Before this gets labelled as sucky...

[fireheart17]

I just want to ask...

I had a guy tonight who made me stop 5 times for petrol vouchers. He tells me "I know it's a pain, but I buy fuel every day."

Guy looks to be in his 60's or older. Can someone name a situation where he'd need to buy fuel every day? The reason I'm asking is because I don't want to label him sucky without knowing all the facts. I can think of these situations:

-truck driver.
-courier.
-postal worker (most of the posties in Australia use motorbikes or motor trikes or in some cases even walk, but for parcels and express post, it's vans)
-deliveries for some other reason...

In all three, wouldn't fuel be reimbursed anyway? And if so, then what's the point of having twenty thousand petrol vouchers simply for that?

And for that matter, how can I deal with it without going off into a tangent?

[siead_lietrathua]

the only one i can think of where he may not be reimbursed if he is a door-to-soor salesman. like the avon ladies.

[Broomjockey]

Around here, you don't always get reimbursed, you get a "fuel allowance." Or a per mile. Or some other similar thing. Basically, they decide how much you should have spent, and give you *that* much. Not how much you actually spent. Some places even roll travel costs in to food and lodgings allowances, so if you go over on one, you're shorting the others.

If it doesn't happen often, just roll with it, don't bother questioning unless a manager starts giving you flack over it.

[bhskittykatt]

As a newspaper courier, I get a fuel allowance, not a reimbursement. I only fill up about every four or five days, though my routes aren't the largest (15 miles/day on average). No clue what my fuel allowance is; all I know is that if I take on more routes, they've cut the allowance in half for new contracts. I can keep the higher allowance on my current routes though.

[kendiara]

If he's older he may be visiting a spouse/significant other in an assisted living or nursing home facility. Depending on how far it is and how long the travel it can definitely require filling up every day. It also would explain why there isn't a reimbursement or allowance and why he needs to save the money.

[lordlundar]

Quoth Broomjockey

Around here, you don't always get reimbursed, you get a "fuel allowance." Or a per mile. Or some other similar thing. Basically, they decide how much you should have spent, and give you *that* much. Not how much you actually spent. Some places even roll travel costs in to food and lodgings allowances, so if you go over on one, you're shorting the others.

If it doesn't happen often, just roll with it, don't bother questioning unless a manager starts giving you flack over it.

It's also dependant on the company. The bank refits I did gave a payment for fuel outside the city limits and pre arranged hotel stay for locations that made return trips hazardous from fatigue and in that case a food reimbursement of $45/day.

Best part about the fuel payment is that it applied whether you drove or were the passenger in a carpool. I made more from the travel time than I did on site.

[HYHYBT]

I remember a caller on 'Car Talk' who put something like 100,000 miles a year on his car as a home inspector. Most anything that requires appearing in person that is also uncommon enough that you'd have a wide service area can have you filling up several times a week.

[Ironclad Alibi]

Quoth fireheart17

I had a guy tonight who made me stop 5 times for petrol vouchers. He tells me "I know it's a pain, but I buy fuel every day."

Was he using petrol vouchers, buying them, or just picking them up?

It might be he is responsible for a fleet of vehicles and is using the vouchers for several vehicles.

Quoth fireheart17

And for that matter, how can I deal with it without going off into a tangent?

In a professional manner, of course.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

When I spent a week working at a different store, I gassed up every morning, because it was about a 180-mile round trip each day.

[fireheart17]

Quoth Ironclad Alibi

Was he using petrol vouchers, buying them, or just picking them up?

He was splitting his $150 or so purchase into petrol vouchers. About 5 or 6 and I objected afterwards. We aren't actually allowed to do it, so the next time I see my manager, I'm going to ask her if there's a way we can deal with it.

For those who have fuel allowances, I know that my company does the same as well, however I can't remember how much exactly. It's only if you're travelling more than X number of kms though.

Spouse and/or significant other? His wife was with him.