James E. Cannon wrote:
I've decided that this is on-topic for this NG since many of us order large
tools that have to be delivered freight.

When a truck driver drops a pallet in your garage, is he expecting a tip?
How much? What do you think?

It's never a question with the UPS guy since he is already gone before I can
even answer the door, but the freight guy is a different story.

This is why the whole concept of tipping sucks.

My opinion...if he puts something in the garage, probably some sort of
tip would be expected. I guess my rule for big-box deliveries is to
tip for any service beyond what was contracted for.

In other words, if it's a long-distance motor-freight delivery to a
residence, and I haven't paid for a liftgate, and yet the driver shows
up with one anyway, yeah, I'd tip for that. If it's a local
consumer-oriented store using his delivery truck, and he obviously
knows it's to a residence, well I've already paid for that in the
delivery charge, so no. If, however, either driver helps me get the
box where it needs to go, I'd probably tip. Even if he rolls it up the
driveway into the garage, I'd probably give him a very small tip.

Normally the contracts call for "curbside" delivery because their
trucks could crack your driveway and they won't accept the liability.
So if the driver takes it beyond the curbside, yeah, I'd probably give
him something, even if it's just five bucks.