Replies

1. 
   RichBeckman | Mar 23, 2003 07:25am | #1

   Nine miles.

   Did we have a thread on this topic once before??

   Rich Beckman

   Another day, another tool.

2. 
   JeffBuck | Mar 23, 2003 07:30am | #2

   This job....less than 10. Takes about 30 min.

   Last job....about 10. Took 45 min.

   Next job....about 30.....will take over 45 min.

   Takes me 15 min to get 1/2 mile from home ...gotta go thru an always busy city interchange.....so I never get anywhere but around the corner in less than 30 min.

   Farthest away is usually right at an hour each way.

   My repair/gas recieptss from last year far out weighed the mileage deduction.

   Jeff

   Buck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

    Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite                  

1. 
   junkhound | Mar 23, 2003 10:59am | #3

   Jeff, gotta go to RIDC business park (rt 28 exit 10) Monday - how long does it take to get from the airport to RidC during the 4-6PM rush hour??

1. 
   JeffBuck | Mar 24, 2003 02:48am | #14

   Mid-day.....about 45 min.

   That time of day.....at least 2..maybe even 3 hrs.

   Two traffic trouble spots....first is inbound from the Apt tp town.....always a huge bottle neck getting thru the Ft Pitt Tunnels.....which....as luck would have it.....

   Is starting a major reconstruction on Mon! Detours everywhere....no one's gonna know where the hell to go on the first big day.

   Then..after you are thru all that....and get thru town to Rt 28......you now have the pleasure of driving thru stop and go traffic on 28 for several miles...that's my most hated road.

   So..either give your self plenty of time.....of cut the time needed in half easy by getting on the road by 3pm at the latest...

   Or.....if it were me....I'd be real tempted to take the long way around. From the airport...take Rt 60 north to the turnpike(PA 76).....there will be plenty of signs....then take the Turnpike East to 28....Cheswick, I believe.

   RIDC is pretty close to that interchange....should be lots signs there too......if in doubt.....head "up and away" from the river....

   I'm guessing the "long way around" would take about 1.5 hrs no matter how ya slice it. And be a much easier drive.......kinda pretty on the pike.

   I think I'm gonna try and get 2 days of tiling done in one...if the electrician is still gonna be runing late..and out of my way...but I'll email ya my cell phone number.

   I'm on the opposite side of town that day...but will be around home by 6 or so....I live onto of the mountain the tunnels go thru.

   Really a shame...driving thru the Ft Pitt tunnels is a treat.

   On the plus side.....the inbound side of the tunnels is a straight thru shot...just remembered that...it's the outbound that's all screwed up.....so might not be as bad as I think.

   Earlier is best though....get onto 28 before the rush hour mess. Either way....ask at your meeting...but the turnpike back to the apt might be another good thought.

   Have fun.

   JeffBuck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

    Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite                  

1. 
   junkhound | Mar 24, 2003 05:22am | #25

   Thanks Jeff.  Plane does not get in till 3:45P, so I may take the 'long' way.

1. 
   JeffBuck | Mar 24, 2003 05:38am | #26

   I'd give a call to the meeting place...see how the new traffic route were affected.

   They may have word things are smoother than expected...we all did go thru this last year for the other side of the tunnels......people may not be a screwed up the second time around......but I'd hold the "long way" in my back pocket just in case!

   JeffBuck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

    Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite                  

2. 
   Piffin | Mar 24, 2003 02:49am | #15

   So take the actuall cost on schedule C for your vehicle..

   Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   JeffBuck | Mar 24, 2003 03:10am | #18

   I think that's what we did.

   I got that new accountant this year.....just handed him a bunch of stuff and said get me more money back!

   JeffBuck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

    Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite                  

3. 
   IMERC | Mar 23, 2003 12:26pm | #4

   It takes me any where's 12 to 18 min. [about 2 mi] to 2 weeks [According To Snow Conditions] just to get from the house to the gate with the truck. 40 minuets to 3 hours (ATSC) walking with or without snow shoes (ATSC).

   Everything after that is a cake walk.

   45 to 47,000 miles a year.

   1 3/4 hours average time without (ATSC) and 55 / 65 miles

   Longest time is 12 to 14 hours without (ATSC) - 790 miles. 2/3 x's a year

   Midrange is 8 to 9 hours without (ATSC) - 540 miles. 10 /11 x's a year.

