Is This Rideshare App For Kids Worth It?

HopSkipDrive can present safer transportation for schoolchildren and senior residents than a regular rideshare app. Caredrivers undergo an intensive screening course of, and the platform supplies real-time updates to oldsters and guardians.

This platform is on the market in a number of metro areas throughout the USA for on-demand transportation. Our HopSkipDrive evaluate carefully examines how households can procure protected and reasonably priced faculty transportation.

Additional, we present the way it’s attainable to develop into a paid driver to earn more money whereas serving to households with distinctive wants.    

Abstract

HopSkipDrive supplies personal, on-demand transportation for college kids and senior residents. Drivers undergo an intensive screening course of and have at the very least 5 years of caregiver expertise. The app has ample schedule flexibility for drivers and weekly funds.

Execs

• Versatile schedules
• Arms-on security options
• Companions with native faculties

Cons

• Solely in choose cities
• Potential driver shortages
• Busiest throughout faculty 12 months

What’s HopSkipDrive?

HopSkipDrive is a ridesharing app specializing at school and senior transportation when public transportation or help from a member of the family is impractical. The app companions with faculty districts and organizations nationwide to offer protected and different transportation.

It emphasizes security and has a comparatively rigorous screening course of in comparison with different ridesharing apps for extra peace of thoughts. The Android or iOS cell makes it simple to trace the rider’s location, plus the flexibility to guide rides.

As an example, mother and father can set up rides so their kids don’t must trip the bus or when a bus route is unavailable. The driving force has at the very least 5 years of earlier caregiver expertise. Drivers additionally cross a background test together with little one abuse and neglect scans.

Whereas this app is especially for youngsters needing a trip between faculty, house, and afterschool actions, it additionally gives aged transportation. Some drivers have wheelchair-accessible automobiles to assist riders make appointments and run errands.

This flexibility is great for working households that can’t take off from work at sure hours. Moreover, it’s useful when a caregiver or babysitter can’t decide up the rider.

How Does HopSkipDrive Work?

Right here is tips on how to use the platform to schedule one-time and recurring rides with out the stress that may accompany customary transportation choices.

Faculty Transportation

Most rides contain drivers taking kids to and from faculty and after-school actions. Mother and father and organizations can request rides at the very least 8 hours prematurely. The cutoff time is 7 p.m. for morning rides. 

Youngsters have to be at the very least six years outdated to trip with out grownup supervision, and drivers might present booster seats. Youthful kids can trip if an grownup is current to put in or take away the protection seat. Adults should accompany kids below the age of 4. 

The platform states that it has helped over 16,000 faculties for college kids with out conventional bus routes. Along with serving to particular person households, the platform facilitates faculty rides for youth experiencing homelessness (McKinney-Vento Act) and foster kids. 

This app immediately companions with faculty districts to assist college students with the next conditions:

• After Faculty care
• Constitution faculties 
• Persevering with technical schooling
• Extracurricular actions
• Individualized schooling plan
• Non-public faculties
• Particular wants
• Sports activities observe

HopSkipDrive can work with accessible drivers to finalize a pickup time if mother and father or authorized guardians don’t request rides. Drivers are extra available in the course of the faculty 12 months, nevertheless it’s attainable to make use of the service year-round for academic and private functions. 

Senior Rides

Older people can profit from the service, as nicely. HopSkipDrive collaborates with households, organizations, and nursing houses to offer transportation. 

Among the choices embody:

• Physician appointments
• Meals on wheels
• Buying journeys
• Social outings 

Along with offering rides involving disabilities and particular wants, drivers should make lodging for service animals, because the regulation requires. Be sure you embody any requests to discover a appropriate automobile in the course of the scheduling course of. 

It’s attainable to schedule these rides in the identical app as faculty rides. Additional, some multi-generational households use this service to schedule rides for his or her kids and getting old relations. 

Actual-Time Updates

Every trip implements the HopSkipDrive Protected Experience Assist system, offering hands-on assist to oldsters and trip requesters. The rideshare app supplies a driver’s profile, automobile identification info, and real-time location particulars within the app. 

If the itinerary has a number of stops, the progress web page signifies the present leg of the journey. It additionally exhibits if the driving force is selecting up or dropping off different passengers. 

Additional, a number of security practices are in place for extra peace of thoughts:

• Orange identification decals: Drivers place an orange decal or automobile to assist determine respectable drivers.
• Passenger pictures: Mother and father can add a photograph of their little one to make it simpler for the driving force to search out the right rider.
• Rider code phrase: The driving force and passenger will affirm a secret code phrase earlier than letting the rider into the automobile.
• Particular directions: Mother and father can embody superior directions akin to written permission to enter and signal out a baby. Different examples are mentioning notable landmarks or the rider’s apparel to keep away from delays.

It’s additionally attainable to contact drivers by name or textual content. Nonetheless, drivers solely reply the cellphone when the automobile is stopped. The app makes use of a third-party service to detect cellphone utilization throughout movement to forestall speaking or texting whereas driving.

