Tipping shuttle drivers

Yard Sale

Yard Sale

Life of the Party
I know tipping has gotten out of control(tipping for take-out?) but I wonder what others feel about tipping shuttle drivers? I don't tip on short shuttles like the Clack and Sandy when I'm already paying 30-40 for a 5 mile shuttle. I do tip on longer shuttles like the Grande Ronde or even the Klick canyon. If you are going to be driving my rig for an hour or more I'd like you to be happy! Seems like half the time the tip money is still under the floor mat when I get back, maybe a company rule?

With a couple big floats coming up this fall I thought I'd just see what the norm is nowadays.
 
I'm kinda' dense on this subject, but it would never occur to me in a million years to tip a shuttle driver. I have this apparently unrealistic expectation that people who are in control of their own destinies will set their fee to account for the value of their time.
 
I tip if I suspect the shuttle driver is an employee of a bigger shop like Red's or Gorge Outfitters. I've left $5 all the way up to $20 for a long one like the JD.
If I know the shuttle driver is also the owner/operator I don't tip since I assume they build that into the total cost.
For the times I wasn't sure, I've left a tip. I've had the same thing happen as @Yard Sale experienced ...tip money was still there.
 
I always leave a tip of some sort. Some services don't accept the tip though, which is fine, but at the end of the day, I'm always relieved to see my vehicle at the take out. I had one service in Jackson, WY "decide not to work that day" after having arranged the shuttle.
 
I have often tipped, but in thinking about it, it makes no sense. If tipping is for the quality of service and you have no idea what the quality of service actually was--and whatever you could possibly ascertain would only be after the fact--just doesn't make sense.
 
JimTravers¤£a!!Travers said:
If u expect to get a tip then u need to give me a beer in the car!!!!!
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The fun starts when the shuttle driver is having car trouble so he tells you to meet at the takeout, then drives you up to the put-in and then drives off with your truck, hopefully headed for the takeout....and it was obvious he had beer for breakfast! :ROFLMAO: Not giving up any names...
 
skyriver said:
The fun starts when the shuttle driver is having car trouble so he tells you to meet at the takeout, then drives you up to the put-in and then drives off with your truck, hopefully headed for the takeout....and it was obvious he had beer for breakfast! :ROFLMAO: Not giving up any names...
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Got to my rig once and the driver left their coffee mug inside. My whole truck wreaked of Kahlua. I had t ;augh thinking about when the driver realized what they had done.

Interesting to see some people always tip and some never do. I do think of it as a type of service where the driver can be cool and go easy on your rig, or they can just haul ass. My truck is pretty old so I like to baby it, and I'm hoping the driver might feel more inclined to be chill if they get an extra few bucks.

That said I've watched in horror on the D access road as my truck went by going way faster than it should have. I now mostly launch at Pine Tree so there aren't as many road miles and do my own e-bike shuttle if I'm stopping at Macks.
 
Yard Sale said:
Got to my rig once and the driver left their coffee mug inside. My whole truck wreaked of Kahlua. I had t ;augh thinking about when the driver realized what they had done.

Interesting to see some people always tip and some never do. I do think of it as a type of service where the driver can be cool and go easy on your rig, or they can just haul ass. My truck is pretty old so I like to baby it, and I'm hoping the driver might feel more inclined to be chill if they get an extra few bucks.

That said I've watched in horror on the D access road as my truck went by going way faster than it should have. I now mostly launch at Pine Tree so there aren't as many road miles and do my own e-bike shuttle if I'm stopping at Macks.
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I think you're kidding yourself. They are going to drive how they drive. LOL
 
ifsteve said:
I think you're kidding yourself. They are going to drive how they drive. LOL
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Probably. But it has paid dividends. A shuttle I use on a fairly regular basis for a multi-day trip knew there were some sketchy people camped at the take out campground so he had my truck shuttled to his house. He then dropped it off the day I was pulling off. Said he knew I took care of his drivers so he took care of me. Its a long shuttle and they don't charge much so I feel like its still a good deal even with the tip. Now the guy who wants $45 for a 5 mile shuttle on the Sandy can suck an egg(and pay his drivers more).
 
I tip $20 on the Lower Deschutes shuttles. The drivers don’t make much but it’s a side hustle for them. They always take good care of my truck. I used to use the service offered at the Oasis and one time they couldn’t get my vehicle started so they unhooked the trailer and met me at the take out. It was a bad ignition switch. I managed to get it started and never turned it off until it was in my driveway. I have heard of another shuttle on the lower D that the driver left a crack pipe in the vehicle. I’ll never use that service.
 
on the river u mentioned, i have used shuttles, where i knew they drove the vehicle. i tipped. i have had shuttle folks help with starter issues, flat tires... ugh... when i use an outfit that i dont know who is driving... i should just leave some cash, as u mention, but leave a note, that it is for the driver.
 
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