I'm an electrician. Having worked in this field a number of years, with several companies, it seems the norm for those that supply a "take home" van to end the work day on the jobsite, not at the shop. Basically, we do not get payed travel time from the jobsite to the shop at the end of our woorkday.
I understand that by Federal law, this isn't illegal.

Here is my problem. The company that I work for has recently taken away from us the benefit of a "take home" van. Currently we are still ending our workday at the jobsite. While talking to a builder about having to "park" our vans, the builder informed me that we now have the right to be paid for our drive time back to the shop.

Is this true? Should we be at the shop at 4:00(the endtime of our 8 hour day), instead of the jobsite? :confused:

So now you are driving your own vehicle? Are you required to report at the shop before going to your first work location and to report back to the shop after your last job?

I only drive my personal vehicle to the shop in the morning, and from the shop to my home. During working hours, I drive my workvan.
I arrive at the shop to start work at 7:30a, go to the jobsite, leave the jobsite at 4:00p, and must drop the van back off at the shop before returning home in my personal vehicle. This unpaid drive time back to the shop can range from 10min to 45min on a normal day.

Since you are required to report to the shop before your first job and after your last, you are under the control of the employer and whatever drive time it takes you from the shop to the job site, and from the job site to the shop, is compensable.

You can file a claim for unpaid wages with the state Dept. of Labor if your employer refuses to pay.

Thanks for the help, Pattymd.

I'd like to find the law that states this is true, but could not find it at the Kentucky Dept. of Labor website. I will need this info to "rally the troops" in my defence.
That's how it goes with these small, backwoods companies. If I go straight to my employer, I'm gone.

Here it is.
http://www.dol.gov/dol/allcfr/ESA/Title_29/Part_785/29CFR785.38.htm

Thank you very much! I'll dance at your wedding!

Dan

I LOVE that line. My g-ma used to use it all the time. And if I ever find another sucker, I mean, get married again, I'll be sure to invite you. :D