Travelling/staying over etc

[Batcher]

Too many contracts to list but usually will drive anywhere up to an hour. Over an hour to 4 hours drive will stay over and if the drive would be over 4 hours I fly and stay over.

Always ask at interview about the chances of WFH and explain the benefits. I always point out that I can start working earlier and will work later if required if I'm at home because it does away with the commuting.

When I worked in Bradford two permies used to drive every day from Wigan and Liverpool on the M62. It must have been a nightmare and they spent most of the afternoon looking at the travel website to see if there were any problems.

Obviously staying away you miss the kids when they're young but the benefits of contracting can make up for it IMO.

[BlasterBates]

Having regularly commuted long distance. Anything over an hour as a daily commute is painful. I would stay over during the week, perhaps come back for one evening. For several months I find it doesn't really bother me, so I wouldn't worry too much for a 3 or 6 month contract. Once you've been commuting for a year it begins to do your head in. A 2.5 hour commute staying over during the week isn't too bad because you can get there Monday morning and get back reasonably early on Friday. For a 6 monther I would say go for it.

[paulinefowlersgrowler]

Stek - You drive or stay over?

[jmo21]

I'm happy for you, what area was that? I'm guessing you don't live down south near London. Being from Wales means the contract market there is stuck in the dark ages, it may eventually catch on but decent contracts are few and far between. On the other hand between down here has meant the warchest is getting there a lot quicklier than I had hoped

I live just outside Glasgow, and it's easy access to Edinburgh too.

[paulinefowlersgrowler]

Must admit thinking of doing just the one/two night stays and maybe mix in train to see how it goes.

Did one gig that like I said was 1-15 and driving did my head in. Changed to train and that did my head in worse to start with but gradually it turned into best option - get on train, read paper, watch dvd, have a kip etc.

[SueEllen]

Living in London and SE is no guarantee commuting times are shorter even though the distance travelled is often shorter.

If 100 miles is going to take you 2 hours, then you should just stay over during the week and occasionally depending on work load go home mid-week as you may be able to leave early. Just make sure the kids' don't expect you to turn up as you are likely to disrupt their bed times.

[paulinefowlersgrowler]

Living in London and SE is no guarantee commuting times are shorter even though the distance travelled is often shorter.

If 100 miles is going to take you 2 hours, then you should just stay over during the week and occasionally depending on work load go home mid-week as you may be able to leave early. Just make sure the kids' don't expect you to turn up as you are likely to disrupt their bed times.

Sure I heard somewhere about average commute times in the south east being something stupid? Nuts....

[FatLazyContractor]

Chance of a gig BUT its 100 miles away. Traffic wont be too bad I don't think - it'll be half motorway half A road and client is pretty much in a rural area. Google maps is saying 1hr 50 mins drive. Also, theres a few choices of route which take about the same time.

In terms of train, getting there is 2 hours with one change, bit longer coming home and times are not great. Train every day is probably not an option in ensuring I get the hours in. Also, nearest train is 3.5 miles from client (so taxi/bike here).

Rate is decent enough but not outstanding. I've done a gig 60 miles - 1hr 15 away and thats a fair distance so Im not sure about this one. Got a young family at home so staying away mon-fri is not really an option (I want to actually see my kids!)

Toying with the idea of maybe one night away and maybe train once a week. At least then, it breaks down into one train day, two days where I'm just driving one way (there or back), and only two days where I'm doing the long drive twice in a day.
Or stay over two nights (i.e. monday, wednesday) and train on friday. Which would mean only one drive per day and one day train.

But I am concerned that all the travelling is going to:-

A) Do my head in
B) Knacker me totally.
C) Completely screw my motor will all the miles.

Anyone else do similar? Do you get used to it?
Of course, another idea is to ask client straight off if there's any remote working possible. (Sadly not always with the type of work I do). Even one day WFH would make a HUGE difference.

I do sometimes wonder why clients arent more flexible with this.

Not quite sure how those two statements work together! Going strictly by what you said, what service can you offer by not being on site?

Is staying close to the client site for the first month and then negotiating your terms a personal option?

[SueEllen]

Sure I heard somewhere about average commute times in the south east being something stupid? Nuts....

It can take me the same time to travel 17 miles by public transport as 70 miles by car on the motorway at the speed limit.

[paulinefowlersgrowler]

Not quite sure how those two statements work together! Going strictly by what you said, what service can you offer by not being on site?

Is staying close to the client site for the first month and then negotiating your terms a personal option?

Hmm. Thats just it - these days there seems to be no reason to be physically on site a lot of the times.

Yeh I could go for that but it might all prove problematic when it turns out the client insists on 5 days on site. Im stuck then.