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.