor and consultant.
From the field
406 Underground at work
Photos from our own job sites and equipment — the work behind the advice.
What clients say
From people who've
worked with us
NorthWestern Energy project contacts and homeowners who needed a line under the road.
Four O Six Underground Inc., is my primary boring company when directional boring is required. They have addressed my needs time and again by completing the projects as requested. The word no is not on their vocabulary and they strive to accommodate the customer 100 percent.
The crews not only provide accurate bores, but also take responsibility for their actions and clean up after themselves without being asked when leaving a jobsite. Four O Six is also proactive in locating utility crossings… Montana owned and operated, this company has a family touch to it and it shows in their desire to do a good job at a minimal cost.
★★★★★I was without potable water until Four O Six Underground quickly, professionally drilled horizontally under the road to connect new wires from the well to my home! Excellent customer service and quality work! Thanks!
★★★★★Best directional drilling company in Montana! 5 star service!
Testimonials as published on our previous website, and public Google reviews. See us on Google Maps →
Meet the founder
Beau Straub
Four O Six was founded in 2013 by Helena native Beau Straub, who has been in utilities since 2003.
Today Beau leads 406 Underground’s consulting work with a team of consultants.
"We are committed to safely providing quality services in the cleanest way possible that works towards bettering the community infrastructure in which we live and work."
Do you really consult outside Montana?
Yes. We'll come to your job site anywhere in the world, or work it remotely by phone and video. Travel costs are agreed up front.
What does consulting cost?
It depends on format and scope: hourly remote, day-rate on-site, or a project retainer. Call for rates — the price is agreed before any work starts.
What do you need from me to get started?
Location, what you're installing (product, size, footage), ground conditions, drawings or a profile if you have one, photos or video, and what's happened so far.
Do you provide stamped engineering drawings?
No. Consulting is field-experience based and works alongside your engineer of record.
Are you a Ditch Witch or Vermeer dealer?
No — that's equipment we run and consult on. Equipment advice is independent.
Do you still do field work?
Yes — underground field services in Montana and the region, and concrete work in the Helena area. See Underground and Concrete.
Have a bore, a bid or a problem job?
Call Beau, or send the details. Consulting works remote worldwide.