hi . whats the longest distance/time somebody has had to endure commuting to work on a daily basis?
For a short time (2 weeks, 4 days/wk) I had to commute to a certain place uptown Manhattan and it took door to door 2:15 one way - but then again I charge for my travel time 
I used to have a 90-mile round-trip commute. If I left really early, it would take just under an hour, but if I left when rush hour was on, 2.5 hours easy.
Glad those days are over.
Welcome to the SDMB, welloso. This Q would better be served in the IMHO Forum. Mods!!!
Mr. S used to drive 104 miles round trip. But then he got lucky and got downsized. 
He was not the guy with the longest commute at that workplace, however.
I commuted 110 miles round trip for 4 ½ years. I drove the vanpool van the last 3 years. I didn’t have to pay and I still got the $25 a month my employer kicked in for those that vanpooled.
I ride the train for 90 minutes (one-way). Fortunately, I live downtown and work in the suburbs so I can usually find a place to sit down.
And if I get the job I’ve just been called back for (reeeeeely hoping), I’ll just have a 20 minute subway ride to work.
Well, this should get moved to IMHO pretty quickly.
My commute is 55 miles one way, 110 round-trip, been doing it since 1994. Not feasible for me to take any public transportation, nobody I work with lives anywhere near me, not allowed to work from home. At least no bridges / tolls are involved, and I work a little later than most people to avoid the traffic, and the scenery along the highway is pleasant (280). But I still get really, really, really sick of it.
GQ is for questions with factual questions. Since this seems to be more in the way of a survey, I’ll move it to the IMHO forum.
When I was in Grade 6 and 7, I had a 1 1/2 hr. school bus ride. They eventually split the route in two and reduced it to 1/2 hr, which, oddly enough, is how much all but two of my subsequent commuter routes have required, no matter where.
The thing about commuting is there’s quality commuting and non-quality commuting, personal and assisted. Eg:
1. Drive to work in car - personal, so can’t read book, but quality, in so far as can listen in comfort to radio
2. Bicycle to work - personal, so can’t read, non-quality, as exposed to elements, fumes, danger, strenuous activity
3. Bus to work - assisted, so can read, quality depends on what the other passengers are like, whether you get a seat, etc, laptop use unlikely due to bumpy ride
4. Tube to work - assisted, so can read, but in London rush hour likely very poor quality - crammed in, no seat, jostled around, endless tunnels to wander through
5. Train to work - assisted, could be reasonable quality depending on passenger numbers, possible laptop use
6. (my personal ideal) Chauffered - assisted and ultimate quality - can do whatever, read, drink cocktails, have sex parties in the jacuzzi (if stretch limo), sleep, eat, watch DVDs, play video games, etc etc
So as far as I can see, it isn’t necessarily about endurance. One and a half hours of reading a good book or sending emails from your Nokia messengers is a great way to start the day. But even 20 minutes of being crowded onto a cramped, smelly, uncomfortable public conveyance is a huge ordeal.