Latest news with #HopSkipDrive
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
HopSkipDrive Plans Expansion Across Six New States for the 2025-2026 School Year
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HopSkipDrive, a technology company that solves complex school transportation challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, access, and care, today announced its Texas expansion into San Antonio, as well as launch plans for Maryland, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Oklahoma City, and markets throughout Florida. This expansion, combined with the company's launches earlier this year in the greater Louisiana area (including New Orleans and Baton Rouge), Kansas City, Kan., and Virginia Beach, strengthens HopSkipDrive's overall presence and growth across the country for the back-to-school season. Schools in these cities face ongoing challenges like bus driver shortages and will benefit from HopSkipDrive's network of drivers to supplement existing options, like yellow buses. HopSkipDrive rides can scale up and down with a district's needs, offering a flexible solution for students — especially those whose needs cannot be met with traditional school buses and fixed routes, such as individuals experiencing homelessness or who are in foster care, or those with disabilities. Districts interested in partnering with HopSkipDrive can sign up here for a free consultation. HopSkipDrive, with an unmatched technology-driven safety approach and operational expertise, connects school districts with local, highly vetted drivers in small vehicles who can fulfill rides in as little as six hours, the shortest turnaround time in the industry. The company, which currently supports more than 10,000 schools, also offers specialty transportation services like wheelchair-accessible vehicles and Rider Assistants across the country, as well as rides with car seats in select markets. HopSkipDrive will provide schools and districts in these areas with access to a new network of vetted drivers, called CareDrivers, in small vehicles. These CareDrivers are local caregivers from diverse backgrounds like parenting, education, and healthcare who have at least five years of caregiving experience and complete the HopSkipDrive 15-point certification process. HopSkipDrive's industry-leading approach to safety includes Safe Ride Technology™ and over 50 safety products and features woven throughout the ride experience. These features include real-time ride tracking and communication, as well as monitoring of driving behavior. The technology also incorporates automated incident prediction and real-time collision detection, alerting the Safe Ride Support® (SRS) team to potential issues. The company also offers Safe Ride InSight™: dashcams with dual-camera technology equipped with audio recording, featuring both forward-facing and interior cameras. 'Our industry-leading technology and our unwavering commitment to safety — highlighted by our thorough driver vetting — provide parents and schools with peace of mind while addressing the significant transportation needs of the area,' said Joanna McFarland, CEO and Co-Founder of HopSkipDrive. 'We look forward to continuing our support for the communities in Kansas City, Louisiana, and Virginia Beach, while also expanding our efforts for this back-to-school season. Schools and districts in Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and across Texas will now have access to the ability to quickly and seamlessly book safe, reliable rides for students.' Here's how HopSkipDrive works: School districts identify students to receive rides from CareDrivers and inform parents and caregivers. Transportation officials then arrange rides directly through RideIQ, HopSkipDrive's online ride management platform. Once a ride has been booked, HopSkipDrive provides ride details to organizers, parents, and caregivers. All details, and real-time ride tracking, is available in the HopSkipDrive app. Riders and CareDrivers verify one another using a multi-factor verification system using birthdays, names, and code words for an added layer of security before beginning the ride. Parents and caregivers of selected students will receive updates, including pickup times, live ride tracking, and CareDriver information, via text message and through the HopSkipDrive app. About HopSkipDrive HopSkipDrive is a technology company that solves complex transportation challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, access, and care. HopSkipDrive is modernizing the $30 billion school transportation industry through two core solutions: a care-centered transportation marketplace and industry-leading transportation intelligence platform, RouteWise AI™. HopSkipDrive's marketplace supplements school buses and existing transportation options by connecting kids to highly vetted caregivers on wheels, such as grandparents, babysitters, and nurses in local communities. RouteWise AI helps schools and districts address critical challenges, including budget cuts, bus driver shortages, and reaching climate goals. HopSkipDrive has supported over 10,000 schools across 17 states, with over 600 school district partners. More than 5 million rides over 95 million miles have been completed through HopSkipDrive since the company was founded in 2014 by three working mothers.