   Never make it sometimes (ATSC)

   Some times the customer comes to the house. 1/2 minuets regardless of (ATSC) 0 miles.

   45 to 50 minuets to lumber yard / hardware store. 28 miles. From the house without (ATSC) Big boxes are 65 miles from the house.

   Mileage is approximate. I try to work in time and not miles unless there are road / truck charges.

   What are you up to Hasbeen?

4. 
   IMERC | Mar 23, 2003 12:40pm | #5

   Something that just occurred to me....

   You no doubt have seen that beautiful orb in the night sky being created in all of it's majesty and it's recession.

   Two things.

   1. After they dismantle it, where do they keep it until they are ready to reassemble it?

   2. Has the full moon cycle affected the postings in these threads over the last two weeks? Seems it.

   [Werewolves in sheep's clothing?]

1. 
   hasbeen | Mar 23, 2003 08:54pm | #10

   That doggone orb tries to hide, but it never turns it's back on us for a minute! {G}It doesn't matter how fast you get there, it just matters that you go in the right direction.

5. 
   Gunner | Mar 23, 2003 03:52pm | #6

   To the shop it's about three miles. But from there I drive all over the state, sometimes dipping into Indiana and Illinois. I average about seven to eight hundred miles a week in my work truck.

   Who Dares Wins!

1. 
   RichBeckman | Mar 24, 2003 02:39am | #13

   "But from there I drive all over the state, sometimes dipping into Indiana"

   Hmmm...must be some holes in the border security...

   Rich Beckman

   Another day, another tool.

1. 
   Gunner | Mar 24, 2003 02:54am | #17

   I like to conduct probes, in case we decide to invade.Who Dares Wins.

6. 
   Rusty | Mar 23, 2003 04:19pm | #7

   My last run was from Syracuse to St Louis to K.C. to Traverse City Mi. and back home to Syracuse. I have a part time job as an operations mgr. for a nationwide hardwood floor company. Currently however Im hanging sheetrock 2 miles up the road from my house to keep my union benefits up to date and my current hardwood floor project is in Fair Haven on Lake Ontario about 40 miles away, my current real estate fixer upper is 20 miles away and my favorite distance is my current deck furniture project thats downstairs in my garage.

7. 
   RussellAssoc | Mar 23, 2003 05:34pm | #8

      Almost never less than 20 min, usually 40 to 60 min. one way.  I met a commercial tile setter from Kansas now living in FL, this winter that drives everyday between Goodland, FL and Miami, Gulf coast to Atlantic coast 96 miles one way.  I'd say he'd be dedicated help.

1. 
   Sancho | Mar 23, 2003 06:30pm | #9

   22 miles each way..... 

   Darkworks:  The French "Cheese eatin surrender monkies"..Grounds Keeper Willie

8. 
   hasbeen | Mar 23, 2003 08:58pm | #11

   Duh.  I forgot to say how far I drive.  I live 7 blocks from my office, but drive quite a bit more for work oncertain days.  (I mostly sell rural land)

   It doesn't matter how fast you get there, it just matters that you go in the right direction.

1. 
   ptnbear | Mar 24, 2003 03:23am | #20

   hey hasbeen , do ever do business with bitter root timber frames? I sent for their catalog and they have some real neat designs.a mistake in my billing? why, your right , it should be more!

1. 
   hasbeen | Mar 24, 2003 04:15am | #21

   Not familiar with them.  Where are they located?It doesn't matter how fast you get there, it just matters that you go in the right direction.

1. 
   ptnbear | Mar 24, 2003 01:55pm | #28

   in big sky mont. and Avon CO. their web sight is  http://www.bitterroottimberframes.com   the designs are cool and you can order packages  of frames from them, hey I even asked about work and they said if your good they are always looking for  people, Im actually thinking about it , I mean , what an education. Im probably too old , too fat , and too damn grouchya mistake in my billing? why, your right , it should be more!

1. 
   hasbeen | Mar 24, 2003 06:49pm | #30

   "Im probably too old , too fat , and too damn grouchy"  LOL!  You could be speaking for me!

   Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.It doesn't matter how fast you get there, it just matters that you go in the right direction.

