I tip the drivers so don’t lump me in that group but I must say, this argument makes no sense.

do the van drivers work for pilots? Is it the responsibility of the pilot to pay them what they’re worth?

it has nothing to do with who works for who or who’s paying who, but the “why” should One pay you for a service above and beyond the job one has accepted. The same mentality management has towards their pilot group. And again, IMHO.

It’s simple, the van drivers job is to drive the van. If they do just that they are filling their exact job description and I don’t tip. The hotel payed them to drive the van. If they get out, and load my bags or attempt to help they are going above and beyond their job as a van driver and they get a $1.

Regional CA here...90% of my crew members tip.

Pretty sure loading and unloading bags is in the job description of a HOTEL van driver. Not saying they should or shouldn't be tipped, but if you sign up for that job, it is expected of you to load and unload bags.

Van drivers are supposed to help load and unload your bags. Why do you think so many of them get out of the van and help with the bags? They're not doing it out of the kindness of their heart. If it wasn't part of their job requirements, I'm sure most would just stay in the driver's seat. This whole conversation reminds me of that diner scene in Reservoir Dogs.

So the van driver is worth a dollar?
Isnt that exactly what airline management thinks.
i think it’s embarrassing and condescending to tip a dollar.

I'm sure they don't think so...

Conservative...

8 hour shift
3 trips to airport/hour
4 pax average/trip

That's about $100 per day. Maybe more if they consistently carry pax both directions, maybe less if they drive few trips.

You and I make that in the time it takes to read section A of USA Today, but van drivers don't.

Tip your van drivers you cheap f@!#s

If everybody on the crew tips a dollar as they should if their overweight/overstuffed baggage was handled, it works out to a decent tip. Don't forget that crews are getting van rides 6 to 12 times per trip, so there is nothing wrong with tipping a dollar. Going through $6 - $12 of tips per trip is very reasonable and more than covered by your non taxable per diem. So no, it is not embarrassing and condescending. And if you are using that as an excuse not to tip, that is beyond embarrassing and dou@#$y.