Jay, I look at it this way. On every job I've ever had, I had to drive to work and at the end of the day I had to drive home so nothing has changed. I make every effort to plan my work so that if I'm going farther than the nearest small town I have a full day's pay lined up. I'll shop the nearest small town for less total money that day provided I can combine personal errands with the day's run. I do all my personal errands on the way to shops so I don't have extra vehicle expense for the errands only. For example, if I have a medical appointment in Fort Worth I'll know far enough ahead of time I can book some work over that way and get it on the same run.
Driving an hour to make $10 is not logical and I agree with you that would be a loss. That's exactly why I don't do it. When I'm looking for work I'm not looking for a shop. I'm looking for several I can put together for a good day's work. Sometimes I can put together a really good string that I can work in one day.
You're smart to think about the time and money spent driving. If you don't like to drive, that would color your decisions on shops to take. I love to drive and I'll often drive a little extra to take a "new to me road" and have a look at what's there. My favorite drives are in the spring and summer, and every year I'll deliberately book some work down south just so I can see Central Texas leaf out and bloom. I make some money those days, but the money is not the deal. I want to see the rivers rolling and the trees swinging in the wind.
How far am I willing to travel for a $15 shop? Almost anywhere if I can build a string and I want to go.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.