The Difference Between “On My Way” and Actually Being On Your Way

“On my way” is one of the most flexible phrases in the English language.

Sometimes it means:

“I am in my vehicle, the engine is running, and Google Maps says I will arrive in 18 minutes.”

Other times it means:

“I am still in the shower, but I have begun thinking positively about leaving.”

On a jobsite, those two definitions matter.

When a hirer is waiting to open a gate, unload materials, meet a customer, or begin work with the rest of the crew, an inaccurate “on my way” message can create confusion and delay the entire project.

At the same time, workers deal with real transportation problems: traffic, delayed buses, car trouble, confusing addresses, unavailable rides, road closures, and job locations that turn out to be 40 miles from the city listed in the post.

Good communication requires honesty from both sides.

What “On My Way” Should Actually Mean

You are on your way when you have physically started traveling toward the job.

You have left your home, boarded the bus, entered the rideshare, started driving, or begun walking to the meeting point.

Putting on your shoes is not being on your way.

Looking for your keys is not being on your way.

Waiting for your cousin to text back about borrowing his truck is definitely not being on your way.

There is nothing wrong with saying, “I’m getting ready and expect to leave in 15 minutes.” That message is useful because it tells the hirer what is actually happening.

An honest departure estimate is always better than an imaginary head start.

Why Accurate Arrival Times Matter

A worker arriving late may delay more than one person.

The hirer might be:

• Waiting at a locked property
• Paying another crew to stand around
• Scheduling equipment delivery
• Coordinating with a tenant or customer
• Holding a loading dock or parking space
• Trying to finish outdoor work before dark
• Waiting to explain the job before leaving
• Depending on the worker to complete the first stage of a larger project

Ten minutes may not matter on every job. On others, it can disrupt the entire schedule.

The goal is not to achieve military-level timing for every landscaping or moving job. The goal is to give people information they can plan around.

“I’ll be there soon” gives almost no useful information.

“My estimated arrival is 9:20” does.

Check the Location Before Accepting

A job listed in Sacramento may actually be in the greater Sacramento area. A job described as being near downtown may be on the far side of the city. Two streets can have similar names. Some addresses lead to the wrong entrance, a locked gate, or an empty field that makes you question every decision that brought you there.

Before accepting a job:

• Enter the full address into your map
• Check the estimated travel time
• Look at the route during the expected travel period
• Confirm whether you have reliable transportation
• Ask about parking or public transit
• Verify the correct entrance or meeting point
• Make sure you can arrive with the required tools

Do not accept first and investigate geography later.

A 12-mile job can take 20 minutes or more than an hour, depending on traffic, road conditions, and transportation. Distance and travel time are not the same thing.

Leave Room for Real Life

If your map says the drive will take 25 minutes, leaving exactly 25 minutes before the start time is an impressive act of optimism.

Traffic signals exist. Parking takes time. Gas tanks become empty. Buses run late. Highway traffic can transform without warning into a large stationary meeting.

Build in a reasonable buffer—especially if the job has a firm start time.

Arriving a few minutes early gives you time to:

• Find the correct address
• Park legally
• Contact the hirer
• Locate the entrance
• Gather your tools
• Review the job instructions
• Start work calmly

Arriving early does not necessarily mean beginning unpaid work. It means being ready when the agreed work time begins.

If You Are Late, Say So Immediately

Being late is not ideal. Hiding it makes the situation worse.

The moment you realize your arrival time has changed, send an update. Do not wait until the original start time has already passed.

A useful message sounds like this:

“Traffic is heavier than expected. My new estimated arrival time is 9:25. I apologize for the delay.”

A less useful message sounds like this:

“Almost there.”

“Almost there” could mean two blocks away, twelve miles away, or emotionally prepared to begin the trip.

Give a real estimated arrival time. If you are unsure, say so honestly:

“My ride was canceled. I’m arranging another one now, but I may be 30 minutes late. I’ll confirm within 10 minutes.”

That gives the hirer a chance to adjust the plan, wait, or find another worker if the delay is too long.

Do Not Keep Saying “Five More Minutes”

If you are 30 minutes away, say you are 30 minutes away.

Repeatedly sending “five more minutes” does not make the distance shorter. It only uses up the hirer’s patience in small installments.

Check your navigation and give the best realistic estimate available. If the arrival time changes again, update it again.

Most reasonable people understand that delays happen. What frustrates them is being given information that is obviously untrue.

Reliability does not mean nothing ever goes wrong. It means people can trust what you tell them when something does go wrong.

Hirers Have Responsibilities Too

Workers are not the only people capable of creating arrival chaos.

Before the worker leaves, the hirer should provide:

• The complete and accurate address
• The correct date and start time
• The name of the on-site contact
• A working phone number or in-platform contact method
• Parking instructions
• Gate codes or access directions
• The correct building, apartment, unit, or entrance
• Any important landmarks
• Notice of unusual road or access conditions

“Meet me behind the building” is not helpful when the property has four buildings and six possible definitions of “behind.”

If the jobsite is difficult to find, send a photo, dropped map pin, or detailed instructions. If the listed address is only an approximate location, make that clear before the worker begins traveling.

A worker should not lose an hour searching for an entrance the hirer forgot to mention.

Be Honest About Transportation Requirements

Some jobs can be reached by public transportation. Others require a vehicle because the location is remote, the schedule starts before transit service, or workers must bring large tools.

Job posts should clearly state whether workers need:

• Their own vehicle
• A valid driver’s license
• Space to transport equipment
• The ability to travel between multiple sites
• Access to public transportation
• Pickup from a designated meeting point

Do not list “self-transportation required” and then reveal that the job involves following a crew truck to three different cities.

Workers should also be honest about their transportation. If you depend on a ride from someone else, confirm that ride before committing. If you do not have a truck, do not accept a job that requires hauling debris and hope the debris becomes someone else’s problem.

Silence Looks Like a No-Show

If a worker is late and stops responding, the hirer has no way to know whether that person is delayed, lost, injured, or simply not coming.

After a reasonable period without communication, the hirer may need to contact another worker. That is not personal. A job still has to be completed.

Likewise, if a worker arrives and the hirer does not respond, the worker should document the arrival through the platform:

“I arrived at 8:55 and am outside the main gate. I called and sent a message. Please let me know how to enter.”

Workers should not be expected to wait indefinitely without communication. Agree in advance on what happens if either person cannot be reached.

Cancel as Soon as You Know

Sometimes a job or worker must cancel. The responsible approach is to provide as much notice as possible.

Workers should not claim to be on the way when they already know they cannot make it. Hirers should not allow someone to travel across town and then casually announce that the job is no longer needed.

If you must cancel:

• Say so immediately
• Apologize clearly
• Give a brief, honest explanation
• Avoid making promises you cannot keep
• Update the job or availability status
• Discuss any agreed travel compensation when appropriate

A prompt cancellation is disappointing. A fake “on my way” followed by disappearance is much worse.

Your Reputation Travels Faster Than You Do

Workers who arrive when promised are more likely to receive good reviews, repeat work, referrals, and direct job offers.

Hirers who provide accurate locations, answer messages, and respect workers’ travel time are more likely to attract dependable people in the future.

ChambaNOW helps local workers and hirers communicate directly, with automatic English–Spanish translation making arrival instructions and updates easier to understand. But the platform cannot make an inaccurate arrival estimate become true.

Before leaving, check the address. Confirm the time. Plan the route. Send an honest update.

And remember: “On my way” begins when you

Written by Barry Graham, Founder, ChambaNOW