Waitresses

[tumble weed]

Good morning!! Just wondering, if any of my fellow female drivers, seem to get somewhat "not so good" service, from waitresses, just because we're female? Countless times I'll walk into a T/S restaurant, sit down with my log book, tea thermos etc., and wait to be acknowledged by a waitress, as she welcomes several male drivers as they sit down. I'm not bashing waitresses, I realize they work hard for their tips, and have to work countless hours, dealing with rude people, etc. I tip well, even if I order a tea and salad.

[Big_Dave]

It's not just female drivers that don't get noticed or acknowledged. I've actually watched waitresses as they follow me with their eyes, to the booth and sit down. All the while BS'ing with their co-workers about their kids or something. :wtf:

I usually give them about 5 minutes. If they don't come to the booth with a menu, I'll get up and leave. Making sure that they know that one of them just lost a tip. (I tip well if the service is good)

BTW, why are ya taking your logbook into the restaurant? :wtf: I seen a guy get busted in Shreveport LA one time. He was sitting there filling out several days worth of logs when 2 DOT cops came from the back corner of the restaurant, heading towards the cash register (they had just finished their meal). :yikes:

They seen what he was doing and decided to do a Level 1 inspection on him, his truck & paperwork. He didn't look happy when they were walking out the door on their way to his truck. :rofl:

[ATCO]

moral of Dave's story, always stake out the resteraunt for bears before settling in for dinner... Kinda like when a gazel goes for water in the african plaines, make sure there are no lions in the brush before taking a drink... lol

anyways


I'll just repeat what Dave said, It's not just women they do this to... I don't like waitresses for this very reason, because they can't get it into their pea brains that they don't get good tips because they don't give good service... THey think they are OWED a high tip for just looking at you...

[tumble weed]

Thanks Big Dave, and Atco, on your comments with the log books. I appreciate the input. Back in 07/99, my first year driving OTR, I was shut down for log book compliance, Greenwich, CT. Lesson learned. I try to keep my log book current, where ever, whenever possible. (ie change duty status)
Big Dave, I've walked out several times, too.

[ATCO]

I've got a Denny's here in Bakersfield to advice against going to... It is right around from my shop, but I drive to the one a little further out because I get so much better service there... THis one around the corner, last time I was there walked out after being the only ones waiting to be seated for about 30 min... you know "just a sec."... based on past experiances there, I already knew it was going to be slow, but we usually got seated pretty quick... Yeah so that was really sad, waiting 30 for DENNY's food :angry: ... I'll wait over at Chilli's but not Denny's... I walked out... lol, IHOP was right around the corner, walked in and immediatly got seated and served....

[Big_Dave]

I'll wait over at Chilli's but not Denny's...
At least a Chilli's, you can be served cold adult beverages....correct? :wow:

[Foxfire]

You sure can Dave! El Presidente' Margaritas is my fav adult beverage there. That's where I stole my margarita recipie.....lol.

[DrivingZiggy]

always stake out the resteraunt for bears before settling in for dinner..Better yet, Run Compliant.

[Dave Sweetman]

Yeah...and even worse...don't be sitting there juggling a couple logbooks while downing Sauza margaritas..bad trucker..bad trucker... :wtf:

[Big_Dave]

Just some ramblings here........

I sat at the Flying J in Gretna NE for about 4 hours the other day waiting to see if dispatch could find something else to go with the freight I had loaded earlier that morning.

Since my a/c isn't working, I packed up my laptop and headed into the restaurant. I had eaten breakfast only a couple hours before hand, so I wasn't hungry, but I did order sweet tea.

I asked the waitress (her name is Andie), if it would be ok to 'camp out' there for a while. She said, "Sure, it's not too busy." :cool:

So, for 3 hours I sat there and played on my laptop.

Andie kept my tea filled and always had a smile and a cheerful tone in her voice every time she stopped by my booth to check on me.

My $1.79 tea was a bargain.

Because of her VERY GOOD SERVICE, Andie got a $10 tip from me when I left. I made sure to tell her that I really appreciated the good service and the work she does. :cool:

[beanie baby]

I have to say, being that I waitress at an Italian Resturant on Fri. and Sat. nights. It's all in the service and if you pleasant or not. One of the other waitresses at the resturant can't figure out why I get better tips then her. PERSONALITY! Works all the time. Not matter how irritated I get with a customer, I'm always pleasant to them.

I had one table one night, 4 people (probably in their 50's). Oh man they were a PITA. Nonetheless, I was always polite. When all was said and done, their dinner was $80 - left me a $32 tip. :D :cool: Approximately 40% - oh that was nice!! This happens very often - now ya see why I don't want to give up the weekend job yet.. :D

In general, I do not get anything less then 20% tip. I do believe it's all in your personality. Plus I do not hover, or check back way to many times, that just really irritates me. ;)

We used to have this single older gentlemen come in - Would order his dinner, drink a pot of coffee and sit there for hours doodling on his placement.. (he was a bit off the wall) and then would leave $1 tip. :rofl: Not a one of us complained to him or were rude to him in any way.

Sooo I guess it's ok to say, some are cut out to deal with the public, some just aren't. :wtf:

[tumble weed]

Monday afternoon I stopped at a T/S, in Indiana off of I65, exit 201, can't remember the name, but, I received the best service in a long time. They were remodeling part of the restaurant. The waitresses were friendly, and the service was great. Each waitress helped each other out, serving coffee's etc. It was a nice atmosphere.

