5 Useful Tips For Choosing Kid Transportation Service

I think you will agree with me when I say that coordinating kid transportation is stressful. Parents have the duty of making sure that their kid arrives at school on time. Luckily, there are choices available for working parents looking for some relief.

In general, the transportation industry is changing as seen with the emergence of technology. Ride-sharing has the potential to transform the kid's transportation service industry. We've talked to our clients and other experts who have been in the child-care trenches. Here are five ways to size up a kid transportation option:

1. Safety Measures

While word-of-mouth referrals from other parents or trusted resources are essential, following the due diligence in vetting different kid transportation services is critical. Of course, any child-care environment should be kept clean, childproofed, and well stocked with forms of entertainment. The relationship between the service and the school/program is also helpful to reduce any confusion.

Entrusting someone with your kid and genuinely feeling confident that they will protect them from danger is hard. That's why researching the safety measures in the hiring process, and training for drivers is critical! A few things to consider when auditing a service:

-Loves children 

 -No criminal record

-Fingerprinted.

-No sex offender record

-Valid drivers license

-Good driving record

-Age of driver

-Vehicle type

-*In-person meeting with Driver or team member

Make sure that the vehicles contain appropriate seat restraints for the age of the children they'll be transporting. The correct car seat or seat belt should be standard procedure. The safety belt should match up with the child’s age, height, and weight.

Furthermore, I would also research the school zone procedures for the kid's transportation service you are considering. Below is an infographic showing alarming statistics regarding the dangers in school zone areas:

2. Ask for a consistency

Kids need consistent, predictable care, especially when driving them to school. It helps them to feel secure and safe. Kid transportation to school or activities can be unpredictable with traffic and other cars on the road. Having the same driver is beneficial to establish consistency. Also, drivers having a uniform is a great feature too.

3. Recognizable Vehicles

School areas congested with vehicles are a typical scenario at peak times during the start and end of a school day. Cars that kids can recognize provides that consistency discussed on the previous tip. Kids transportation services with a feature of this kind can decrease confusion at the times of pick up or drop, which can be stressful for everyone. 

4. Rules for Students and Drivers

Kid transportation services should have plans in place to audit their drivers and make sure everyone is following the standard of operations (no texting and driving). Also, procedures for any driver found to be violating the policy.
Proper protocol for getting the children from the car to the school is essential. There should be a consistent routine, as this minimizes mistakes and keeps everything more organized. 

5. Trust Your Gut

Every parent knows when something doesn't feel quite right...you may be uncomfortable with specific processes. If that happens, keep searching.