Keep Full Cancellation Pay for HopSkipDrive Caregiver Drivers

Demand that HopSkipDrive restore the boosted portion of cancellation pay when drivers arrive and the child is unavailable through no fault of the driver.

We are HopSkipDrive Caregiver Drivers, and we are asking HopSkipDrive leadership to reconsider a compensation change taking effect September 16, 2026.

Drivers were notified at approximately 8:00 p.m. on September 14 — less than 48 hours before the change takes effect.

Under the current policy, when a driver arrives at a child's home or school, waits the required 10 minutes, and the child is unavailable, the ride is cancelled and the driver receives the scheduled compensation, including the boost.

Beginning September 16, HopSkipDrive is removing the boosted portion of that payment.

The driver still has to make the trip. The driver still uses the fuel. The driver still puts the miles on their vehicle. The driver still spends the time. The driver still waits the required 10 minutes. But the driver will receive substantially less compensation.

These cancellations are often completely outside the driver's control.

A child may be sick. A child may be absent from school. A family's schedule may change. A child may simply not be available when the driver arrives.

The driver did everything right. The driver showed up.

This is particularly concerning because we are only weeks into the new school year. September is a period when routes and riders are still being worked out, children who rode the previous school year may not be returning, schedules are changing, and cancellations are especially common.

Reducing cancellation compensation at precisely this time means drivers can be driving essentially the same number of miles and spending essentially the same amount of time on the road while earning significantly less.

For drivers who depend on HopSkipDrive income to support themselves, this is not a minor adjustment. It can make the difference between this work being financially sustainable and no longer being worth doing.

We are asking HopSkipDrive to:
1. Restore the full scheduled compensation, including the boost, when a driver arrives and the child is unavailable through no fault of the driver.

2. Distinguish between driver-caused cancellations and cancellations caused by circumstances outside the driver's control.

3. Provide drivers with reasonable advance notice before implementing major compensation changes. Less than 48 hours is not sufficient notice for a change that can substantially reduce driver income.

4. Explain why California, Virginia, Minnesota and Washington drivers are exempt from this change while drivers in other states are affected.

5. Pause implementation of this compensation change and engage directly with caregiver drivers before making a permanent change to cancellation compensation.

HopSkipDrive depends on its caregiver drivers to provide reliable transportation for children. Drivers accept early-morning pickups, afternoon school pickups, unpredictable schedules, long distances, waiting periods, and the responsibility that comes with transporting children.

We are willing to do that work.

But drivers must also be able to financially sustain themselves while doing it.

When a child doesn't show up, the driver has fulfilled their responsibility. We showed up.

We respectfully ask Joanna McFarland and HopSkipDrive leadership to listen to the drivers who are actually on the road providing this service and reconsider this policy.

Please sign this petition if you believe HopSkipDrive caregiver drivers should be fairly compensated when they arrive for a scheduled ride and the child is unavailable through no fault of their own.

We are asking HopSkipDrive to keep the full cancellation payment — including the boost — for these situations.