Another post concerning set up and break down time got me thinking. How do you guys handle drive time? Years ago, when I was a peon (sp?) my boss wanted me to drive an hour and 45 minutes one way to a job off the clock. The vehicle was mine and I was getting paid mileage. I refused and insisted on a motel room for 3 nights (working four 10’s) or paid drive time. His standpoint was that he hadn’t included that expense in his bid (this job lasted about 18 months). My standpoint was HE f*cked up and I wasn’t going to eat it. I got paid, but we arrived on a set drive time. I clocked in when I got to the job and when I left and 2 1/2 hours was added to each day. That way if, I stopped for breakfast or gas or whatever, he was not paying for it. I’ve used this system since then (but I include it in bids), and I pay both ways for out of town jobs. I set the drive time the first time I go to the job site based on how long it took me with no stops. I know this is a fair way to pay, but I’m curious about how others do it.
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Replies
I subbed to guy in NC..wwe had to travel to "Highlands" all up hill through a nasty gorge..about 45 mins. to go 10 miles..we got pay for one way..anything staying down on the lower land we ate.
We get paid both ways, whatever it takes. It's just part of the day for us. My situation is a little different though. During our busy time I'll put on a thousand miles a week. When we get so far out we stay in motels rooms and meals are paid for. We have to double up on our rooms but at least they're payed for. The meal allowance is a little stingy five each for breakfast and lunch, and ten for supper. nothings said if your over as long as your not a lot over.
We also have one really cool perk that I love. If you work Weekends they pick up lunch and if you work over twelve hours ( which happens alot when we're busy) they pay for supper.
Who Dares Wins.
if I have men who normally work in a given area - say within twenty mile radius of home - and I take on a job farther out, I darn well better figure the time it takes to get them there.
I pay my people transportation time to ride the ferry out here because they can stay home in their own towen and make the same hourly money without the drive or the ferry ride.
I worked for one of the largest roofing companies in Texas and they always paid from time your were expected to show up at the shop, until you knocked off for the day. In other words, you got paid oneway for trans.
in Fla, the co. I worked for only occasionally took on an out of town job, but they bought us all fantastic breakfasts and lunches and dinners when they did but not pay for riding time.
In Colorado, I hired on a crew specially for one major big job. It was out of town for me, and for them. I took up a wing of the motel next door and bought all meals. I figured it into the job. We did ten hour days and a couple guys found bonuses at the end.
on the other hand, when I lived in Montrose, most of the work available was up in Telluride, an hour and a half away. Wages were better on Telluride jobs but no travel time. It got old quick because I was gone from home for 13 hours to get in an eight or nine hour day.
Excellence is its own reward!
ok so here is a twist.
I expect a person to be able to get to the shop. the shop I have had for years. have a really good guy working wit me. Up until recently I woul dpay for travle tme to a job from the shop, both ways or just show up at the job. He recently moved way out i the woods. He is now about an hour from the shop. now many jobs are nearer to his home (within 45 minutes) so he does not want to go to shop, dont blame him. that has been ok. now one of our jobs is about an half hour further from his home, He thinks he desreves travel time for the whole hour and a half and is throwing a tissy fit about the commute
ideas?
Ticklish yes, but to be fair, there needs to be an objective standard across the board. He chooses to meet you at the shop or at the job. He made his choice already to meet you at the job. If he wants to meet you at the shop, let him do that for all jobs..
Excellence is its own reward!
travel time is not an issue for me.
I rarely work more than 20 minutes from home and prefer to work within 5-10 blocks of home.Workers are told to report directly to the address of that days work and what time to be there. If I tell them to be there at 8:00--then pay starts at 8:00( assuming they arrive on time).
simply put----I wouldn't hire any body who lived more than 20 minutes away or so-----because this issue would be sure to come up.
I prefer to work near home, but due to the nature and specialty of my business, I occassionally have to travel an hour or two.
Some of the most reliable and dependable employees and subs I have had commuted an hour or so each way. On the afore mentioned job, I hired a local and he stayed with us for several years. The only times he was late was because of major highway accidents.