GUIDE FOR CONTRACTORS
How to stop running late between jobs
Being late to a job walk or a client meeting costs more than a few minutes. It's the first thing a new client learns about how you run your business.
Updated October 30, 2026 · By DH1 Tech, built by a working general contractor in Washington
Why contractors run late
- The current job runs long, and nobody is watching the clock
- You check the drive time once in the morning, not when you're about to leave
- You forget the time it takes to pack up tools, wash up and walk out
- Traffic at 3 PM is not traffic at 9 AM
Plan around a "leave by" time, not an "arrive by" time
Everyone knows when the next appointment starts. Few people know when they need to walk out the door. Work backwards:
- Start with the appointment timeSay the job walk is at 2:00 PM.
- Subtract the drive with expected trafficCheck the map for the time you'll actually be driving, not right now. Say 35 minutes.
- Subtract your wrap-up timePacking up, a quick word with the crew, washing up. Say 15 minutes.
- That's your leave-by time1:10 PM. Tell your crew, and set an alarm for it.
Other habits that help
- Group job walks by area so you're not crossing town twice
- Leave a buffer between appointments instead of booking them back to back
- If you're going to be late, text the client before the start time, not after
- Keep the address and the client's phone number in one place, not in a text thread
How DH1 Tech handles this: Smart Leave Reminder
Smart Leave Reminder tells you when to leave for job assessments and scheduled work. It uses your drive time with expected traffic, plus prep time you set, so you can wrap up and get to the next job when you planned to. Tap Directions to get the route. You also get a reminder with sound 15 minutes before each job assessment or scheduled job, with the client, time and address.
DH1 Tech is in testing and not released yet. Features may change before launch.