[BPWY]

Lets here how you other big players in the industry work drive time.

I can't be the only one that gets some 2 or 3 hr rides to the job site.




At a former job a long time ago we got paid drive time from the shop to the job and our work hours.
The ride back to the shop was on us. Company truck.



I've been arguing with some one on this. They feel that no drive time should be paid for as long as they are riding the company rig. I disagree.
I want to hear how you guys do it.

 

[SwiftRes]

I pay drive time both ways. I had considered coming up with a lower pay rate for driving time. I'd personally do $X an hour less for drive time versus work time before I'd pay nothing.

 

[Eavestrough]

We pay both ways as they are hauling equipment/trailer with our vehicles to and from the job. Our lead hands are not done work until all is locked and parked and this is an important part of the day and we feel deserves full pay. Wow 2 to 3 hours is some major travel and is expensive!

 

[MidwestP&P]

Are you an employee or a subcontractor? It sounds like you are an employee. I'm not a "big" player but if I am paying all the expenses, the job is 2-3 hours away and we're only talking 1 job, sorry but I'm not paying drive time either. If the job ends up being just a trip charge, after my lousy discount, gas, insurance costs, I've already lost money and that's before I paid you. If I'm lucky enough to have a cleanout, I still have all those expenses plus dumpster fees (or maybe just landfill costs).

The other reason I don't pay for drive time is maybe you don't drive as fast as me! And seriously, if you're on the clock, I'll guarantee you aren't driving as fast as me. Case in point -- this happened this week: Sent a contractor up to do a job approx 4 hours away where he had to meet another contractor in another city to help with the job. He dinked around in town for 1.5 hrs before he even left town and seemed surprised when he realized I knew what time he actually left. So he's running around town in my vehicle using my gas and was late in meeting the other contractor. I was not a happy camper.

I'm all for being fair. But I'm really tired of taking it in the shorts from subs who think I'm some sort of millionaire with money to burn.

 

[ohiohomedoctor]

To and from work no, everything in between yes.

 

[SwiftRes]

But if you have a 4-6 hour round trip drive time in which your worker is only doing two hours of work, who would agree to spend 6-8 hours working for you for 2 hours of pay?

Are you an employee or a subcontractor? It sounds like you are an employee. I'm not a "big" player but if I am paying all the expenses, the job is 2-3 hours away and we're only talking 1 job, sorry but I'm not paying drive time either. If the job ends up being just a trip charge, after my lousy discount, gas, insurance costs, I've already lost money and that's before I paid you. If I'm lucky enough to have a cleanout, I still have all those expenses plus dumpster fees (or maybe just landfill costs).

The other reason I don't pay for drive time is maybe you don't drive as fast as me! And seriously, if you're on the clock, I'll guarantee you aren't driving as fast as me. Case in point -- this happened this week: Sent a contractor up to do a job approx 4 hours away where he had to meet another contractor in another city to help with the job. He dinked around in town for 1.5 hrs before he even left town and seemed surprised when he realized I knew what time he actually left. So he's running around town in my vehicle using my gas and was late in meeting the other contractor. I was not a happy camper.

I'm all for being fair. But I'm really tired of taking it in the shorts from subs who think I'm some sort of millionaire with money to burn.

 

[Chris G]

If the distance is outside the scope of what is normally expected, then I think some form of compensation would be acceptable.

 

[ohiohomedoctor]

If the distance is outside the scope of what is normally expected, then I think some form of compensation would be acceptable.

So long as the norm is clearly defined. If not I could see the norm shrinking, and shrinking.. :whistling:

 

[overanalyze]

2-3 hours one way..bid a hotel into the job and pay them to the job on Monday and home on Friday. Run the numbers..prob about a wash between paying them , fuel, and lost motivation vs just getting the hotel. We charge drive time for anything over 30-40 min at a reduced rate. We have a temp employee now and he gets paid to job in am but not back to shop. He is riding shotgun. It's only a 15 min ride.

 

[MidwestP&P]

But if you have a 4-6 hour round trip drive time in which your worker is only doing two hours of work, who would agree to spend 6-8 hours working for you for 2 hours of pay?

Paid by the job.

 

[Anderson]

Work time is starting work time not meeting having a ciggy then going to dunkin dounuts, then getting to the job an hour later.
I have no problem with a nice easy start to the day in fact thats how I roll, but don't expect me to buy the coffee and pay you while we stand in line.
If my guys don't like it and sometimes they moan a little, then I just offer for them to meet me at the job site, in there vehicle burning there gas to get there.

 

[SwiftRes]

I've had a hard time doing that. I have had a couple of people I have tried to pay per job but a lot of times you are unsure what to expect on work orders until you actually arrive there.

Paid by the job.

 

[woodworkbykirk]

most companies ive worked for that have vehicles were pretty clear about if your driving the company vehicle while on the way to work or from the site your getting paid.. only way insurance would cover us if something happened.

most times though were in our own vehicle, to work is on our own time if its less than a 30 minute drive same as on the way home.

 

[BPWY]

Are you an employee

No.........

We pay both ways as they are hauling equipment/trailer with our vehicles to and from the job. Our lead hands are not done work until all is locked and parked and this is an important part of the day and we feel deserves full pay. Wow 2 to 3 hours is some major travel and is expensive!

For a lead employee aka foreman with those responsibilities....... I agree. I'm talking about the labor riding with me. I've been doing drive time one way, plus work time of course. I think I'll keep doing that. 2 to 3 hours happens in a big state like mine. Not every day, but it can happen.
If I lived/worked in a large metro area and none of the job sites was more than 30 mins to or from the shop this wouldn't be that big of a deal. But 3 hrs at $12 an hr......... it starts to add up on those long drives.
Speaking of long drives............. I can drive for over an hr and not leave my county.

 

[Cooper2001]

My guys drive their own vehicles to and from the job site, I pay their gas and drive time at a discounted rate 1 way unless it is more than an hour drive then I will pay them both ways, but this is done at a lesser rate. They aren't going to get rich with drive time but they don't have any expenses either.

 

[Jaws]

If they are in a company truck, I pay.

 

[FremontREO]

If employee in company vehicle then they are always "on the clock". Its claimable pay. Just like when you drove a truck.....you were still being paid when the other driver was driving and you were sleeping....well not a good example since you always slept I heard

 

[BPWY]

If employee in company vehicle then they are always "on the clock". Its claimable pay. Just like when you drove a truck.....you were still being paid when the other driver was driving and you were sleeping....well not a good example since you always slept I heard

I didn't drive team. And thats partially right ...... smart axx...... team pay might be .40 per mile but its split.

So you're not really paid while the other guy is driving.

 

[Paradox]

They should be paid. If that cuts into the margins too much, then institute a fuel surcharge or raise the fuel surcharge already in place. Or just require a higher price for jobs done in a certain "zone."

If the rep on the phone for the national thinks that's a preposterous notion, then demand to be forwarded to a rep that can handle basic math. Debt collectors experience much more success when they evoke an emotional response from the debtor. Insulting the intelligence of someone will evoke an emotional response and who knows, it might just have positive results! Unlikely, sure, but having a logical conversation with a national about money just won't happen.

 

[BPWY]

who knows, it might just have positive results! Unlikely, sure, but having a logical conversation with a national about money just won't happen.

You are trying hard to leave the FNG days behind aren't you? :laughing:

By george I think you are learning some thing from hanging out here.