Posted by VT_Syrup on 7/30/12 9:16am
Msg #428632

Notary rotary mileage calculations

I used the orange button, but the only discussion I could find was from 2008. First, is "Find a notary" the only place in the NR site that provides mileage calculations? Second, does anyone know how the calculation works? The numbers seem awfully low to me.

Reply by Jessica Ward on 7/30/12 9:19am
Msg #428633

I think mileage is just zip-to-zip

Zip codes where I am can be pretty big geographically. Those calculations are extremely low. I had someone once tell me it was only eleven miles to Bainbridge island from my office in Kent from one of those zip-to-zip things.

I told them "then you won't have any problem with me charging an hourly rate."

Turns out, they ended up believing me.

Reply by VT_Syrup on 7/30/12 9:27am
Msg #428634

Re: I think mileage is just zip-to-zip

I did an experiment with Google maps. Notary rotary said 34 miles between two zip codes, one east of Green Mountains and one West. I figured out how to draw a straight line in Google Maps for the same zip codes, and get it's distance, which was 33 miles. Google driving distance is 55 miles.

Reply by Lynn Gidlow on 7/30/12 10:29am
Msg #428636

Re: I think mileage is just zip-to-zip

It is always amusing when I hear, "my map shows it's only 10 miles away." However, what they didn't take into consideration is (1) by what route is it 10 miles; (2) what time of day is the signing; (3) what day of the week! In Los Angeles, where I live, if it's 10 miles away by freeway, it's 6:00 in the evening, AND it's a Friday, it could take upwards of 2 hours to get there!

Reply by VT_Syrup on 7/30/12 10:40am
Msg #428637

Re: I think mileage is just zip-to-zip

At the other extreme, if it's winter and the signing is on the way to Mt. Killington, I could not charge for mileage and still be happy with the fee.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/30/12 11:14am
Msg #428638

Yes, and it's not center of zip code to center of zip code

it's outer borders of each - there's a listing ahead of me in the premium section for a notary that's not even in my COUNTY, never mind my zip code...but because the distance is shorter this listing is ahead of mine.

Thankfully there are very few people listed in my area so it's no great impact, but that's how I know it's not center to center...if it were, I'd win!!!...

Reply by ikando on 7/30/12 11:35am
Msg #428639

Re: Yes, and it's not center of zip code to center of zip code

I always ask if the distance is calculated from my post office box, which is not where I start from. That's why I always wonder about calculating fees based on distance and number of pages. Both are too arbitrary to the skills necessary to get the job done. Having a flat fee for a set area from a base site is more reasonable, in my opinion, but is rarely offered as an option.

Reply by Patricia/VT on 7/30/12 1:49pm
Msg #428658

Re: Yes, and it's not center of zip code to center of zip code

I use Google & Mapquest, and charge a per/hour fee for travel. Weather & road conditions are taken into consideration, and for some areas there is a "moose fee."

Reply by Notary1/CO on 7/30/12 2:04pm
Msg #428660

Re: Yes, and it's not center of zip code to center of zip code

What is your moose fee? Moose blocking the road? Illegal alien moose with no ID, sneaking in from Canada?

Reply by Patricia/VT on 7/30/12 3:49pm
Msg #428671

Re: Yes, and it's not center of zip code to center of zip code

The first time I went to Island Pond in the evening for example, I saw 4 moose. First a cow & calf appeared out of nowhere, running beside my car. Then a bull moose standing at the edge of the road, and finally a very big bull moose ambling across the road. You really can't drive over 25 mph safely in some parts of Vermont, so it increases driving time. These animals weigh around 800-900 lbs. I've seen a dozen or so since, as I frequently drive in very rural areas.

Reply by Notary1/CO on 7/30/12 4:24pm
Msg #428682

Re: Yes, and it's not center of zip code to center of zip code

Yes, moose are very big. I've seen moose and bison up close in Yellowstone Park.

Here in Colorado, have encountered cattle and sheep blocking roads in rural areas. Have also encountered deer, elk, wild horses and Canadian geese on the road. A friend of mine struck a black bear while driving in the mountains.

Reply by Notary1/CO on 8/3/12 11:58am
Msg #429243

10 Roaming Buffalo Killed by Trucks on Colorado I-70

Authorities say at least 10 buffalo have died after collisions with 2 semi-trailers on Interstate 70 near Byers in eastern Colorado. Two people were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries after the crash around 2 AM. The Interstate was closed during the cleanup.

A brand expert determined that the buffalo had roamed about 15 miles south from a ranch near Highway 79 and 104th Avenue.

See story http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31327864/detail.html

Wikipedia info on American Bison: Head-and-body length ranges from 6.6 to 11.5 ft long, shoulder height ranges from 60 to 73 in, typical weight can range from 700 to 2,200 lb. The heaviest wild bull ever recorded weighed 2,800 lb. When raised in captivity and farmed for meat, the bison can grow unnaturally heavy and the largest semi-domestic bison weighed 3,800 lb.

Oh, give me a home, where the buffalo roam...

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 7/30/12 4:21pm
Msg #428681

IN general, they do calculate from geographical center to geographical center of a given zip code. Recently, though, these have been adjusted some , but not very well. For densely populated areas, this isn't that big of a deal. But, for places where zip codes cover hundreds of square miles? It's laughable.

My biggest issue is those who call and say I can take a particular route because they Google Mapped it. Yeah well... what they don't see is that the directions take you through a restricted military base... and (for now) I don't have access to drive on base. Like most civilians, I have to drive AROUND, and that's a lot of time. Another issue I have is that "roads" on the map to the casual observer are, in reality decaying and dirt roads through the desert.

Here's a great example, in Google maps, type in 93535. That will tale you to 140th St. East and Avenue B in Lancaster, CA. Guess what? Only a handful of people actually live out there.

Note that this takes you to the geographical center of a zip code that is 250 square miles. The majority of the people living i that zip code live on the western edge of the area. about 11-15 miles to the west of the point. This zip code also covers the LA county portion of Edwards AFB, which is restricted access (The base actually lies in THREE different counties: Los Angeles, Kern and San Bernardino).

All of my rates are calculated by actual driving distance to the location, not by zip code. I note this on my website and I tell schedulers this every day. Most of them have no idea what I deal with. A few pull up a map, but they don't know what they're looking at or what it's like to actually live out this way. Roads on a map out in the middle of the desert may not actually exist or require a 4WD to access. I've actually been considering buying a Jeep since over half the roads I travel are severe and hazardous to my tires.

Zip codes searches are fine for general estimation, but should be relied upon for rate calculations. I have a spread sheet with a formula I developed that includes my expenses and required charge per mile for a given area. I keep it on Google Docs so I can always access it on my phone (android) for quick reference.