Volunteer Models for Rural Transportation

Some programs provide transportation services by recruiting volunteers to serve as drivers. Volunteer drivers typically provide door-to-door assistance, which can involve picking up passengers at a specific address, dropping them off at their destination, and waiting for them during appointments or errands. They may also provide other types of support, depending on the passenger's needs, such as offering a steady arm, help in and out of the vehicle, or help with a walker or seat belt. This assistance can be particularly beneficial for older passengers or passengers with disabilities who may be unable to wait at a curb, walk to a bus stop, or climb the steps of a bus or large van.

Typically, volunteer models have a sponsoring agency that is responsible for recruiting drivers, conducting background checks, providing training, and managing schedules of volunteer drivers. Examples of sponsoring agencies include faith-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and transit agencies. Some sponsoring agencies may own or lease the vehicles used to provide transportation; however, more often, volunteer drivers use their own vehicles to transport passengers.

Rural communities have implemented three types of reimbursement strategies for volunteer driver models: volunteering without reimbursement, trip/time banking, and mileage reimbursement.

Volunteering Without Reimbursement for Time or Mileage

In this model, volunteers contribute their time, drive their own vehicles, and provide their own gasoline without receiving any type of reimbursement. The American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery is an example of a volunteer driver program that provides transportation to and from cancer treatment for people who do not have a ride or cannot drive themselves. Programs typically retain a pool of volunteers from which to recruit and organize transportation.

Trip Banking/Time Banking

In this model, volunteers can offer their time without reimbursement, and they bank the time they spend providing services. For example, if a volunteer driver spends five hours providing transportation for someone, they can use those five hours towards their own transportation at another time. Volunteers may also have an option of donating their earned hours to someone else. In addition, some programs allow volunteers to exchange hours driven for other goods or services, like housekeeping or financial services.

Volunteer Mileage Reimbursement Programs

In this model, volunteer drivers track their mileage to receive reimbursement. The amount of reimbursement varies by program — some programs may reimburse in accordance with the government's mileage reimbursement rate, while others may pay volunteers per trip, up to a limited amount, or with non-monetary incentives.

Examples of Volunteer Models

• The Vernon County Volunteer Driver Program, which provides door-to-door services to requested destinations, is available to all Vernon County, Wisconsin residents. Passengers in need of additional assistance can request to bring an escort or attendant who is able to ride free of charge. Riders' copayments are based on mileage.
• The New Freedom Transportation Program, implemented by the Center for Independent Living for Western Wisconsin, Inc. uses volunteer drivers to provide rides to the elderly and people with disabilities. Transportation is provided for medical appointments, shopping, and social/recreational activities. Volunteer drivers are reimbursed at the federal rate. Riders in the 18-county service area can request services or get referrals via the New Freedom Transportation One Call Center.

Considerations for Implementation

Volunteer-provided services are dependent upon the availability and schedule of the volunteer drivers. There may be communities where volunteer drivers are the only source of transportation available or where they are the only transportation available on certain days of the week or times of day (for instance, weekends and after normal business hours). In some instances, volunteer drivers may be the only option for a person in need of transportation due to the nature of the trip. For example, agencies providing non-emergency medical transit may be able to provide transportation services to and from medical appointments, but they would not be able to provide transportation for tasks like grocery shopping or other social engagement activities.

Volunteer models are often discussed hand-in-hand with voucher models, as the voucher system can be a way to reimburse volunteer drivers.

Safety considerations for volunteer driver programs include liability insurance, safety protocols, and driver screening. Most volunteers who drive their own vehicles have personal automobile insurance policies that cover personal injury or damages, although programs may want to consider purchasing additional automobile liability insurance. For more information, see Module 4: Liability, Insurance, and Other Legal Issues.

Program Clearinghouse Examples

• ITNAmerica
• Center for Independent Living for Western Wisconsin

Resources to Learn More

National Volunteer Transportation Center
Website
Provides a wide array of resources for the development and implementation of volunteer driving programs, including a “find a program” tab that lists volunteer transportation providers by state or nationwide. Offers recorded webinars on adapting volunteer models in communities, online training for volunteer drivers, driver recruitment information, a list of foundations that have funded volunteer programs and more.
Organization(s): Community Transportation Association of America

Programs that Match Seniors with Volunteer Drivers: Practical Recommendations for Organizations and Policy Makers
Document
Examines several volunteer driving programs nationwide and provides recommendations for improving risk management, recruiting volunteers, and sustaining volunteer transportation programs for seniors.
Author(s): Hendricks, S.J., Audino, M.J., Okin, P.O., & Biernacky, A.
Organization(s): State of Florida Department of Transportation
Date: 10/2008

Rural Health Transportation
Video/Multimedia
Presents challenges in providing transportation in rural communities, and discusses solutions and funding opportunities supporting rural public transportation systems. Highlights on-demand transportation programs in rural North Carolina and their impact on the community.
Organization(s): NC Impact
Date: April 2019

Volunteer Driver Recruitment and Retention Experience and Practice
Document
Presents key practices and considerations regarding the recruitment and retention of volunteers for providing transportation services.
Organization(s): National Volunteer Transportation Center
Date: 9/2016