HopSkipDrive welcomed the 2025-2026 school year with new innovations, state expansions, and additional support teams to aid their school transportation efforts.

The company, which offers specialized rides to school to supplement traditional yellow buses, provides access drivers in small vehicles, called CarDrivers, as well as wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAV) and vetted rider assistants.

In early 2025, according to a company release, HopSkipDrive rolled out a new feature to rapidly identify nearby drivers who can substitute and fulfill a ride with just a few minutes' notice if common transportation issues like a flat tire, sickness, or traffic occur. The innovation has resulted in a 7% increase in on-time arrivals, with 95% of rides arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time.

"HopSkipDrive is here to help with school districts' long to-do list to help students safely get to school on time and ready to learn," said Joanna McFarland, HopSkipDrive CEO and Co-Founder. "School districts are adjusting to changing funding models, exploring how transportation can solve chronic absenteeism, understanding how a multimodal mix can increase access, and addressing the rising numbers of students who move frequently or who experience homelessness or displacement."

Expanded Teams and Tools to Back School Transportation

Ahead of back-to-school, HopSkipDrive has expanded its support teams and training behind its safety measures, focusing on how best to support transportation officials, CareDrivers, caregivers, and riders.

School transportation teams can now book a variety of transportation solutions using RideIQ, the HopSkipDrive ride management platform. Centralized transportation teams use it to book or modify rides through the CareDriver network, or to schedule local professionals with specialized vehicles like WAVs. 

At the school on-site level, staff can utilize Daily Queue's customized views to see the day's vehicles' scheduled arrival times and corresponding details like color, model, and license plate.

HopSkipDrive has continued its investment in dedicated support efforts for all users, with no offerings for riders and caregivers:

• For parents and caregivers: A new dedicated team will support parents in both English and Spanish who are new to the HopSkipDrive platform, answering questions and providing guidance on what to expect.

• For riders: HopSkipDrive has launched a dedicated rider support line, enabling riders to reach HopSkipDrive's Safe Ride Support team during a ride if needed. In addition, for riders who need to be met by an adult at pickup or dropoff, the company has launched an enhanced process enabling school districts to designate specific protocols and identify adults to ensure pickup and dropoff are safe and smooth.

Growth Continues With New Cities and States

HopSkipDrive also announced an expansion into San Antonio, Texas, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, and Oklahoma City, as well as launch plans for markets in Florida and Maryland.

This expansion follows the company's launches earlier this year in Louisiana (including New Orleans and Baton Rouge), Kansas City, Kansas, and Virginia Beach. According to a company release, schools in these locations face ongoing challenges like driver shortages. HopSkipDrive's offerings can scale with a district's needs, but also provide individuals experiencing homelessness, who are in foster care, or those with disabilities, a school transportation option.

HopSkipDrive's safety approach includes Safe Ride Technology and over 50 safety products and features implemented throughout the ride experience. These features include real-time ride tracking and communication, as well as monitoring of driving behavior.

"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," McFarland said.