Is This Rideshare App For Kids Worth It?

HopSkipDrive can present safer transportation for schoolchildren and senior residents than an ordinary rideshare app. Caredrivers undergo an in depth screening course of, and the platform offers real-time updates to oldsters and guardians.

This platform is on the market in a number of metro areas throughout the US for on-demand transportation. Our HopSkipDrive evaluate intently examines how households can procure protected and inexpensive college transportation.

Additional, we present the way it’s attainable to turn into a paid driver to earn extra cash whereas serving to households with distinctive wants.    

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 college districts and organizations nationwide to supply protected and various 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 straightforward to trace the rider’s location, plus the flexibility to guide rides.

For 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 motive force has at the very least 5 years of earlier caregiver expertise. Drivers additionally go a background test together with baby abuse and neglect scans.

Whereas this app is especially for kids needing a trip between college, residence, 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 superb for working households that can’t take off from work at sure hours. Moreover, it’s useful when a caregiver or babysitter can not decide up the rider.

How Does HopSkipDrive Work?

Right here is the right way to use the platform to schedule one-time and recurring rides with out the stress that may accompany normal transportation choices.

Faculty Transportation

Most rides contain drivers taking kids to and from college and after-school actions. Dad and mom and organizations can request rides at the very least 8 hours upfront. 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Youngsters have to be at the very least six years outdated to trip with out grownup supervision, and drivers might present booster seats.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 security seat. Adults should accompany kids underneath 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 college rides for youth experiencing homelessness (McKinney-Vento Act) and foster kids. 

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

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

HopSkipDrive can work with out there 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 college yr, however 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 properties to supply transportation. 

A number of the choices embody:

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

Along with offering rides involving disabilities and particular wants, drivers should make lodging for service animals, because the regulation requires. Make sure to 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 college rides. Additional, some multi-generational households use this service to schedule rides for his or her kids and growing older kin. 

Actual-Time Updates

Every trip implements the HopSkipDrive Protected Experience Help system, offering hands-on assist to oldsters and trip requesters. The rideshare app offers 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 reveals if the motive force is choosing 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 establish official drivers.
• Passenger pictures: Dad and mom can add a photograph of their baby to make it simpler for the motive force to seek out the proper rider.
• Rider code phrase: The motive force and passenger will affirm a secret code phrase earlier than letting the rider into the automobile.
• Particular directions: Dad and mom can embody superior directions comparable to written permission to enter and signal out a toddler. 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 stop speaking or texting whereas driving.

Lastly, dwell chat assist is on the market straight from the corporate day by day from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific. Cellphone assist can be for pressing issues. You might think about contacting the assist heart when the motive force can not fulfill your wants.

As a father of 4, I discover these safeguards to be sensible. Whereas I don’t dwell inside the service space, they make me really feel snug requesting a trip for my baby, understanding that I can confirm the motive force’s identification and observe 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 superb platform for expansive cities and distinctive conditions in outlying areas. The service at present doesn’t present airport transportation, which requires further allowing.

Fare Safety

In choose metro areas, drivers and riders could be eligible for this function, which ensures a minimal driver payout. For instance, a minimal trip payment 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 initially of the trip. The incomes potential can improve 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 may guide a trip with most bank cards and debit playing cards. The app waits to cost the fee technique as soon as the trip ends to confirm the overall journey value. This follow removes the potential for requesting refunds if the motive force cancels or no one claims your trip request.

How A lot 

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

Experience Charges

The platform has a fare estimator helps you to undertaking fares for one-stop and multi-stop routes by plugging within the places’ addresses. As peak hour pricing might apply, you’ll be able to choose the beginning time for a extra exact estimate.

Listed below are a number 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 include a base fare measuring the space and driving time. A reserving payment 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 couple of:30 p.m. to 4:29 p.m. 

Different incidental fees may additionally apply, comparable to automobile injury, rider delays, and tolls: 

• Cancellation payment: 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)
• Harm charges: Varies
• Tolls: Price of toll
• Wait time: Varies and begins 10 minutes after the scheduled pickup time 

Suggestions are non-compulsory; you pay the motive force straight as a substitute of by means of the app. Drivers hold 100% of all suggestions they obtain.

Driver Charges

Drivers received’t encounter incidental charges, excluding regular wear-and-tear or gasoline purchases. Non-obligatory security gear like booster seats may be non-reimbursable. One can search reimbursements for tolls, parking, and rider-responsible injury or soiling. 

Not like most delivery app jobs, this platform doesn’t supply 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 should go multi-agency background checks and fingerprinting. This step additionally features a Baby 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
• Automobile specs: Personal or lease a four-door automobile over 10 years outdated. It should additionally go an annual inspection from a licensed mechanic.  

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

How A lot Does HopSkipDrive Pay?

Drivers can anticipate incomes between $12 and $21 per trip, in accordance with current energetic driver on Indeed. “It’s important to test the app day by day to guide rides per week out, they usually get snatched up shortly. The youngsters have been nice to this point, however they count on quite a bit from drivers for little or no cash.”

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

“Will depend on 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 gas environment friendly automobile. There are bonuses on rides which are pressing, so if in case you have time all through the day I’d undoubtedly do it. Simply be sure you plan out your day accurately, that manner you’re extra environment friendly, hope this helps,” says sad-improvement-123. 

Your journey pay includes a number of elements:

• Base fare
• Boosts and promotions
• Further wait time and driving time
• Non-obligatory 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 may be extra troublesome for those who work on nights or weekends. Nonetheless, it’s a satisfying technique 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 Evaluations

Listed below are a number of driver and buyer opinions from optimistic and unfavorable views to assist acquire an inside take a look at the platform.

“Thus far so good! Very happy with the Hop Skip and drive service for my highschool son. My son additionally acknowledged that each driver that has picked him up has been wonderful, dependable, affected person, courteous, respectful, pleasant, and type,” — Sylvia S. 

“This driving job is mainly an “Uber” for teenagers underneath 18. Simple to make use of app and a good caring customer support staff. Nonetheless paid in full for last-minute (cancellations). Loads of alternatives in LA/Orange County areas. Scheduling youngsters frequently 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 day 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 inserting the request 5 days upfront, not final minute.” — AggieinAZ

“The pay is ridiculous, and reserving consecutive jobs is difficult as a result of most faculties get out on the similar time.This isn’t a daily Uber job. Many instances, it’s a must to go into faculties and meet youngsters 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 ambiance working with kiddos and offering consistency to them attending to/from college. The motive 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) college yr.” —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 outdoors of college 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 motive force and automobile necessities are extra versatile as an Uber Eats driver.

Regularly Requested Questions

Listed below are a number of questions that you could have earlier than becoming a member of HopSkipDrive.

Is HopSkipDrive Protected?

The platform implements rigorous security protocols to seek 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 baby safely reaches their vacation spot.   

How Do I Turn into a HopSkipDrive Driver?

You may apply on-line when residing 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 day by day. Drivers might have to say trip requests a number of days upfront on a first-come, first-serve foundation. Make sure to calculate the commuting prices and dealing time to find out if the estimated earnings is value it for a selected request.

What’s the HopSkipDrive cancellation coverage for drivers?

Drivers obtain half of the estimated fee if the mum or dad 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 mum or dad cancels at the very least eight hours upfront.

Abstract

HopSkipDrive could be a protected public transit various for fogeys with one-time or recurring trip requests. It may also be a satisfying aspect hustle for unbiased contractors who need to assist households and wish versatile working hours.

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