This is especially true for more vulnerable populations. For children with special needs, routine helps them manage their time and behavior, and helps them work on mastering the activities of daily living (ADL) — resulting in increased self-confidence.
For children in the foster care system or students experiencing homelessness, consistency and routine provide a sense of stability that may not be found at home.
So it’s understandable that we’re often asked if HopSkipDrive Riders can get the same CareDriver every time. The short answer is: We can’t 100% guarantee this. Our model works on individual CareDriver availability, which is also why our solution is flexible and cost-effective.
That being said, CareDrivers often select rides that are familiar to them and so Riders often get the same CareDriver, especially when they sign up for a recurring Ride Series.
The CareDriver and Rider relationship is extremely important, but the HopSkipDrive experience is composed of multiple touch points, which remain consistent across all rides.
While some youth transportation services promise a consistent driver, that person could quit, be let go or call out sick at any time. Buses are the same: the bus driver shortage is rampant, and one result is frequent call-outs. Different bus drivers and transportation staff pitch in, meaning a child will see different bus drivers.
The same goes for any facet of education. Children change teachers with each grade. During the school year, a teacher may call in sick one day or leave during the school year for various reasons.
The point is, change is inevitable — and being exposed to different adults is not necessarily a bad thing for children. It can actually help them build self-confidence and allow them to practice their social skills.
Here at HopSkipDrive, we focus on the consistency of the overall ride experience because we know that while a CareDriver may change, consistency is holistic.
Here’s how we create and maintain a consistent ride experience.
All Ride Organizers (or those who schedule rides) on the HopSkipDrive platform have access to a marketplace of experienced CareDrivers, otherwise known as “caregivers on wheels.” CareDrivers meet multiple criteria before they have access to claim rides that are booked in the HopSkipDrive app. Every CareDriver has a minimum of five years of caregiving experience.
Many CareDrivers are parents themselves, or have built a professional career working with kids as teachers, social workers, nannies, coaches and more.
Take, for instance, HopSkipDrive CareDriver Mishelle Sharp:
“I used to be a social worker for foster children, and I eventually will become a foster parent. . . . I believe this is why I typically seek out rides for children who are part of DCFS. I want to help support their current lives, even if it is just helping them get them to a school they attended before they moved to a new foster home.”
Educators have maintained consistency in the classroom for decades, and the helpful routines don’t need the same instructor each day to continue.
Every single day, the bell rings at the same time, classes begin at a set time and scheduled breaks and activities break up the day at the same time. Children who perform better with a set routine benefit from this, and a well-managed classroom can run on routine even with a substitute instructor.
These types of consistent experiences are important, and the HopSkipDrive app and platform are designed to provide them.
A "Ride Series" can be booked daily for the same departure and pickup times, and often the same CareDriver will claim a majority of rides in the series.
Even if rides are claimed by different CareDrivers, the ride process is always the same, which should provide comfort to kids who prefer consistency. Additionally, interactions with a variety of adults help with independence and self-sufficiency in a safe setting. Every CareDriver will always provide the secret code word and confirm the Rider’s birthday to ensure Riders are leaving with the right CareDriver.
When booking a ride, you can enter pickup and drop-off notes for the CareDriver. For example, if a Rider needs to be met at a specific pickup spot or signed out of an after-school program, this requirement can be added to the notes. Kids can wait in the same designated spot each day for their CareDriver.
For many kids, a consistent experience is not only ideal, it’s necessary. We completely understand that, and agree that it’s beneficial to provide consistent, reliable transportation for kids in special education or those who have an IEP.
Other transportation providers don’t have the same kind of direct, ongoing contact with their drivers and clients that the HopSkipDrive platform provides. Many who subcontract with other fleet providers have no insight into driver qualifications, or even the rides themselves.
CareDrivers on the HopSkipDrive platform will always have the Rider’s information in their app, as well as HopSkipDrive decals on their vehicle per TNC regulations. These safety-driven practices are examples of the many things we do to provide a sense of safety and reassurance for parents, Riders and schools.
Communication with CareDrivers helps each trip to be as consistent as possible. The pickup procedure and overall experience is very similar day-to-day with every CareDriver, helping kids feel safe through routine.
The format of the HopSkipDrive platform means we continue to engage with the CareDriver community after CareDrivers become certified and are granted access to the HopSkipDrive app. CareDrivers have continuous access to resources on driving safety, working with youth in foster care or students experiencing homelessness, trauma-informed care, and other information that helps to ensure each ride goes smoothly.
HopSkipDrive also works with an industry-leading third-party application that uses sensors in cell phones to detect risky driving behaviors during rides. The safety software records events of the six riskiest driving behaviors, including speeding, hard braking and device use.
This helps to provide a consistent ride experience on the road.
Some of the largest companies in school transportation serve as dispatchers sending rides to drivers, but it’s difficult to know how much contact they have with their drivers. Some companies broker with third parties to add more drivers to their fleet — but they have no ongoing communication with these drivers.
In HopSkipDrive’s case, we maintain consistent contact with the marketplace of CareDrivers using the HopSkipDrive app. Through our proprietary technology, we’re available to assist CareDrivers, Riders and Ride Organizers throughout the process. For example, if a CareDriver is at pickup and has not met up with their Rider after several minutes, the HopSkipDrive platform can help bridge that gap. Communication with HopSkipDrive and the Ride Organizer is just a click or call away.
Our level of transparency and streamlined communication processes help us create consistency while positioning us to proactively resolve any potential issues as they arise.
Interested in learning about partnering with HopSkipDrive to meet your unique transportation needs?