HopSkipDrive expands to five new cities to improve school transportation services

HopSkipDrive, a technology company specialising in school transportation solutions, will expand to five new cities this autumn. 

The company will now operate in Bakersfield, California; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia; and Tucson, Arizona, partnering with numerous new clients in these regions.

During the 2023-2024 school year, HopSkipDrive experienced significant growth. The company reported a more than 300% increase in rides arranged through its platform from the start to the end of the school year. 

These rides were facilitated by a network of local caregivers known as CareDrivers. Over the year, the number of active CareDrivers doubled, with many parents, grandparents, babysitters, and others joining HopSkipDrive to earn income and support their communities.

The company's client base also grew by over 50% during the school year. Currently, more than 10,000 schools in over 600 school districts across thirteen states have utilised HopSkipDrive's services.

In addition to its transportation services, HopSkipDrive introduced RouteWise AI, an AI-based tool designed to optimise school transportation routes. By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, over twenty school districts across the country had adopted this proprietary software.

RouteWise AI helps address challenges such as bus driver shortages, sustainability mandates, and school policy changes. For example, a school district in Colorado that implemented RouteWise AI reduced its capital budget by 40% over ten years through increased vehicle utilisation, fleet optimisation, and more efficient routing.

To support its growth and meet increasing market demand, HopSkipDrive expanded its workforce by over 30% during the school year. The company hired additional employees in various departments, including Engineering, Product, Data Science, Business Intelligence, Support and Safety, Sales, and Public Policy.

“Our work over the last few years has fueled our exponential growth across various areas,” said Joanna McFarland, Co-Founder and CEO of HopSkipDrive. We’ve powered millions of safe, reliable rides for kids to tens of thousands of schools, extracurricular activities, support services, and more.

“We’re proud to fill a need for our school district partners as we supplement school bus transportation options and also bring forward innovative, AI-powered software to solve the biggest challenges they face. We expect 2024 will be our biggest back-to-school yet, and we’re excited to continue our momentum.”