A method for reducing data access time in a disk drive. The disk drive includes an actuator and a servo controller. The servo controller commands the actuator to perform a seek from a current position to a target position using a profile of command effort to the actuator. The profile comprises an acceleration profile and a deceleration profile. In one aspect, the method includes defining a read profile for a seek used to position the actuator to execute a read command. A write profile is defined for a seek used to position the actuator to execute a write command, the write profile being different from the read profile for a respective seek distance. The read and write seeks are performed using the read profile and the write profile. The average time required for performing a seek command is reduced as a result of the difference between the read profiles and the write profiles.