[copperbottom]

discription of your job dutie as a waitress...........You do what ever it takes to get the job done!!
LOL....ya know I left the "business" (waitressed, tended bar, managed restraunts for @30 years), leaving it for a career change to "truckdriver", I can tell you nightmares from both sides. YES BB some are cut out for dealing with the public and some aren't!! I have trained ppl that have no idea what waitressing entales. I have listen'd to customers put down waitressing as a no brains, no skills job. If they only thought about it, a waitress deals with money, the public, timing, multitasking,ordering supplys,cleaning,and a mutitude of other things. Its a High-skill job if you take it seriously!! I was born in the south, and any good southrener knows feeding someone like they're at "MoMs" table is the highest complament they can give....and thats how I treated every dang one of the customers I ever served! My last boss told me shut up I was replaceable....LoL Guess what now that his 72 seat family owned restraunt has gone from doing $1500.00 for a am shift to doing $400.00 a am shift of business ( I did btw $600-800 a week in tips alone working 5 days a week), he now understands that I was one of the best hes had the privledge to have working for him. the turn over has been constant, and they have lost more regulars than they like.......I'm not Boasting, just trying to make a point........waitressing is one of the hardest jobs on earth, if you get a good one, go out of your way to let her know it. To many times its a thankless job, form both ends, the customers and the bosses. cb

[Capt._Chaos]

Copperbottom, you are absolutely right about waitresses having a hard job!

I remember many years ago, going into what used to be one of my favorite places to eat- the Triple T in Tucson, AZ (I-10, exit #268). I sat down, and it appeared that the wait staff was way understaffed that shift. 50 PEOPLE in there, and only ONE waitress (a VERY HARD WORKING, but very upbeat & cheerful African-American woman, I might add :) ).

She remained very cool under fire, and was more than able to be attentive to everyone in there, all while keeping her spirits up! I'm sure she was pretty happy about the tips most everyone was giving her after seeing how hard she worked!

Once I got done eating, I handed her a $20 bill for a tip and she said "Thank you so much! This day has been great for me, and I hope yours goes well too!". I also told the restaurant manager about what a fine job she did. She replied "She's the best I've seen anywhere, and I want to do whatever I can to keep her! I know she's gonna be awful tired when she goes home in a few hours though! My other two waitresses called in sick today, but she never has!".

[plow150]

You sure can Dave! El Presidente' Margaritas is my fav adult beverage there. That's where I stole my margarita recipie.....lol.

So where can i find the origional? [:wink:][B)][:wink:]

[rikki_359]

I just joined and figured I'd post this topic. In my younger days driving solo I got to where I'd ask another driver (male) or two to join me 'cause when I sat in the drivers section to use phone (no cells back then) etc the waitresses would look at me weird and hateful 'cause I wasn't some guy they could flirt with. Have even been asked to move b'cause they didn't think I was a driver. Have been hauling rock for a while now so don't do truck stops anymore, hopefully it's gotten better...........

[SUNSHINE]

Welcome Rikki
Come on in have a cup of coffe and sit a spell. Im a solo driver too. When I started 15 years ago there wasnt many women out there. Some of the waitress's were so rude to me. If i did my hair a makeup and put a decent shirt and looked like a girl instead of one of the guys they looked at me like I was a lot lizard. I have spoken to managment about the treatment I have gotten from some waitresses. I remind them Im no different from the guys. Travel the same roads, deliver at some of the same places and am required to follow the same FMCSA rules and that I expect the same service as the guys. What I find really trashy are the waitresses that wear low cut blouses so when they bend over there hooters fall out. If I want to see cleveage all I have to do is look in the mirror.I could care less if shes a carpenters dream or built like Dolly Parton. I tip on service and yes I have left a penny for a tip.I really like when a waitress takes the time to talk to me and ask me how Im doing or were Im from cuz of my New England accent. These are the ones I tip well. If they keep my coffe cup full ya hoo. I hate having to beg them to refill my coffe especially first thing in the morning.For some reason the FJ's come to mind. Keep coming back rikki its a hoot on here at times :D

[Randg1]

Rikki!!! Ya finally made it :D . Welcome aboard my friend :cool: ...bob

[The_Governor]

I had an experience similar to Jeffs in an Applebees in Rockwall,Tx.

We were a party of eight waiting to be seated on a weekend night and needless to say it was "chaos" all around the front door,podium,and waiting area.

The high school age hostesses(there were two) were starting to lose control of the situation when out of nowhere appeared one of the waitresses and you could tell by the walk,the talk,the general "take command" demeanor that this gal was a natural born leader.

She proceded to begin delegating duties to the hostesses,the table bussers, and anyone else who came within range of her voice as well as maintaining her own set of tables.

In a matter of minutes the wait area was back under control and we were seated..............not in her station I might add.


We ordered ,ate,drank,shared good conversation and all the while I kept my eye on this gal and the fantastic job she was doing.

As we were leaving I stopped at the podium and asked a hostess if I could see the manager.

When the manager came up I asked him to summon this waitress to the podium as well.

I then proceded to tell him and her of the great customer service and skills this gal had shown.I then gave her a twenty dollar tip.

I frequent this Applebees and if she is working I will wait however log it takes until a table is free in her section.

[SweetSnuggler]

Wow, Gov. People like you give "customers" a good name!!

What a feather in her cap that you took the time to make sure that not only she but her boss knew how much you appreciated her and her efforts! :D

[LindaLou]

Just some ramblings here........I sat at the Flying J in Gretna NE

I agree. This is one hook that I always rave about for the service. One of the only ones where the manager went from table to table asking if everything was ok. I take the time to fill out and send in the blue cards good or bad. I have had managers tell me that they do read them....

As for the female waitress, cashier thing, I have noticed it, too. Kind of made me feel bad for about a minute or so. Then I just climb back into my truck and drive away, never to return....