How far would you drive for a job?

[Want2BAFF.]

Hey guys,

Just out of curiosity, if you guys are already driving a long distance to work, or if you have an opportunity (if you received a job offer), how far would you be willing to drive?

I would assume since it's not a 5-day work week, many of us would be willing to travel far if need be.

[Deluge059]

I used to drive about an hour, then moved 10 minutes away and now I live about 30 minutes from my station.

The longest commute I know of is 3 hours each way.

[RustyFF]

I commute around an hour. Been doing it now for a couple of years. You kinda get used to it I guess. I thought about trying to get hired closer to home but my retirement wouldn't transfer so I'm staying put. Unless I get lucky and get hired during the next process with FDNY.

[FloridaFireEMT]

I knew a guy that was driving 4.5 hours one way to work every 3rd day. He was waking up at 2:30 AM to leave for work.

[FWDbuff]

I used to drive 135 miles one-way. Woke up at 0430, left the house by 0500. Shift start at 0800. I would usually arrive around 0730. 90% of the drive was on Interstate 476 and Interstate 95- I could do 80mph most of the way.

I would also usually do shift exchanges and try to work two or three in a row, and then have three or four days off.

If snow was predicted overnight I would go in the night before. This was always a bonus as they would hire me on overtime to have an extra man if the weather got really crappy.

[e10pvmt]

I live just west of Tampa in Brandon and i drive about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes to Kissimmmee depending on which station i am floated to...been doin it 4.5 years....not bad once every 3 days and once a week on my Kelly week.....kinda gettin tired of it now...debating a move back to Orlando.....there is guys that drive from Vero, West Palm, and Deland that make the trek....for osme reason they all think i drive the farthest....its all I-4 for me

[fyrfytr4]

I applied to every dept accepting applications within a 2.5 hour drive when I first got out of the academy. The first job I got was a 105 mile trek each way and took me about an hour and 45 mins. I did that about 6 months and was tired of it. Then I got a job about 15 mins to 40 mins from my house depending on the station. Now I'm less than 20 mins to any station where I work now and I love it.

[BLSboy]

I drive over 2 hrs to work for HCFR.

[beachfire]

I used to drive 3 hours to work. It sucked.

[pasobuff]

I have about a 50 mile/hour trek to work each day.....most is highway, but on bad days such as rainy or snowy can really screw things up.

[Want2BAFF.]

I drive over 2 hrs to work for HCFR.

How do you handle that? Is it nearly impossible or are you doing ok with it? Could you see yourself doing it for yrs and yrs? Do you work back to back days or 2 out of 3 to minimize driving back and forth in the same week, or is that not possible?

[SVTxDUDE]

I know guys who have been driving 2-3 hours for their entire career.

[WD6956]

I know guys who have been driving 2-3 hours for their entire career.

We have a few where i work who do. It's worth it to them because where the live is cheap and beautiful. A long commute is not so bad when you have a nice home and property.

[utilitycow]

I live just west of Tampa in Brandon

Brandon is on the other side of Tampa.

I drove 1.25 hours/65 miles for 9 months until a spot closer to home opened. Sirius radio makes the drive easier.

[utilitycow]

A long commute is not so bad when you have a nice home and property.

...and a kelly day.

[CodyK]

Why not just move?

[yjbrody]

Depends on the shift too. I'd be willing to drive up to 2 hrs for a dept that does 48/96, but the on/off/on/off/on schedule or even 24/48 would get old. Hr max for those types of depts and would probably move closer eventually.

[tajm611]

Why not just move?

Because it's not so easy when you own a home, and your wife and kids have a job or school you'd prefer them in. It's not like just leaving mom's house and getting an apartment.


I drive 2 hours. Wake up at 230, in the gym for 430-445 and pull into the station at 600, an hour early for relief, like it should be....

[MemphisE34a]

I have driven further for "stuff" that didn't last nearly as long!!

[tajm611]

did you cross state lines?