Originally Posted by
thrustsetrj200
Holy crap...if you are getting this worked up over a personal decision to tip the driver, then I can only imagine how much of a gem you are to fly with. Geeze, chill out.
Do you ask to see how much your friends tip your servers when you're at dinner? That's a personal decision, and for you to get ALL worked up like you are about this is ridiculous. We really have no clue as to each crew member's finances and for us to get so upset about giving a dollar to every driver is not fair. Yes, there are some guys who are just plain cheap and don't care. And, yes, there are those who honestly can't afford an extra $30 a month to tip their drives. Get off their case and worry about yourself.
I make about $300 - $400 a month just on per diem. That's holding a line and flying 3-4 day trips.
As someone who made their living for many years on tips, yes I DO get a little peeved when some boob of a captain making double what I make can't pry his wallet open to the tune of $6 a week. Six DOLLARS. That's a value meal at Wendy's. That's 2 lousy beers at happy hour. If things are that tight at home that $6 is the difference between sleeping in your car and making the mortgage payment then I think some close scrutiny of your life decisions is in order. Its cliche but its true: you get what you pay for. And I'm getting tired of getting what some of you cheap bastards are paying for.
PS
The guys that tend to not tip are usually the same guys who would rather rot in their room making trips back and forth to the ice machine, only punctuating that excitement with thoughts about how to use the coffee pot to make that perfect omelet. You can count me out of THAT good time.