CBS News
17-06-2025
- CBS News
HopSkipDrive offers rides to get Colorado kids to their summer programs and activities
HopSkipDrive programs offers rides to get kids to their summer programs and activities HopSkipDrive programs offers rides to get kids to their summer programs and activities HopSkipDrive programs offers rides to get kids to their summer programs and activities Parents have to juggle so much each and every day, especially over the summer when their kids are out of school. This can cause conflicts when you have to work, and you might not have time to get your kids to the places they need to be. HopSkipDrive/GREGORY ULLERY There's a program, HopSkipDrive, that will take your child to their summer sports practices or even their extracurricular activities to help you out. It is a rideshare service similar to Uber. To book the ride, follow these steps: Download the HopSkipDrive app. Use the easy-to-navigate interface to arrange safe, reliable transportation for a child, older adult, or anyone needing extra care with a few taps of a button. The HopSkipDrive platform connects parents with a network of highly qualified CareDrivers in order to schedule a ride. Parents must schedule a ride at least 8 hours in advance. Once a ride has been booked, HopSkipDrive texts the parent who organized the pickup with ride details. Details are also made available in the app. Riders and CareDrivers verify one another using a multi-factor verification system using birthdays, names, and code words, for an added layer of security before beginning the ride. CareDrivers are responsible for providing the rider with their name and secret code word once the rider has reached the vehicle. The rider then provides their birthday after confirming the initial information. Parents receive live-ride text message updates when a CareDriver is on their way, when they arrive, depart, and safely reach the destination. Parents can also track rides in real-time through the app, enabling visibility into ride status throughout their child's journey. If a ride needs to be canceled, that function is also completed through the app. If the parent needs to reach the CareDriver at any time during the ride, they can do so by using a masked phone number to contact the CareDriver. HopSkipDrive Each hired driver goes through a 15-point certification process. This includes fingerprint-based background checks, driving record checks, video screening, and more. Each caregiver makes sure the child is well taken care of, especially when it comes to wearing a seat belt. "We do make sure that they have their seat belts on," Angela Holbrook, Caregiver for HopSkipDrive. "I usually tell them that my car doesn't drive without the seatbelts on. When I have the older kids, they just understand." Holbrook has been a HopSkipDrive Caregiver for three and a half years. She joined the program to help families and make bonds with their children. Right now, parents are receiving some extra incentives to help them out. HopSkipDrive is offering $10 off ride coupons when you put in the promo code SUMMER2025. HopSkipDrive HopSkipDrive is also hiring drivers. The schedules are flexible and you can receive incentives and bonuses based off your rides. The rides will be available all summer long and when kids go back to school this fall.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
HopSkipDrive Launches Specialty Transportation, Offering Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle Rides, New Rider Assistants, and Car Seat Program to Support Entirety of Schools' Transportation Needs
New offering empowers schools to support more students of all abilities in 2025–2026 academic year LOS ANGELES, June 10, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HopSkipDrive today announced a significant expansion in its ability to meet the transportation needs of all students, enabling schools and school districts to seamlessly and directly book rides for students needing wheelchair-accessible vehicles, Rider Assistants, and car seats. With this development, school districts around the country will be able to solve even more student transportation challenges through HopSkipDrive's unmatched technology-driven safety approach and operational expertise, and can learn more with a sign-up here. "All children, especially those with disabilities, deserve a safe, reliable ride in a vehicle that meets their specific needs with adults who are fully prepared to support them," said Joanna McFarland, CEO and Co-Founder of HopSkipDrive. "Rising chronic absenteeism rates make clear that existing school transportation industry options leave behind students with unique needs." With more than 5 million rides across 95 million safe miles completed on its platform, HopSkipDrive continues to raise the bar for student transportation. The company supports over 600 school districts by supplementing yellow buses with a network of extensively vetted CareDrivers — local caregivers on wheels — through a care-centered transportation marketplace. With the launch of these three new transportation offerings this fall, HopSkipDrive will provide schools and school districts with even more resources, all backed by rigorous safety standards and industry-leading Safe Ride TechnologyTM. Transportation teams can use HopSkipDrive's ride management platform, RideIQ, to easily and simply book, track, and manage all rides in one place, and staff can get full visibility with Daily Queue, which provides a customized view for all HopSkipDrive rides for students at their school location. Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicles and Rider Assistants Following a successful pilot earlier this year, HopSkipDrive is expanding the availability of Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle rides and Rider Assistants to all cities in which the company operates. These rides are fulfilled by CarePartners™, local professionals who undergo HopSkipDrive's rigorous and comprehensive certification process, including name- and fingerprint-based background checks, clearing child abuse and neglect screenings where available, and enrolling in continuous criminal monitoring. Like all CareDrivers, they complete HopSkipDrive onboarding and a virtual orientation course. CarePartner drivers for Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle rides also undergo driving record screens, vehicle inspections, and more. To meet the needs of students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and those who thrive most when an additional adult is in the vehicle, HopSkipDrive offers a Rider Assistant for schools to book to join the CareDriver or CarePartner driver on the ride. The Rider Assistant will provide informed and compassionate support for the rider when needed. HopSkipDrive continues to lead in forward-thinking safety measures by directly managing driver and Rider Assistant vetting, onboarding, and compliance. This unique approach sets HopSkipDrive apart in the student transportation industry, offering schools valuable features such as the Safe Ride Support® system and enhanced Must Be Met process to support the development of new rider services all delivered with the company's signature tracking and notification systems. Car Seat Program In select cities, schools and school districts can select HopSkipDrive's car seat program for students whose height and weight, typically between the ages of four to six, require a car seat. CareDrivers can only opt in to fulfill these rides after completing comprehensive car seat safety education and using only the forward-facing car seat model approved by HopSkipDrive and Safe Kids Worldwide, the leading organization for childhood injury prevention. HopSkipDrive collaborated with the industry's leading child safety experts to design and develop the safest possible ride experience. Britney Lombard, who has spent more than a decade as a Safe Kids Worldwide certified Child Passenger Safety Instructor and performed thousands of car seat checks during her tenure, now leads HopSkipDrive's car seat program. The HopSkipDrive Safety Advisory Council, composed of six leading experts in transportation safety, also played a key role in advising the development of the car seat program to confirm protocols meet the highest standards in the industry. Compliance is a core principle of the car seat program. Ahead of the implementation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's new safety standards, HopSkipDrive proactively selected a car seat model that goes above and beyond these requirements in consultation with the company's expert advisors. Safety Leadership, Including In-Ride Recording HopSkipDrive continues to invest in leading the industry in safety with over 50 products, features, and initiatives woven throughout the ride experience. Over the past year, the company announced nearly a dozen new safety initiatives, including offering in-ride cameras through Safe Ride InSight.™ Schools and school districts can request dashcam recording for rides with CareDrivers who have installed SafeRide InSight, which combines visual monitoring with audio recording. HopSkipDrive uses this technology along with advanced telematics to create a solution that's unmatched in the student transportation industry. First piloted in Arizona and Colorado, the company is continuing to scale this technology to additional markets over the coming months. Learn more about HopSkipDrive at About HopSkipDrive HopSkipDrive is a technology company that solves complex transportation challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, access, and care. HopSkipDrive is modernizing the $30 billion school transportation industry through two core solutions: a care-centered transportation marketplace and industry-leading transportation intelligence platform, RouteWise AI™. HopSkipDrive's marketplace supplements school buses and existing transportation options by connecting kids to highly vetted caregivers on wheels, such as grandparents, babysitters, and nurses in local communities. RouteWise AI helps schools and districts address critical challenges, including budget cuts, bus driver shortages, and reaching climate goals. HopSkipDrive has supported over 10,000 schools across 17 states, with over 600 school district partners. More than 5 million rides over 95 million miles have been completed through HopSkipDrive since the company was founded in 2014 by three working mothers. View source version on Contacts Media Contact: press@
