I spent several years on a contract in Kansas City which is 100 miles from home.

I do not like spending a lot of time driving (I have a bad neck), so I arranged for my client to cover a cheap hotel room for me when I was in KC during the work week. Originally I worked 5 days/week in KC. Eventually I worked 3 days/week in KC and 2 days/week telecommuting.

It saved a lot of gas and wear on the car, and it saved a lot of wear on my neck.

Now I am on a contract that is about 40 miles from home, but I still telecommute at least a couple of days a week.

Personally I think telecommuting should be part of a national energy policy. I'm working with state government, and I have no doubt that close to half of the people here could telecommute and save gas. Of course, over half of the people here could be terminated which would save gas, tax money, and make things work better too..

>I work 180 miles from the house. I get up at 4 and arrive at the ofice at 7. I leave at 6 and get home at 8 or 8:30. I'm in the car 4 hours a day. I work four 10 hours days and I am off on friday. Gas is costing me close to $700 a month just to get to and from the office.
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>I have asked my company to assist in any way they can. I telecommuted two times last week, and my boss has asked me to come up with alternatives. Here is what I have so far. I need other suggestions:
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>Option                    Pros	                                   Cons
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Do nothing	          No extra demands on Company              Continued strain on travel related expenses.
>
>Telecommute 1 or 2 days   Reduce cost of gas, driving time and     Less presence at the office
>a week                    wear & tear on my truck. Increased
>                          productivity
>	
>Work three 12-hour days   Reduce cost of gas, driving time and     Potential to become burned out. Only at the
>and telecommute 4 hours   wear & tear on my truck.                 office 3 days per week.
>on Thursday	
>
>Gas card or gas           Reduce or eliminate my gas costs.        Expense for Company
>Reimbursement.	          Writeoff for Company.
>
>Hotel reimbursement	  Reduce or eliminate my gas costs a few   Expense for Company. More time away from my
>                          days a week. Writeoff for Company. Less  family.
>                          long drives. Close to the office.
>
>Hybrid car lease or       Recuce cost of gas and wear & tear on    Expense for Company.
>reimbursement		  my truck.
>