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I’ve heard of this practice here in Michigan. If true, how does one calculate the tip? What can one expect from the driver?
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I'm in Mich and haven't heard of this...must be your area. I do bring donuts for the wall crews, though...
*I once bought pizza and coke for an entire asphalt crew, about 20 men total. It was well worth it, they didn't leave the site and went right back to work.
*Hey Jason,You survived the winter, good to see you.The only construction related tipping I've done is if I get one trade to do another's work with their machinery. Like getting the drywall boom to lift a window into a second story opening, or a backhoe operator to move some rocks or...Stuff above and beyond the call. Sometime the tip is money and sometimes it's beer or take them out to lunch. Obviously worth every penny.Anyone who works hard for me gets donuts, coffee, sometimes lunch.MD
*(Do DIY'ers need to put a warning before their posts?)I kept a concrete crew in breakfast tacos through the week they were at my place. One morning, they met me at the house, ate the tacos and all except two guys left. I didn't buy on inspection day...I also kept them in ice and water, but I felt this was a given since it was 100 degrees out.
*I tip my favorite waitress more than I make in the time she spends ,but never heard of the concrete driver. But hey! Our world is changeing.
*Not to be too picky, but it's a concrete truck, not a cement truck. And I have also never heard of tipping any kind of driver. Definitely would offer them a cold drink or a ride to get lunch if they need it. But no tips.
*I worked on a project where the trash haulers were a municipality controlled monopoly. They would come when they felt like it rather than when they were needed. A jacket and ball cap with the company logo solved that. The driver gave me his cell phone number and I would call him in his truck when I needed a dumpster hauled. Every six months the company would pass out safety rewards (like a leatherman tool) and I would make sure that he got one. I have even given them to neighbors of a project for watching out their windows after hours. Good pr.
*I don't tip, but I try to make people's work easy.I always have a pump truck so the concrete driver can park on the road. I always have a hose in case he is short of water for clean up.I always have food on the site for anyone who comes by.
*Today, I couldn't find a 2002 penny to stick in the 'crete, but I had a 2001, close enough, it's only feb. Had a 2002 quarter, no way I'm putting that in, Would you?
*I tip'm sometimes but thought that I was unique.My reasonning is as follows.The driver is expected to deliver the load when, wher, and how I want it. Some of them are in a hurry to juice it up and chute it out so they can be gone and onto another run. (I live on an island so it's quite a trip for them)Other guys will take their time and even help place the stuff and screed it off. (I sub out large pours but have been known to handle a few yards myself because it can be hard to get a concrete sub out for a small job)If a driver goes beyond the call of duty or is helpful ptherwise, I will tip from ten to fourty bucks.I can remember tipping the lumber delivery guys too when they make extra effort or I call on them to carry a long ways for me. They really only need to unload at the drive.I think that this breeds rrespect and conscientiousness(sp?). These guys don't get the idea that I'm a cheap b@$!@^& and they don't drag their feet about getting to my job. I like a job where everybody is looking for ways to do a little more than expected instead of jobs where they are looking for ways of getting by with the least. Seeds well planted...You don't suppose those drivers never talk do you?When the batch plant super asks, "Who wants to run out to piffin's place on the island today?" The lazy bags that I never tipped step back in line while the good ones are more likely to take a ferry ride and say howdy.I've never seen one act like he expected it but I've never seen one act like it was his first tip either though so maybe it is more commonplace.I bought dinner for a flat crew who had to work late too. They all found folding money in their napkins.
*Hey, if he gets all the 'crete where you really want it, what's the problem with 20 bucks? unless it's a really hugh job. Help them that helps you...
*A pocket full of $5 and $10 dollar bills will do wonders for morale on tough days. I say any time you get good service from a driver or a sub it's worth a tip.Besides just being good business, it's amazing how co-operative people can be with just a little respect. Talk is nothing; respect is as respect does.Likewise, look at your crew at the end of the day. If sometimes, like maybe it's 38 degrees and raining and they hung in there with you, or they just ruined most of their clothes and all of their attitude, and you think to yourself, "There's no way I'd work that hard for that much money," then pony up.Give 'em beer money, buy a new tool, something that says "Thanks."I just figure it's a cost of doing business, and part of the price of living in a world I want to be in.
*38 and rain......you've just described spring in Pittsburgh! Nice time of year.....just wait till it's 98 and rain! When I was a young lad humping concrete....sometimes the boss would throw a 20 their way......but most of the time they just leaned against the truck adding up the weight we were hauling! Thanks...that helped make the day just fly by! Jeff
*Hindsight hurts. You guys are making me think I should have tipped a driver two years ago. He took one look at the wetlands/swamp where we were working and said "No problem, I can get in." Front loading all wheel drive trucks (a new thing around here) are amazing things but his great attitude and skill saved a house that day with a load of 0 slump concrete that reinforced a 200 year old stone foundation wall that was resting on top of a very active spring. piff, where is your island, anyway ?