2. 
   migraine | Mar 28, 2003 07:55pm | #37

   From my home to the shop is 25' and no it is not the garage unless you can consider a 26'x75' buiding a garage.  The only problemis the shop has no running water which means the bathroom is up at the house.  Boy my wife gets P.O.'d when I track in sawdust and/or mud.  She says I just messed up her clean floor.  Which brings me to my point I always ask her.  "Why don't you mop/vacuum the floor at the end of the day, not in the morning?"   Seems unproductive to me.  Even after all that she says she still loves me. Guess she is a glutten for punishment. 

   From the shop to the job site is a totally different scenario  Too Many people in SoCal and not enough freeways

9. 
   andybuildz | Mar 24, 2003 12:52am | #12

   well when I work on my own projects I dont drive and when I do its probably about five minutes away......my eight year old Ford (sorry Boss Hog) has 41,000 miles on it.

   Be local or is that loco?

                                Namaste

                                           andy

   "As long as you have certain desires about how it ought to be you can't see how it is." 
   http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

10. 
    92588 | Mar 24, 2003 02:49am | #16

    less than a cup of coffee. but im in jersey and turn down more work than i take

11. 
    ptnbear | Mar 24, 2003 03:18am | #19

    about 50 - 60 miles each way and since its in the white mountains  and winter time (can you say frost heaves, each year we lose a truck or two  never to be seen again) that translates into about 200 miles of abuse round trip

    a mistake in my billing? why, your right , it should be more!

12. 
    BossHog | Mar 24, 2003 04:25am | #22

    I drive about 13 miles, generally in less than 15 minutes. Living in a rural area, it sure is nice to NOT have a lot of traffic to deal with. Worst I get is some farm traffic once in a while, and the occasional deer. (Which have so far avoided hitting)

    If you upset your wife she nags you. If you upset her even more, you get the silent treatment.
    Don't you think it's worth the extra effort?

13. 
    goldhiller | Mar 24, 2003 04:38am | #23

    One mile to hwy intersection, then........

    Eight miles south if headed to the shop = 10 minutes

    Six miles north to the city limits for most site work = 10 minutes + traffic to job = maybe another 10 minutes

    For materials which are in all directions and all distances = ?

    Country roads take me home again, too.

    Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
14. 
    Bruce | Mar 24, 2003 05:13am | #24

    Some jobs down the road a mile, others 30-50 miles away.  Whatever the distance, it's miles of mountains, sunshine, and wildlife.  Winter can be not fun.

    Formerly BEMW at The High Desert Group LLC

1. 
   hasbeen | Mar 24, 2003 05:45am | #27

   Durango, huh?  How much snow did you get last week.  We got final accumulation of less than 2', but it was compacted a lot and very heavy. 

   IMERC is still snowed in completely!It doesn't matter how fast you get there, it just matters that you go in the right direction.

1. 
   Bruce | Mar 24, 2003 03:25pm | #29

   They're claiming 21" at the resort.  We'll see today; I volunteer up there 14 days a winter as a tradeout for skiing privileges for the season.  My last day is today.  A 64" base doesn't sound like much for a lot of ski areas, but considering we're 25 miles from New Mexico, it's real good. Formerly BEMW at The High Desert Group LLC

15. 
    CapnMac | Mar 24, 2003 09:38pm | #31

    One way:  Six miles, about six minutes.  Office about 300 yards from job site (how a 104 x 124' building can be six miles walking around is still a puzzle--but that may be due to being old, fat, & grouchy :) . . . )

    One complication to travel is having gthe Union Pacific main line bisect the entire county.  Nothing more fun than waiting out a northbound freight only to see a southbound waiting to clear the same grade crossing . . .

16. 
    scaly | Mar 24, 2003 09:43pm | #32

    39 miles each way, 37 of it is freeway. Takes me 50-60 minutes in the morning, 30-40 minutes in the evening.

17. 
    r_ignacki | Mar 25, 2003 12:45am | #33

    average about 25 mi. Most of the time I go past the pentagon on 110 south, and even since 9-11 there's been a humvee thing stationed there facing the road, with a machine gunner on it. The speed limit is 45. Most people are scared to go any faster because the machine gunner may open fire. Sometimes the dude is asleep. I'm not kidding. I hope some of you security people know this. What if there was a terrorist attack when the dude is napping?
1. 
   andybuildz | Mar 25, 2003 01:16am | #34

   napping at $25000 an hour is my guess.