Associated Press
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
HopSkipDrive Deepens Commitment to Youth Safety Through Expert Advisory Council
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2025-- HopSkipDrive, a technology company that has raised the bar for safety, access, and care in supplemental student transportation for more than a decade, today announced the formation of a dedicated Safety Advisory Council, bringing together a diverse group of six safety experts to help guide the company's ongoing innovation in youth transportation safety. Their insights will directly inform HopSkipDrive's product development roadmap as the company continues to launch and expand services for students with specialized transportation needs. The Safety Advisory Council represents the company's deepened commitment to remaining at the forefront of safety innovation and transparency, and will enable HopSkipDrive to set new industry standards for specialized transportation products and features that support the diverse needs of all students. Recognizing that comprehensive safety encompasses multiple factors–from road safety to interpersonal safety–HopSkipDrive has assembled the council to address every aspect of the safe ride experience. Comprising of experts from across essential safety disciplines, the council brings together the following leaders: 'Safety is a multifaceted challenge that requires diverse perspectives and specialized expertise,' said Jen Brandenburger, SVP of Safety at HopSkipDrive. 'By assembling this council of respected leaders, we're ensuring that our safety features, policies, and educational initiatives benefit from the latest research and best practices from across disciplines. Our goal is to keep aiming higher for what's possible in youth transportation safety, so that families and schools can focus on helping students thrive.' The council's formation comes on the heels of HopSkipDrive's 2024 Safety Report and the announcement of new features which bolster its suite of over 50 safety products and initiatives. The company's annual Safety Report–which includes metrics on road safety, interpersonal safety, and violations of its Community Guidelines–highlights the scalability of the company's industry-leading safety record and outlines its work to build safety into everything it does. Last year, 99.7% of the 1.7 million HopSkipDrive rides ended without a safety concern of any kind, with CareDrivers completing an unprecedented 34 million safe miles while serving students across 14 states. These metrics demonstrate that the company's multilayered safety systems work effectively across diverse regions, from dense urban neighborhoods to rural communities, and everywhere in between. 'As an organization dedicated to keeping children safe, Safe Kids Worldwide recognizes that transportation safety requires a comprehensive approach that addresses all aspects of a child's journey. Through the Safety Advisory Council, we're combining expertise across multiple disciplines to advise on products and policies that help protect all children, particularly those with specialized needs,' said Cass Herring, Senior Director of Road Safety and Child Occupant Protection at Safe Kids Worldwide. 'Working with HopSkipDrive, a company purpose-built for facilitating safe rides for children since day one, we're establishing new benchmarks for youth transportation safety that will not only benefit the students and districts who use HopSkipDrive, but will ultimately elevate standards across the entire industry.' The Safety Advisory Council will bring fresh perspectives and specialized insights to HopSkipDrive's robust safety ecosystem. By collaborating with leading voices in road safety, interpersonal safety, child development, and youth advocacy, HopSkipDrive will continue to refine and enhance its approach to innovating in safety. The council will play a crucial role in guiding HopSkipDrive's expansion of wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) rides, elevating its support for all students with diverse transportation needs, and further strengthening the company's Safe Ride InSight™ technology, its programmatic AI-powered dashcam recording technology with advanced telematics. This expert-informed approach will help ensure that as the company grows to serve more diverse student needs, its commitment to safety scales alongside its expanding capabilities. This initiative represents another milestone in HopSkipDrive's unwavering commitment to create opportunity for all through mobility. By bringing these leaders together with its team of experienced safety professionals, HopSkipDrive is continuing to redefine what safe, reliable student transportation can help achieve, ensuring every student has access to the educational opportunities they deserve, while giving schools and families the peace of mind that comes with truly exceptional safety standards. About