It all depends on the efficiency of the Tech. They should be at the customer at 8 am, and work 8 hrs. travel time to and form home should be on their own. If their work can be scheduled the day before, they can be there at 8... this is where good management comes in. It would only be unfair if you paid your tech to travel to work. If they are not paid to travel, then the furthest guy is at a disadvantage. Other techs should have nothing to whine about.
I lived 60 miles from the customer I serviced. But since I traveled on my own time and billed more 100 percent of my hours, the company allowed me travel that far in a company van. I had it serviced on my own time, with no downtime hours.
Some tech`s never billed all their hours and had many UN- APPLIED downtime hours that cost the company. they eventually lost their jobs. It really depends on the person. You may find a really great employee, who happens to live further out because of family and cannot afford to move closer. Wost case have the guy come to the shop for 8. The people who help you the most deserve more.
As far as the Taxman, as long as their is no personal use, Techs are exempt since they dont go to the same place each day. They should carry a log.
If You have no GPS in the vans, Iphones have built in GPS that allows you and all tech`s to see each other. Cheap effective option, as even the techs can get parts or help from each because they can see who is close by. You know where everyone is at any given moment.
Times are tough now, 30 years ago i did road calls charging mileage at $1.10 a mile, service call $50, then billed out actual work. Now were getting.7 of an hour to PM a lift truck 60 miles away, with no travel time or fuel charge. cant last long!