To Tip or Not Tip Your Auto Transport Driver? Your Car Shipped? The 5 reasons I feel you should tip your auto transport driver!
Recently I was asked whether or not you should tip the transport driver when your car is being delivered.
Tipping or not tipping is not a common question I get asked a lot but I thought I should address it here. I think it’s probably either automatic for some of you to tip your transport driver but for others, it’s likely that you think about it to yourself but have not been given the space and time to ask it. So I’m going to karate chop the heck out of the topic, but before I do so please note:
What I am going to express is my opinion and mine alone. It does not reflect the actual thoughts of the drivers or the auto transport industry. I have based my opinion on my experience as an enclosed car transport driver who hauled exotic and high end cars for a living.
With that out the way, let me start with the definition of a tip:
Tip noun: a gift or a sum of money tendered for a service performed or anticipated : gratuity. {credit: Merrriam-Webster Dictionary}
When I used to transport cars, sometimes I would get tips and sometimes I wouldn’t. I usually didn’t expect to get them but after awhile I realized when I did certain things, I would earn a tip from my clients. So of course, the greedy Gwendoline in me would constantly try to do those exact things to earn a tip. Who doesn’t like extra money? I know I did.
Before I reveal some things you should automatically give a tip for, I want to address something I’ve read in so many different forums online. Many people have this perception that drivers make a lot of money. I’ve heard and read people express, “drivers are getting all this money to ship my car, why should I tip them?”
It’s kind of sickening and disturbing for more reasons than one and I will address that in another post but let me just say that when you factor in the cost of fuel, the taxes, tolls, permits, department of transportation physicals, tire blowouts, oil changes, leaking hydraulic fluid, and driver meals plus add in the time it takes to go from point a to b, drivers are not really making that much money. A company driver may make even more than an independent guy in some cases but not necessarily all the time. So please, don’t think about your $1500 you paid to the carrier as, “oh he is making so much already” because that $1500 can easily turn to -$300 if things do not go as planned, and you and I both know that things do not always go as planned no matter how hard we try to be perfect.
Okay so…
5 Things your transport driver can do to earn his/her tip
- 1- Deliver your vehicle earlier than you expected
- 2- Deliver your vehicle as clean as when you shipped it
- 3- Take the extra effort to call you to ensure you will be available to receive your vehicle not once {standard 24hours prior} but twice {when he’s within a few hours from you}
- 4- Being polite {even though you may think this is standard, a lot of drivers go through crap and it reflects some hide it and go above and beyond to make sure your happy with their service}
- 5- Tried to get as close to your front door as possible
If your auto transport truck driver does any of those things, in my opinion they deserve a tip. In other words, if they gave you great service, did what they was supposed to do, communicated with you, showed up on time or early, or if they were friendly and extremely accommodating, I think you really should consider a tip. But remember, tipping is optional. It’s Not required, not frowned upon!
Tweet-able“Not required, not frowned upon” { click to tweet }
How much? Well that’s up to you. I used to get anywhere from $100 to $500. It all depended on the client. Even $25 can get a driver a great lunch or dinner.
I would love to hear from you; have you ever tipped a transport driver and how much? Do you think tipping is a bad thing?
Have an experience or tips to share? Please join in on our #Unadulterated Conversations below:
Know someone who just had their car shipped? Please share this article with them. Remember, sharing is caring.
13 Responses
I did not tip because they violated all of your 5 reasons. Times are tough and money should pay for good service.
Hey Tom! Thanks for the response. Its so unfortunate that you havent had a great experience with your transporter. I back you 100%- why tip if you are not satisfied with the service? You shouldnt!
Oh woo i agree with you..i like these tips because these are informative for me and will be also useful for shippers. Now i have not any issue, once again thanks for sharing this post with us.
Thanks for reading 🙂
Thanks! I tipped because even though it was 2 hours later than he originally thought, I know there is a lot of traffic and the driver contacted me 4 times between the day before he picked it up and then every day after.
This was really helpful – thanks again!
gina
Awesome Gina! Wish ever client could be like you! 🙂 stay amazing!
I’m not planning on tipping the driver who has my car right now… He was hours late picking it up, and I had to call to find out why. He hasn’t called me today (delivery day) with any sort of time window. I’m assuming he’s somewhere on the east coast, but I have no real idea where he is.
I know the car was loaded on the truck because the dealership called and told me it was on the truck.
I’ve had communication issues with this company all week, and almost flew out to get the car myself because I got so frustrated. I realize, however, that it’s not the driver’s fault, and I was prepared to tip him generously. He doesn’t seem to be any better then the people he drives for.
If the driver had called today to let me know where he was and intruduce himself, that would be a different story – I have the cash on hand for a decent tip. However, that hasn’t happened. Therefore…
No tip.
And the company will get an excoriating review online after my car is safely in my driveway.
Hello Beth,
I totally understand your sentiment. When I was a driver, I used to always call the customer when I got close to arriving and on the day I arrived to be sure they’d still be available. Not sure why this driver hasn’t called you but some drivers just don’t think to do it. They’re not told to or taught to. They feel like their job is to just driver and deliver the vehicle safely. That’s it. Unfortunately if they knew just how far a quick call would go, they could grow their business tremendously. But that’s a convo for a different day.
Also it’s worth mentioning that whether the dealership found the carrier on their own or through a broker, they too are responsible for keeping you in the loop. Unfortunately when dealers move cars, they don’t do that. They have “millions of other things to do and it ultimately becomes your problem.” Rolling my eyes politely. Now if they used a broker, then the broker should’ve at least sent you an email to say the driver was on schedule.
I hope everything works out for you and again, whether you tip or not is totally up to you. Thanks for sharing your story! Stay awesome.
Ashley
Just had my 2 card delivered and thought should I be tipping. Your article got me to run after the truck waving money and he stopped.
Thanks for the great tips on tipping your driver!
Awesome! I’m happy I helped Carrie. ?
Ashley
Thank you for the article. I tipped my transporter today for his exceptional service. He hit all 5 points, even going the extra mile. Called to confirm when he reached the city, then 30 minutes out, upon arrival at my location he unloaded & inspected, then gave me a call once he was done. No need to observe him unstrap tie-downs from the trailer bed. Poor guy also had to move his truck halfway into the unloading process so folks could access their parked car.
Great customer service comes with a slightly higher price tag but also provides peace of mind.
In the past i always gave $100.00, because i know all the BS they go through on the road. But now that I’m retired i can only afford $40.00.
The key is giving not only what you think they are worth but what you can afford. Definitely a major part of the equation. Thanks for sharing Ron!
Ashley