The specific challenges of the trade in Quebec
An excavation bid in Quebec must nail:
- Cut/fill volumes — computed from plans and grades, not guessed
- Machine costs — real hourly rates per excavator, loader and truck
- Trucking & disposal — rotations, distances, and clean vs contaminated soil sites
- Info-Excavation — mandatory utility locates before digging
- Contingencies — rock, water table and weather that eat margins
Municipal infrastructure work adds SEAO tendering with strict bid formats — an opportunity most small excavators skip for lack of time.
What a professional bid must contain
Based on industry best practices and what Quebec clients and general contractors expect:
| Element | Residential | Commercial / Institutional |
|---|---|---|
| Cut/fill volumes (m³) | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Machine and trucking detail | Recommended | Mandatory |
| RBQ licence number | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Soil disposal plan | If applicable | Mandatory |
| Utility locates (Info-Excavation) | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Rock/water contingency terms | Recommended | Mandatory |
How SubmitX works for your trade
Upload plans and grades
The AI computes cut and fill volumes, slopes and truck rotations from your documents.
Apply your real machine rates
Your hourly costs per machine (fuel, operator, maintenance) drive the price — not industry averages.
Compliance built in
Info-Excavation checklists, disposal sites by soil class, CNESST trench safety documented.
Bid, GPS-punch and invoice
Operators punch in by GPS on site; hours flow to CCQ payroll and job costing automatically.
💡 Real case: excavation contractors report volume estimation errors dropping by about a third when quantities come from plans instead of the parking-lot guess.
All in one
Fix your excavation estimating problems — and every other headache — in one platform
Estimating, projects, field work, CCQ payroll, invoicing: SubmitX brings it all together in one place. Leave your details and a team member will show you how it works on your own cases.
- Estimating
- Projects & field
- CCQ payroll
- Invoicing
A team member will get in touch. Something urgent? Call 514-835-8734.
Meanwhile, you can try SubmitX free for 7 days.
SubmitX vs Excel vs generic software
| Criterion | Excel / paper | Generic software | SubmitX ERP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume takeoff | Manual guess | Spreadsheet | AI from plans |
| Machine hourly costing | Rough | Generic | Your real rates |
| Trucking rotations | No | No | Planned |
| Info-Excavation checklist | Paper | No | Built in |
| SEAO municipal tenders | No | No | Monitored 24/7 |
| GPS operator punch | No | No | Included |
Pricing and return on investment
SubmitX starts at $99/month CAD. One avoided volume miscalculation on a single foundation dig can save more than a year of subscription.
Add SEAO: responding to even one municipal tender per season — impossible before, 48 hours with SubmitX — can add six figures of pipeline.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best excavation estimating software in Quebec?
SubmitX computes cut/fill volumes from plans, applies your real machine hourly costs, plans trucking and disposal, and monitors SEAO municipal tenders. From $99/month, free trial.
Does it track machine hours and fuel?
Yes — trips, kilometres, fuel (with receipt OCR) and machine hours are logged per jobsite and flow into job costing.
Can it handle contaminated soils?
Yes — disposal is priced by soil class and site, with the documentation trail Quebec regulations require.
Prepare your next bids with SubmitX
AI drafts the bid, you review it before it goes out. 7-day trial, no credit card.
7-day trial · no credit card · or call 514-835-8734