Lastly, reside chat assist is on the market immediately from the corporate each day from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific. Cellphone assist can be for pressing issues. You could think about contacting the assist heart when the driving force can’t fulfill your wants.

As a father of 4, I discover these safeguards to be sensible. Whereas I don’t reside throughout the service space, they make me really feel snug requesting a trip for my little one, understanding that I can confirm the driving force’s id and monitor their present location whereas en path to the vacation spot.  

Areas

HopSkipDrive is on the market within the following metro areas:

• Arizona
• California
  • Bay Space
  • Los Angeles
  • Northern California
  • Orange County
  • Sacramento
  • San Diego
  • Southern California
• Colorado
  • Boulder
  • Colorado Springs
  • Denver
  • Entrance Vary
• District of Columbia
  • DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia)
• Florida
• Indiana
• Michigan
• Missouri
• Nevada
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Texas
  • Austin
  • Dallas/Ft. Value
  • Houston
  • Midland
• Wisconsin

The service space is often a 100-mile most journey distance. This service space makes it a wonderful platform for expansive cities and distinctive conditions in outlying areas. The service at present doesn’t present airport transportation, which requires extra allowing.

Fare Safety

In choose metro areas, drivers and riders will be eligible for this function, which ensures a minimal driver payout. For instance, a minimal trip price helps drivers earn a aggressive wage for brief journeys.

Fare Safety additionally ensures that drivers earn at the very least the estimated quantity when checking in firstly of the trip. The incomes potential can enhance when the driving time is at the very least 5 minutes longer than the estimate and exceeds the minimal base fare threshold. For instance, the minimal varies by metropolis and is at the very least eight miles and 35 minutes in Phoenix.  

You’ll be able to guide a trip with most bank cards and debit playing cards. The app waits to cost the cost methodology as soon as the trip ends to confirm the full journey value. This observe removes the potential for requesting refunds if the driving force cancels or no one claims your trip request.

How A lot 

Beneath are many frequent charges that riders and drivers can anticipate paying. The typical trip can value between $40 and $80 with a route distance from 10 to 30 miles.

Experience Charges

The platform has a fare estimator allows you to challenge fares for one-stop and multi-stop routes by plugging within the areas’ addresses. As peak hour pricing might apply, you may choose the beginning time for a extra exact estimate.

Listed here are a few of the prices for pattern routes: 

• $40 for 11 miles in Spokane, WA
• $45 for 13 miles within the Nashville, TN metro space
• $62 for 20 miles within the Washington, D.C. metro space
• $71 for 27 miles in Los Angeles
• $82 for 25 miles within the Nashville, TN, metro space

The above value estimates encompass a base fare measuring the gap and driving time. A reserving price and native working prices additionally apply. 

Peak-hour pricing applies when the pick-up time is from 6:30 to eight:29 a.m. and a pair of:30 p.m. to 4:29 p.m. 

Different incidental costs can also apply, akin to automobile harm, rider delays, and tolls: 

• Cancellation price: 50% for cancellations between one to eight hours and 100% for cancellations inside one hour of pick-up
• Cleansing charges: Spot cleansing ($50) and full detailing ($100)
• Injury charges: Varies
• Tolls: Value of toll
• Wait time: Varies and begins 10 minutes after the scheduled pickup time 

Ideas are non-obligatory; you pay the driving force immediately as an alternative of by way of the app. Drivers maintain 100% of all suggestions they obtain.

Driver Charges

Drivers received’t encounter incidental charges, excluding regular wear-and-tear or gasoline purchases. Optionally available security tools like booster seats could be non-reimbursable. One can search reimbursements for tolls, parking, and rider-responsible harm or soiling. 

In contrast to most delivery app jobs, this platform doesn’t provide same-day funds to a linked debit card, which incurs third-party charges. 

HopSkipDrive Driver Necessities

The platform’s driver necessities are stricter than these of most ridesharing apps because you transport kids and older adults and not using a guardian companion. Particularly, you want at the very least 5 years of caregiver expertise, a clear driving file, and a background test.

The fundamental driver and automobile necessities embody:

• Age: Are at the very least 23 years outdated
• Background test: You need to cross multi-agency background checks and fingerprinting. This step additionally features a Youngster Abuse and Neglect scan.
• Caregiving expertise: 5 or extra years of caregiving expertise, together with two years with kids
• Driving expertise: Minimal of three years and a clear file
• Car specs: Personal or lease a four-door automobile over 10 years outdated. It should additionally cross an annual inspection from a licensed mechanic.  

In most states, the certification course of takes between 25 and 60 days with numerous on-line and in-person actions. 

How A lot Does HopSkipDrive Pay?

Drivers can anticipate incomes between $12 and $21 per trip, in keeping with latest energetic driver on Indeed. “You must test the app each day to guide rides every week out, and so they get snatched up rapidly. The children have been nice to this point, however they count on so much from drivers for little or no cash.”

Anticipate making $1,000 per month or extra by finishing a number of rides every faculty day, in keeping with a number of drivers. This pay is earlier than driving bills, and you need to calculate the full journey time to estimate your efficient hourly charge.