   Be imployed by the greenhouse

                                      Namaste

                                                    andy"As long as you have certain desires about how it ought to be you can't see how it is."  http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

18. 
    TKanzler | Mar 25, 2003 01:47am | #35

    Eight years ago, it was 2.5 hrs each way (Yonkers, NY to Philly), which was about 120 miles, if I recall correctly.  I did that for a couple of years.  Then I moved to central NJ, and the company moved closer, so it was a mere 1.5 hours each way, but then I worked a project in Atlantic City which required a 2 hour drive each way (100 miles to the tenth), for the better part of a year.  Spent 8 years in NJ.  Now, after moving to upstate NY, I work from home, and hardly drive at all, except when I have to visit the mother ship in NYC or NJ.  That's 350 miles each way.  I'll be driving to Florida soon for vacation.  I guess I miss driving or something.

    Be seeing you...

19. 
    Armin110 | Mar 26, 2003 02:54am | #36

    Depends bigtime, I have a 200 mile range although most of my work is within 60 miles one way. However on the up side most of my projects are pre-fabed in the shop and usually only have to work on site a few days every month.

1. 
   SHazlett | Mar 28, 2003 07:56pm | #38

   Rarely work more than 10-15 minutes away from home. Often work within about a 2 minute drive from home.Usually put about 8,000 miles  a year on the truck----but a lot of that is estimating & picking up materials.

   BTW, I would consider regular commutes of more than 15 minutes each way to be a SEVERE quality of life issue.Also, possibly,---- poorly thought out lifestyle choices.

   Edited 3/28/2003 12:59:45 PM ET by SHAZLETT

1. 
   Armin110 | Mar 28, 2003 09:35pm | #39

   poorly thought out lifestyle choices

   You must live in the city and or don't work construction. When I lived in Detroit I worked within 5 miles of where I lived, however it sometimes took me  45 minutes to get there. Now I live in the sticks and in the same 45 minutes I can go 50 miles, less wear on my truck and I suspect burn up less gas as well. Not to mention my shop is on the first floor of my house and considering I only drive the 50 miles to the job site once a month I still have you beat in the miles to work department.

1. 
   scaly | Mar 28, 2003 09:42pm | #40

   Uh, that's too strange man...I lived in suburbs of Detroit and it took me 40 minutes to go 20 miles. Now I moved out to Livingston county (40 miles from work) and it rarely takes me little more than 40 minutes, and the taxes are less and the property is great and...etc.

   Where you at Armin?

   First Iraq, then France, then Hollywood!

1. 
   Armin110 | Mar 29, 2003 12:28am | #42

   Rusty,  Yeah, I hear you, I don't miss detroit at all, as a matter of fact I don't even think of the place much. Lived on the east side did most of my work in the Grosse Pointe's. Moved to Northern Michigan in 78, upper penn. Munising, snow fly and black fly capital of the state.

2. 
   scaly | Mar 29, 2003 04:06am | #47

   Oh that's right, I wrote to you about a month ago, you sell to Armstrongs. Well, I hope all is going well up there still.

   First Iraq, then France, then Hollywood!

2. 
   scaly | Mar 28, 2003 10:26pm | #41

   "BTW, I would consider regular commutes of more than 15 minutes each way to be a SEVERE quality of life issue. Also, possibly,---- poorly thought out lifestyle choices."

   I can't really afford to live much closer to my work, unless I was to live in some 60 y/o shack on a postage stamp lot. My cousin just got married, he works in Boston, he says you can't find anything within 50 miles of his job for less then 300k...how's a new married couple supposed to afford that? 300k for a starter home? I did notice you said "possibly" so I'm not bltching at you, just explaining.

   First Iraq, then France, then Hollywood!

1. 
   ptnbear | Mar 31, 2003 02:03pm | #53

   hey rusty ..tell your cousin to look in the clinton .. fitchburg , leominster area  and he should be able to find a good deal  on a place and its only about an hour away from Boston and in some nice countrya mistake in my billing? why, your right , it should be more!

3. 
   BarryE | Mar 29, 2003 12:45am | #43

   Just so I'm understanding....everyone should be living in highly dense population areas...

   and those who don't are the ones who have the quality of life issues...okay

   what was it, you were bored or up on the roof to long? <g>

   different lifestyles........