*I tipped the rooftop shingle delivery guys once, and they didn't hardly understand what I was doing. The other day, I asked the UPS cat if they accepted tips and when he said "sure" I looked in my pocket and didn't have a cent.
*Now Im feeling bad ,for I can think of them helping me too. But I do help the drivers unload, and say thanks. I had one help me pour a patio,....what was I thinking ? Im glad I read the post.
*Don't get stuck and don't dump any extra concrete where I will drive through it at night and load up my wheels with it, not notice until morning, then I had to chip it out with a hammer and chisel.Just a tip. Happened last week. cc
*we used to go cow tipping in Indiana, and they always chased us.Since I don't want any of the truck drivers around here chasing me I'm gonna pass.
*I always Tip anyone on site that goes above and beyond there duty or just gives a damn. In this business a tip is more than money, it makes someone feel apprecated. The pay back is tenfold most times.David
*Tipping the Teamster, that is making more than anyone there, and a better pension to boot. Hmmmm.....nope, can't remember ever doing that, but they have sure eaten their fair share of the pizza and pop that is always on the tailgate, and doughnuts for the saturday work though. I think by flipping a 20, I could actually save money on the deal.
*> Tipping the Teamster, that is making more than anyone there, and a better pension to boot.In last months paper:> Redi-Mix Drivers needed immediately. Minimum two years experience. Two year project at Mississinewa Dam. Continuous through winters. Pay $19.23 per hour plus benefits totalling $6.45 per hour.But if an occasional $20 gets you better service, it's probably worth it.Rich Beckman
*Tipping?Are you mad?Tipping someone to do his full-time paid job?Am I missing something?Tip the truck driver for the concrete company?This is crazy.I can't believe this.Waiters and waitresses work for tips. The valet who parks your car works for tips. Most cab drivers depend on tips to make their day.This is unreal.You can expect him to drop his load when and where you want it......and not clean his chute on your driveway. You're PAYING for this service. And it's not cheap.Ed.
*Hey uh,, Dallas.............Think of it this way,.,The truck driver is a "concrete waiter"
*TIPPING!!!!DO NOT USE THE WORD "TIP", "FLIP" ETC!!!Now, GRATUITIES, that's OK. There is something about the word 'tip' that sets us old timer mixer drivers on pucker factor 22..The best tip I ever got? DON'T BACK IN OVER THERE, WHATEVER YOU DO!!! THE LAST BONE HEAD DID, AND HE TIPPED RIGHT OVER!!!!!Dr. 'Crete
*Ed, I usually agree with you, but not here. How 'bout we call this a bonus, or whatever floats your boat? Sometimes clients give me one for doing the same job I always do. They want me feel good about working for them, that bonus makes me feel even better. It's hard to find people that do a good job, I don't mind stroking them with something they can frivolously "waste" on themselves, like a little cash...
*Billy,I've got no problem with someone wanting to give you a gift for a job well done......I've received a few in the past also.But tipping? I don't think it should become or has ever been a common or "expected" practice associated with the construction trades.That's my opinion.Ed.
*Tipping a ready mix driver, dumbest thing I ever heard of.Tipping fees I know about but tipping teamsters....
*Fred, obviously you don't know it, among many other things, but not all drivers belong to any kind of union, especially those in NC... just a tip of the hat to your gotta share with the rest of us ignorance...
*Sharing nothing with no one BB.Never seen anyone tip any professional tradesman for work done as expected. Seen many turfed for NOT doing what was expected.We're paid to do a job that we love to do. Those that don't love it aren't worth the time of day. That's it that's all folks.Save your tips for DIY's and waitresses.
*Instead of tipping a driver, how about calling his boss and telling him that the guy went out of his way to help you out, and you appreciated it? I've done that a time or two, and I think the people really appreciated it. People probably get 100 complaints for every bit of positive feedback.
*See Boss Hog, You finally said something that we do agree on and I do routinely.
*> how about calling his boss ...Better yet, put it in writing on your letterhead. But also check with the guy at the time he helps you. It may backfire if he's actually violating a company policy by helping in some ways. In those cases you can say that he was extra careful to avoid damaging the shrubbery, or some such thing.-- J.S.
*Tipping doesn't have to be done in money. I had some floors refinished in our new (old) house last week. The first day they were on the job I gave them a cooler full of pop and iced tea. It's the little things that matter.Gary
*I also put two beers in the bottom for the end of the day, but they didn't drink them!!Gary
*Fred, you are as arrogant and ignorant as ever, guess some things never change...
*Thank you Billy. Nicest thing you've ever said to me.
I agree David
I have tipped the ready mix driver on a couple of occasions where they helped screed concrete or wheelbarrow a few loads when we were short handed. As to tipping them to get into marginal areas I dont do this.In my area if we ask them to go in a questionable area and they get stuck we are stuck with the wrecker fees. I would rather pay my finishers a little extra to chute, drag or wheelbarrow than to try to get a truck thru the mud.