How to Increase Income from Tips for Shuttle Bus Drivers

• This is advice to increase tips for Shuttle Bus Drivers. Other advice can be found for

  • General Advice
  • Waiters, waitresses, servers
  • Delivery Drivers
  • Baristas

• Help With Luggage

  If your guest has luggage or shopping bags, assist them.

• Give Your Name

  Make sure your guests know your name. This will help them to connect with you on a personal level. If you know the customer, greet them by name. If they might become a repeat customer, ask for their name and remember it.

• Use Humor

  Humor can put your customers at ease and loosen their wallets. The Tip Jar Stickers and Buttons on this site are meant to encourage tipping with a gentle humorous reminder. They are not meant to "guilt" the customer into leaving a tip. A guilty tip is not going to be as big as a voluntary tip.

• Hygiene

  Be professional and clean. Do not wear excessive jewelry. Do not wear cologne or perfume. Do not smell of cigarette smoke. Dress nicely.

• Follow Up

  Check to make sure your customers are comfortable and not to hot or cold.

• Conversation

  Conversation makes a long drive go by more quickly. If they are here on vacation, offer some restaurant suggestions and point out landmarks.

• Be Knowledgeable

  Know your area. Be able to find addresses. Be able to answer questions about the location of stores, restaurants, activities, attractions. etc.

• Give the Right Change

  If the change is $5, a couple of bad things can happen. If you give them a $5 and they don't have change, they may not tip you. If you give them ones, some people will see that as blatantly trying to get a tip and not tip you. The solution is to say "That's $5 in change. How would you like that? A five? Ones? Maybe some quarters for the car wash? Nickels for the slot machines? Pennies for the fountain?"

• Be Polite

  Never be grumpy or complain. If you have a hard time finding a street address due to the lack of house numbers, do not complain to the customer that they should have house numbers. Apologize for having a hard time finding the address because you did not see any house numbers.

• Bring a Pen

  Always carry a pen and a pad. This can help to write down directions or to take credit card or check orders.

• Go the Extra Mile

  Offer suggestions for activities your guests might partake during their trip. Point out the sites. Offer any other advice they might find helpful during their stay.

• No Loud Stereo

  Do not assume that your customers share your taste in music.

• Credit Card Orders

  Many people overlook the tip line on a credit card slip. Place and "X" next to the total, the tip, and the signature lines. Placing an "X" only on the tip line is tacky.