Half the crew spent 6 weeks 3 hours from here last fall, built a steel building and a big driveway. Paid regular wages, but they used my trucks and tools of course. Thry also had an average of 20 overtime hours a week, and had weekends at home.
I paid all travel time, no per diem. My lead had the company card, he paid for meals and incidentals. They ate very well, several times a day. Lol.
I paid for rooms in the only place with a pool. There was zero belly aching.