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Tips
Tips

Do I tip the truck driver who delivers my car?

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livinginthepast

livinginthepast

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Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I've never had a car shipped before.

Is it expected that I tip the driver of the truck? If so, what is appropriate?

Thanks!
 
First be sure to examine it from one end to the other and underneath if at all possible. Then, if he doesn't ding the doors getting in, over rev a cold engine or tear your exhaust off getting it off the truck, you may feel compelled to buy him a coffee.

But seriously, do what you think is right if he's a nice guy, but please check that car over first while in his presence.

And have a digital camera ready...........just in case. Better a picture of any problem while on the truck than when off in your driveway.
 
No.
 
Thanks for the info all!
 
livinginthepast said:
...
Is it expected that I tip the driver of the truck? If so, what is appropriate?...
Click to expand...

I don't think they usually expect a tip, because they usually don't get one. Unless I'm unhappy with the service I usually give the driver enough to cover lunch for him and his helper & make sure I do it when they're both there.

We recently had a trailer dropped off so we could load it ourselves over several days and the driver spent about a half hour just getting it into position so that it'd be easier for us to access. (It was very challenging terrain - top of a muddy hill etc). I tipped him a little more than lunch and when it turned out we needed another trailer a few weeks later we got the same driver. The second time, he really outdid himself to make things easy for us.

I may be a sap, but it just seems like a decent thing to do.
 
Thanks, John. I'm going to wait and see how he handles the unloading.

I decided to go with a carrier, rather than a brokered rig and I'm glad I did. I've been very happy with his communication thus far; he has beaten the original delivery date (originally estimated to be here June 1 or 2 but he'll be dropping off tomorrow afternoon), and we've chatted for twenty minutes or so tonight talking about tomorrow's delivery. So far, it's been a positive experience. I read so many horror stories about car shipping that I was expecting a fight. So far, it's been just the opposite.

Thanks for the perspective. If the guy gets the car off the rig without any problems, I'm sure I'll end up buying him lunch. :smile:
 
If he goes above & beyond..... how would
you feel after being given a tip,lunch,etc.?
If he doesn't - NO!

- Doug
 
I did when I had a car shipped across country.
The first shipper's truck broke down and my car was
held "hostage" for a MONTH!
Second shipper went out of his way to get the car from the 1st guy and beat his schedule getting it here and it was all in one piece and expertly stowed away for transit.
I was so happy to get it and he was so nice about giving me updates etc I tipped....generously.
I just felt the guy went beyond the normal call of duty for me
so a tip seemed in order.
I must say he seemed shocked, so tipping must not be the norm.
 
livinginthepast said:
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I've never had a car shipped before.

Is it expected that I tip the driver of the truck? If so, what is appropriate?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Only if you want your car off the transport in one piece.

:wink:

You bunch of cheapskates.......
 
When Fagin was delivered I knew the guy was doing a near cost delivery to me for the dealer. Since I never had driven a TR3 he explained starting etc. before unloading the car. So I paid him a tip to cover a nice dinner before heading back home to CT. He seemed pleased, and his boss emailed a thanks as well the next day.
 
Gundy said:
I must say he seemed shocked, so tipping must not be the norm.
Click to expand...

I'm may be in the minority here (Imagine that!), but I've wondered if the reason we often get shoddy service is precisely because we don't show our appreciation for a job well done. Delivery guys are almost always underpaid and take the flak for what is often not their fault at all.

But the idea applies in just about all job sectors, I would imagine.
 
The whole world seems to be in a tipping mood...I'm wondering why we tip people for doing the job they're paid for in a manner that's expected? To me, a tip is for something a person does above and beyond what's expected.

I expect the car to be delivered on time & in the same condition as when it was loaded...no tip necessary for that.

I expect my hair to be cut as prescribed...no tip necessary for that.

I expect my mail to be delivered into my mailbox on time & the box door closed...no tip necessary for that.

....etc., etc., etc.

There are industries where tipping is considered part of the salary (i.e., wait staff) and in those industries, I probably overtip according to my wife and daughter; but, unless a person goes above what I expect of them, no tip.

Tipping once in a non-tipping industry actually only causes people to expect tips - and when they don't get them, we get shoddy service.

coldplugs said:
We recently had a trailer dropped off so we could load it ourselves over several days and the driver spent about a half hour just getting it into position so that it'd be easier for us to access. (It was very challenging terrain - top of a muddy hill etc). I tipped him a little more than lunch and when it turned out we needed another trailer a few weeks later we got the same driver. The second time, he really outdid himself to make things easy for us.
Click to expand...
If he was expected to put the trailer where you asked for it to be put as part of the contract, no tip necessary; if he did so on his own volition and time, sure, tip was appropriate. But, I'll bet he also expected a hefty tip the 2nd time around!
 
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