--- title: HopSkipDrive Launches in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! description: >- HopSkipDrive is excited to help families and schools in the Philadelphia area get children where they need to go, safely and reliably. date: '2022-05-10' author: Karen Sampson category: Blog tags: - CareDrivers - alternative student transportation - alternative school transportation - HopSkipDrive News canonical_url: >- https://www.hopskipdrive.com/blog/hopskipdrive-launches-in-philadelphia-pennsylvania/ source: hopskipdrive license: © 2026 HopSkipDrive. All rights reserved. slug: hopskipdrive-launches-in-philadelphia-pennsylvania id: 7crFNw0KTe6x9oclYYbdRp contentType: article --- ### View more related articles - [View All](/blogs/) - [School Transportation Insights](/tags/school-transportation-insights/) - [Company Updates](/tags/company-updates/) - [Success Stories](/tags/success-stories/) - [Product and Technology](/tags/product-and-technology/) - [The CareDriver Community](/tags/the-caredriver-community/) - [Public Policy](/tags/public-policy/) - [Life at HopSkipDrive](/tags/life-at-hopskipdrive/) HopSkipDrive has officially launched in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! We’re excited to have the opportunity to offer families in the Philly area a safe, reliable transportation solution to help get kids where they need to go. Founded in 2014, HopSkipDrive now operates in 20 major markets, and has contracts with 300+ school districts across the country. We’re looking forward to playing a part in alleviating some of the many transportation challenges families in the Philadelphia area are facing today. Joanna McFarland, Co-founder and CEO of HopSkipDrive says, “I’m thrilled to bring HopSkipDrive to families in Philadelphia. As a busy mom of two, I know the struggles parents face when trying to manage the demands of a career and the logistics of transporting children every day. I’m happy to bring HopSkipDrive to the [families](/families/) that need us.” ## A Convenient Transportation Solution for Families Parents and caregivers in the Philadelphia area will be able to use the HopSkipDrive app to request rides (for children who are at least six years old) with [HopSkipDrive CareDrivers](/blog/hopskipdrive-caregivers-on-wheels/) — each of whom have undergone extensive background checks and have required caregiving experience. Says one parent who has relied on HopSkipDrive to help with her family’s complicated transportation needs: > “HopSkipDrive has been life-changing for our family. Instead of racing across town from work to drive my two busy budding athletes from school to practice to home, I can now just pick them up at practice. We are all happier — and we eat at home more because now there’s extra time to actually prepare a meal! It’s been amazing how much our stress level has been reduced.” > > Rides can be reserved as little as eight hours in advance or by 7 p.m. the night before for morning rides the next day. Parents can provide customized, detailed ride instructions about such things as carpool lines, pickup and drop-off notes, sign-in/out requests, etc. Before the ride, parents receive a profile photo of their HopSkipDrive CareDriver, which they can share with their child. During each HopSkipDrive ride, parents receive progress alerts at each step of the journey. In addition, HopSkipDrive’s Safe Ride Support team tracks every ride continuously, proactively addressing potential issues and maintaining direct communication with parents and CareDrivers. ## Prioritizing Safety with Unmatched Industry Standards HopSkipDrive provides a unique transportation solution that combines sophisticated technology with deep operational expertise to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone who uses the HopSkipDrive platform. HopSkipDrive’s [meticulous approach to safety](/blog/our-industry-leading-safety-standards/) begins with highly vetted caregivers behind the wheel (who are known as “CareDrivers”) and extends to every aspect of the company’s operations. Every HopSkipDrive CareDriver has caregiving experience with children and must pass a rigorous [15-point certification process](/blog/hopskipdrive-caredriver-certification/), including fingerprinting, background screenings and ongoing driving record checks. CareDrivers on the HopSkipDrive platform must use a four-door vehicle, and vehicles must pass an inspection by a certified mechanic annually. ### HopSkipDrive is actively seeking CareDrivers in the Philadelphia area [Being a CareDriver](/drive/) is a unique experience that comes with many benefits, including competitive pay, a flexible schedule, and the opportunity to make a difference by helping families in the local community. Individuals who are interested in becoming a HopSkipDrive CareDriver in the Philadelphia area can visit [hopskipdrive.com/drive](/drive) to sign up. ## A Trusted Transportation Partner HopSkipDrive is trusted by [schools](https://www.hopskipdrive.com/schools/), districts and families nationwide as a solution to simplify specialized transportation for students — including those with IEPs, youth who are experiencing homelessness or are in foster care, and students with disabilities. As a transportation solution for general education populations, HopSkipDrive has been [proven to be a cost-effective, environmentally friendly solution](/blog/how-hopskipdrive-can-save-40-per-student/) when a bus is underutilized, or when there are 12 kids or fewer on a bus. **Interested in exploring how a partnership with HopSkipDrive can work for your Philadelphia-area school, district, or organization?** - [GET IN TOUCH](/quote/) ## Subscribe to our newsletter - [SUBSCRIBE](#)