New children’s ride-sharing services target busy parents

HopSkipDrive website: “With HopSkipDrive, you have a reliable way to get your kids to any activity. You can schedule rides weeks in advance or with at least eight hours’ notice. Unlike carpool drivers, HopSkipDrivers are vetted for both childcare experience and driving safety.” Similarly to their ride-sharing predecessors, HopSkipDrive and Shuddle both say they conduct certain background checks on anyone who applies to drive for the services, including FBI fingerprint background checks, county/state/federal criminal record checks, sex offender registry checks, DMV record checks, and vehicle inspection certifications. Drivers must also complete training programs before beginning work. “We do DMV checks on a monthly basis, we do a social security trace and we look at every county you have lived in and we do that seven-year check,” said Joanna McFarland, HopSkipDrive’s CEO and co-founder. Between Shuddle and HopSkipDrive, the services may also: require at least five years of childcare experience, track drivers to prevent speeding and texting while driving, and allow parents to speak directly with drivers via video chat before their child gets in a vehicle. They also require drivers to carry insurance and $1 million liability policies. These services are currently only available in certain California locations (Greater Los Angeles and the Bay Area), but are looking to expand to additional markets.]]>