Ask a Travel Nurse Question:
If you have your own car do you generally receive compensation for transportation while under contract? If you don’t bring your car with you is a transportation stipend given?
Ask a Travel Nurse Answer:
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but transportation while you are on assignment is just not something that is paid for by your travel company. If you keep track of your mileage, you may be able to deduct this on your taxes at the end of the year. But, it is not something that is compensated while on assignment.
If you have a reliable automobile, I always encourage nurses to consider driving to their assignment. I take my truck with me on every assignment, even to Hawaii. It’s just nice to have your own car and not to mention, you can’t really pack golf clubs, a mountain bike, snow skis, and five large totes full of dishes and linens, and expect to be able to take them on the plane.
If you do fly to your assignment, there are companies that offer to arrange a rental car for you, but nothing in life is free. You will earn a lower hourly rate to compensate for the rental car. A travel company is allotted a certain amount for your travel contract. In most instances, companies are all allotted the same amount at that facility no matter with which company you might travel. The difference in companies is how they distribute those funds.
Some companies will have better healthcare benefits, some may have higher hourly rates, or some will advertise “rental car reimbursements.” But make no mistake, if you are receiving something “extra” somewhere, then it will affect the amount you are compensated somewhere else on your contract.
So, let me backtrack from my original statement and say that you might find a company that claims to compensate you for your transportation while on assignment. But rest assured, that compensation is being taken from another portion of your contract.
Thank you for writing, and good luck!
David Morrison