HopSkipDrive HopSkipDrive is a technology company that solves complex transportation challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, access, and care. HopSkipDrive is modernizing the $30 billion school transportation industry through two core solutions: a care-centered transportation marketplace and industry-leading routing software, RouteWise AI™. HopSkipDrive's marketplace supplements school buses and existing transportation options by connecting kids to highly vetted caregivers on wheels, such as grandparents, babysitters, and nurses in local communities. RouteWise AI helps schools and districts address critical challenges, including budget cuts, bus driver shortages, and reaching climate goals. HopSkipDrive has supported over 10,000 schools across 17 states, with over 600 school district partners. More than five million rides over 95 million miles have been completed through HopSkipDrive since the company was founded in 2014 by three working mothers. View source version on CONTACT: Media Contact: [email protected] KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OTHER TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY CHILDREN TRANSPORT SOFTWARE CONSUMER DATA MANAGEMENT PRIMARY/SECONDARY EDUCATION ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOURCE: HopSkipDrive Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/08/2025 10:00 AM/DISC: 05/08/2025 09:59 AM
Business Wire
05-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
HopSkipDrive Welcomes David Katcher as COO and Tyler Baldwin as CRO
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- HopSkipDrive, a technology company solving complex transportation challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, access, and care, today announced the appointments of David Katcher as Chief Operating Officer and Tyler Baldwin as Chief Revenue Officer. Katcher and Baldwin bring extensive leadership experience across transportation, care, and marketplace companies. Their appointments reflect HopSkipDrive's continued investment in scaling its operations and expanding its national footprint to ensure all students have access to safe, reliable transportation. David Katcher joins HopSkipDrive after serving as COO at Rula, where he led a broad portfolio of go-to-market and operational teams. Under his leadership, Rula expanded from 11 markets to national coverage and launched several new service offerings. He previously held executive roles at Lyft and AvantStay, overseeing global operations and field teams of 600+ employees. 'I'm energized by HopSkipDrive's mission to create mobility for all, and I'm excited to build the systems and services that allow us to scale with quality,' said Katcher. 'Transportation is a gateway to opportunity, and we are here to make sure that access is never out of reach.' Tyler Baldwin joins from CharterUP, where he served as CRO and led the revenue organization through a period of rapid growth, increasing gross bookings from $120M to over $200M. He has also served in executive roles at Reali and LinkedIn, building high-performing teams and launching scalable go-to-market strategies. 'I'm thrilled to help drive the next phase of growth for HopSkipDrive,' said Baldwin. 'This is a company with demonstrated product-market fit, an inspiring mission, and a platform that truly makes a difference in communities. There's a massive opportunity to support more school districts across the country, and we're just getting started.' 'David and Tyler are incredible leaders with a deep commitment to impact, and their expertise will be instrumental as we continue to grow and expand our footprint,' said Joanna McFarland, Co-Founder and CEO of HopSkipDrive. 'Their appointments reinforce our focus on quality, safety, and service at scale as we partner with more districts and solve the complex challenges of student transportation.' HopSkipDrive's announcement follows a string of recent milestones, including new district partnerships, the launch of the new RouteWise AI™ planning platform to help schools optimize their transportation networks, and the announcement of new safety products, features, and initiatives. About HopSkipDrive HopSkipDrive is a technology company that solves complex transportation challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, access, and care. HopSkipDrive is modernizing the $30 billion school transportation industry through two core solutions: a care-centered transportation marketplace and industry-leading routing software, RouteWise AI™. HopSkipDrive's marketplace supplements school buses and existing transportation options by connecting kids to highly vetted caregivers on wheels, such as grandparents, babysitters, and nurses in local communities. RouteWise AI helps schools and districts address critical challenges, including budget cuts, bus driver shortages, and reaching climate goals. HopSkipDrive has supported over 10,000 schools across 17 states, with over 600 school district partners. More than five million rides over 95 million miles have been completed through HopSkipDrive since the company was founded in 2014 by three working mothers.
