Glossary · Travel
Windshield time
Windshield time is the field term for time a worker spends driving between work locations, such as from the shop to a jobsite or from one jobsite to a supply house. It is slang, not a legal category, and whether it is paid depends on the trip.
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This is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by state and change over time. Check the primary sources below and talk to an employment lawyer about your situation.
What counts as windshield time?
Windshield time covers driving that is part of the job, not the ordinary trip from home to the first stop. On a typical day it includes a supply house run, a move from one jobsite to the next and a trip back to the shop for material.
| Trip | Usually hours worked? |
|---|---|
| Home to the first jobsite, ordinary commute | No. Normal travel from home to work is not worktime. |
| Jobsite to jobsite during the workday | Yes. It must be counted as hours worked. |
| Jobsite to supply house and back | Yes, as travel that is part of the day's work. |
| Last jobsite to home | No, if it is an ordinary trip home. |
What does windshield time look like in one day?
A plumbing crew, one day
- 6:45 AMCrew meets at Jobsite A. The commute before this is not counted.
- 10:30 AMDrive to a supply house, 25 minutes. Counted as hours worked.
- 11:20 AMDrive to Jobsite B, 20 minutes. Counted as hours worked.
- 3:00 PMLeaves Jobsite B for home. The ordinary trip home is not counted.
That day has 45 minutes of windshield time inside one shift. Recorded as its own line, it is easy to price, to pay and to show a customer or an auditor.
Frequently asked questions
Is windshield time paid?
Is windshield time a legal term?
How do I bill windshield time on a job?
Sources
- 1.29 CFR 785.38, Travel that is all in the day's work · Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
- 2.29 CFR 785.35, Home to work; ordinary situation · Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
