Commuter of the year

NEW YORK: Dave Givens drives 372 miles to work and back every day and considers his seven-hour commute the best answer to balancing his work with his personal life.

The winner of a nationwide contest to find the commuter with the longest trek, Givens is one of millions of people who are commuting longer and further than ever before.

Studies show Americans spend more time than ever commuting and for a growing number, getting to work takes more than an hour.

In the most recent US Census Bureau study, 2.8 million people have so-called extreme commutes, topping 90 minutes.

Givens, a 46-year-old electrical engineer, has an extreme commute between home in Mariposa, California, and his job in San Jose.

He leaves home before dawn and returns after dark.