“Is dependent upon the place you reside , however the place I’m, I’m able to make 300-400 {dollars} weekly , however that’s solely doing 4-5 rides a day. It’s the excellent aspect gig for somebody with a gasoline environment friendly automotive. There are bonuses on rides which are pressing, so when you have time all through the day I’d undoubtedly do it. Simply ensure you plan out your day accurately, that manner you might be extra environment friendly, hope this helps,” says sad-improvement-123. 

Your journey pay includes a number of components:

• Base fare
• Boosts and promotions
• Further wait time and driving time
• Optionally available buyer suggestions 

These wages are aggressive with most supply apps, however some drivers say they will earn extra of their native market with a standard ride-sharing platform. Consequently, you have to be snug transporting adults who could be extra troublesome if you happen to work on nights or weekends. Nonetheless, it’s a satisfying solution to make money from your phone. 

The platform advertises that new drivers can earn as much as $50 per hour. This incomes potential is feasible with back-to-school promotions that assure a minimal payout after finishing a minimal variety of rides in the course of the promotion interval. 

HopSkipDrive Critiques

Listed here are a number of driver and buyer evaluations from optimistic and detrimental views to assist achieve an inside take a look at the platform.

“To this point so good! More than happy with the Hop Skip and drive service for my highschool son. My son additionally said that each driver that has picked him up has been glorious, dependable, affected person, courteous, respectful, pleasant, and type,” — Sylvia S. 

“This driving job is mainly an “Uber” for youths below 18. Simple to make use of app and a good caring customer support crew. Nonetheless paid in full for last-minute (cancellations). Loads of alternatives in LA/Orange County areas. Scheduling children regularly is a plus and consistency and relationship with the children.” — A Los Angeles driver on Indeed.

“I’ve been a care driver for HopSkipDrive for 4 years and have discovered it to be a straightforward and fulfilling job. It’s nice that I can decide my very own rides and take time without work if I must. Extremely suggest!” —A Pleasanton, CA driver on Indeed.

“After spending the time to enter all the info, my request for a driver was rebuffed stating that there weren’t sufficient drivers in our Phoenix space to assist this request. Take into account that I used to be putting the request 5 days prematurely, not final minute.” — AggieinAZ

“The pay is ridiculous, and reserving consecutive jobs is difficult as a result of most colleges get out on the identical time.This isn’t a daily Uber job. Many instances, you need to go into faculties and meet children within the workplace. This provides to your time. If a job doesn’t get picked up, they attempt to entice you by including a “increase’ like $2.” —A Las Vegas driver on Indeed.

“Good environment working with kiddos and offering consistency to them attending to/from faculty. The driving force assist is pretty good. You continue to receives a commission when it’s a no-show. Want there was all-year enterprise however often it’s simply throughout (the) faculty 12 months.” —A Madison, WI driver on Indeed.

Options to HopSkipDrive

These driving aspect hustles might present extra paid alternatives in your group. You may additionally think about these supply duties to make money in your free time exterior of faculty hours:  

• DoorDash: Ship meals and merchandise from eating places and shops. This platform is on the market nationwide, together with in rural areas.
• Instacart: Store for and ship grocery orders with a versatile schedule. Many supermarkets and low cost retailers take part. It’s attainable to be an in-store shopper with scheduled shifts in choose cities.
• Uber: Drivers might think about Uber to ship passengers and Uber Eats for meals. The driving force and automobile necessities are extra versatile as an Uber Eats driver.

Often Requested Questions

Listed here are a number of questions that you will have earlier than becoming a member of HopSkipDrive.

Is HopSkipDrive Protected?

The platform implements rigorous security protocols to search out eligible drivers with related expertise and a clear background test. It additionally has a number of trip monitoring instruments for fogeys to confirm their little one safely reaches their vacation spot.   

How Do I Turn out to be a HopSkipDrive Driver?

You’ll be able to apply on-line when dwelling in an energetic service space. First, add the mandatory paperwork and full the digital orientation. The ultimate steps contain an in-person background test and automobile inspection.

Can You Make Cash with HopSkipDrive?

Most drivers earn roughly $20 per trip and earn at the very least $1,000 month-to-month by driving each day. Drivers may have to say trip requests a number of days prematurely on a first-come, first-serve foundation. Be sure you calculate the commuting prices and dealing time to find out if the estimated earnings is price it for a selected request.

What’s the HopSkipDrive cancellation coverage for drivers?

Drivers obtain half of the estimated cost if the mother or father or caregiver cancels the trip between one and eight hours earlier than the beginning time. Full compensation is feasible when the requester cancels inside 60 minutes of pick-up. There isn’t a compensation if the mother or father cancels at the very least eight hours prematurely.

Abstract

HopSkipDrive generally is a protected public transit different for fogeys with one-time or recurring trip requests. It will also be a satisfying aspect hustle for impartial contractors who wish to assist households and want versatile working hours.

The app’s most vital weak spot is that it solely operates in choose cities throughout the USA.