   View Image

   Barry E

1. 
   Snort | Mar 29, 2003 02:32am | #44

   I'm feelin' very lucky. 30 seconds to 30 min, 'course I make 6.50 an hour, how bout the rest of you? Does great scenery count as happy time? EliphIno!

1. 
   Armin110 | Mar 29, 2003 02:47am | #45

   Does great scenery count as happy time?

   For me it does, I get to see the sunrise over a natural landscape as opposed to asphalt jungle. No bumper to bumper traffic, people wave instead of passing along the one finger salute. On occasion I even get to eat my lunch along side a waterfall or watch the breakers come in on the big lake. I like my lifestyle, so what if my kids won't inherit a million bucks.

    

2. 
   Steve1 | Mar 29, 2003 02:47am | #46

   guess i have it lucky, i'm a small contractor in a city of 75000, any job is always less than 15 min from home, shop or supplier

   i complain about "out of town" jobs that are 20 minutes away!!!

   steve, sarnia, ont., canada

3. 
   SHazlett | Mar 29, 2003 02:55pm | #50

   for the record gentlemen,

   I posted my comments about MY life choices---not any of yours. My lifestyle wouldn't suit most of you,and most of yours wouldn't work well for me.

   Barrry,

   you will note that I NEVER said that everyone had to live in "densley populated urban areas"----make you own choices---I am content with mine. LOL.

   BUT----I do suspect from the slightly hostile tone from some......the slightly defensive attitude towards their dailey commute ,----that some of the folks here ---are less than happy with their driving arrangements.

   ARMIN------I am a roofing contractor living in a city of about 200,000. Decent xway access allows me to get just about anywhere in town in under 15 minutes. the job we finished last week was 4 1/2 blocks from home. The job we start on monday is 5 blocks from home in an other direction.Since we are so close to home----at lunch the crew takes a 30 minute paid break----and I go home to check the mail,make some phone calls and maybe watch 10 minutes of Comedy Central.I LIKE working in my own  neighborhood----I like running into former customers dailey at the store,the kids school, the local library.-----Of course,as someone else pointed out there are trade offs-----I live in an 80plus year old house on a postage stamp lot-----that would drive many of you nuts. I like it. I like living next to the same neighbors for decades, helping to raise  all the kids, I like the nightly wiffle ball game  in the street in front of our house( though we do have 3 different sets of hardball fields within a 5 minute walking radius). I like sitting on the front porch watching the games where the "athletes" on the same team range from 5 years old to 16 currently----assuming none of the dads get involved! many of he kids are my wifes' students---she teaches at a school 3-4 blocks away.

   Of course most of this---- would drive most of you batty. much like a 45 minute drive to work--each way-----would drive me insane.for me---an hour and a half in the truck each day just to get to and from work would be nuts. and most of you wouldn't want to spend you life living in the " old neighborhood" on a 40 x 140 ft lot.----we all make our own choices with our own trade-offs.

4. 
   Armin110 | Mar 29, 2003 04:54pm | #51

   Sounds like you are happy where you are at, that's great, nothing like enjoying your surroundings, makes for a great life. Each to their own.

   Edited 3/29/2003 9:55:29 AM ET by Armin a.k.a. The Laminator

5. 
   r_ignacki | Mar 29, 2003 05:30pm | #52

   you must go through a lot of car batteries. I average about 25-30 each way. Was put on one project about 2 miles from home once. Took about 8 months. Man , that was great, I had time on my hands I ddidn't know what to do with. One morning, got in the truck,  rrrrRRRRRRRrrrrrrr.......   rrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrr.......rrrrrrrrRRRRRRRRrrrrrrr, dead batterie, The short distance wasn't giving the batterie enough time to charge I thought.  Buying a new battery was still cheaper than the gas money I would have spent.

20. 
    Framer | Mar 29, 2003 05:03am | #48

    Hasbeen,

    I'm going to start framing a house down in Spring Lake at the Jeresy shore in a couple of weeks. Went to look at the site yesterday. It's 65 miles one way.

    I've traveled further befor.

    Joe Carola

1. 
   NathanW | Mar 29, 2003 06:00am | #49

   A thirty minute ferry ride, looking at Mt Baker and The Sisters, then a 20 min drive at 35 mph through the heart of Lopez Island in the San Juans. Get to work and usually have a bald eagle chattering at me from the top of a windswept fir.

   boohoo

   :)