it makes sense to drive when it's economically feasible and doesn't add an unjustifiable burden to you (business/family/sanity).

I drive 62 miles/1 hour to work every day, but that's almost like down time for me. When compared to having to drive into the city (20 miles away) it would take as long as be 5x as stressful (traffic in a 24' van is tough).

consider pricing your job to account for the additional travel time (both ways optional). Running subs who need a lot of direction or are an hour or three late may create additional pockets of time for you with nothing to do. That might be a good time to work on other pursuits: updating your website, creating direction for the business, reaching out to new markets, etc... My laptop accompany's me everyday in the event contract/bid details need to be changed while at the jobsite.

 

I'll drive an hour without really thinking twice about it. It makes the day longer, though. Make it your first stop of the day or last stop if you can so you don't lose as much time in the middle of the work day.

As 4X4 says, include the cost in your quote.

 

We average an hr a day each way. Anything over 2 is where it starts to become an issue for us.

It is always included in our bid.

 

I mentioned that I am / will be the GC on the job. 95% of trades are subbed(pretty typical for my area.)

I know it is much different for the trades to travel a longer distance because they will remain there all day. But as a GC with multiple jobs it is a little trickier.

I'm starting to answer my own question here I guess, which often is the case with posts.... lol

And it's looking like I will need to just run better crews who don't need micromanagement or babysitting.

Still have a two or three trades who just don't take the time or energy to look for an answer before calling me with an "emergency". I think working to address that issue may be my best solution.

 

Every job is at least an hour away for me, most was 2 1/2 hrs. You go where the money is.

 

I am a GC as well, probably about 75% subbed out.

Having subs that do not have to be babysat is the key, which you just said.

Most of our trades are met the day they start (after pre-con meetings and possible progress walk-throughs depending on the size of the project) and then any follow ups depend on how long they will be there. We rarely stack subs so for example, electrician for an addition and kitchen - Pre-con meeting, someone will usually stop by during framing just to get eyes on the new work, day one they are met for a walk through, confirm layout, and then I will check on them the next day and the last day unless they have issues or something changes. I have complete trust in them which is why I hired them and feel comfortable with them in clients homes. There are usually multiple calls and emails during those days we are not there but that is the beauty of today's technology.

 

The more I wrote on the post, the more I began to realize it all boiled down to responsible RESPONSIVE subs and guys on site.

Easier said than done....

 

If you do not already have the subs you can trust and you seem rather hesitant to take the job anyways....

perhaps it would be best to pass on this one and in the mean time get yourself lined up with subs you can count on.

an hours drive can be sweet, especially if there is no cell phone reception...:whistling:thumbsup:

 

Everything up to 2 hours away is worth of driving. Of course, the decision also depends on the kind of work that needs to be done and on the calculation - is it feasible.

 

Since you are a GC, I don't think it should be an issue.
Of course it depends On what you are used to. When I lived in St Louis, that drive was nothing.
Now, I turn down jobs that are 10 miles away.
I'm spoiled.

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I feel that. I pass on what's probably some good chit because my risk aversion scale get's worse as I get older. Break downs, flat tires, traffic jams, chitty weather and visions thereof dance around in my head and I get all scary. When I do say screw it and throw caution aside occasionally I'll put an extra couple G's in the jeans Or end up in a repair shop 60 miles from home and my nuts in a vice...it's a gamble like anything else

 

Sounds like you need to buy a decent vehicle !

I drive 40.000 miles a year.. And I've yet to be caught 60 miles from home with my nuts In a vice ..:laughing:

 

I like staying within 15 min. It's nice to go eat lunch at home.

 

Most jobs are within 15 minute drive. We will go a little further but not much. We are fortunate we can stay close.

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We are in the 20 minute range typically. I agree, it's very nice. Worked up to 55 minutes away and anything else was long distance jobs that we stayed at for a week or more.

 

I to live in the sticks and have to drive quite a bit.

How far I am willing to go depends on the job size.

I won't travel 3 hours one way to do a small break fix but would to do a complete install if it's big enough of an install

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i got out an hour (ish)

I work Patrick, Henry, Floyd, Carroll counties VA...and Surry, Stokes counties NC. All of this area is with in an hour.

 

If it's more than 2 hours I'm staying in a motel

 

We do have one client we will drive 13 hours or more for and fly sometimes. Travel time is paid, fuel, food, hotel all covered. Plus good money for the work. We do 3-4, week-long jobs a year for them.

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Farthest I've gone was about 3.5 hrs away. Stayed on site in partially finished basement spare rooms of an over-sized mountain house. Due to boredom and understanding why we were there, we were logging 12-14 hr days, have a late dinner, shower, and bed. Had every meal, every break, shared free time with the crew...it became a little cabin fever up there with not so much as a 7/11 for 25 miles to escape. 7 weeks of that and we were all ready for the job to end.

 

Drove 2 1/2 hours one way once for 30 modular houses and stayed in some chitty motel for the night. Was me and a helper. Otherwise our average is about 10 -20 miles from the yard.


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Sounds like you have doubts already. You should take a pass on this one.
Good luck. 👍

 

I am in a densely populated area so most jobs are within minutes of the office, but we will travel up to an hour and will include the additional cost of travel time, overhead and profit into the cost of the project.