November 18, 2020

Questions and Answers

This first stop in the MCOTA volunteer driver virtual forum series, Minnesota’s Road to Volunteer Drivers, addressed the state of volunteer drivers in Minnesota and the vision and goals of the series. Upcoming forum speakers invited participant questions and comments to guide the content of their presentations. Below are answers to audience questions that the panelists answered after the forum ended. Some of the questions are included in the Forum recording.

Question 1: How do you see autonomous vehicles working in Greater MN?

Answer: While this is a simple question, it is very difficult to answer because there are so many different ways it could roll out, over an uncertain time frame and with a ton of contributing factors. The high level answer is that autonomous vehicle technology holds the promise to greatly reduce the labor cost challenges of providing transportation to those who do not drive in Greater MN. The jury is out on when they will be available for safe public use in Minnesota as well as what the business models and costs will be.

Question 2:

I am a CDL driver with A, B, and passenger endorsements.  I have also done courier work for small package loads via car/suv. Last year I worked for VOA – MN/WI as a DSP specializing in driving and alarm station monitoring.

The need for volunteer drivers is high but potential recruits do not get into this field much less apply for jobs. This is due to pay or should I say, lack of pay structure. It is a drive your own personal vehicle with mileage reimbursement job. That is a negative equity cost to operate situation. Especially with the very high costs nowadays of 7 year old and newer vehicles. Not only are drivers giving of their time, they are going backwards in residual value of their vehicle. Many would have loans on said vehicles. Insurance costs to perform this type of work would increase also.

My question is, with the various types of driving I have done in the past, have you looked at blending money making situations with the volunteer driving situation? Package delivery, small group charter, chauffeur, etc. Instead of everything with volunteer driving being a cost burden, why not make a profit out of it? Of course, whomever and/or whatever you are driving would be an out-of-pocket cost to the human and/or package. Are current customers willing to pay for this value-added feature? If current customers is no, why not find new customers that would be.

If you can’t do this, when will you realize that the current business model of volunteer is a non-sustainable situation. Especially for the next generation of drivers! When the next generation of drivers is traditionally old enough/retired to do volunteer work, will they even do it?

Answer: You present many items in question, such as the blending of service elements beyond just providing passenger service and to incorporate other services like package delivery and you propose the passenger and/or people needing package delivery to consider this an added value service to the “customer” which would pay full cost by the individual. This concept is already in place with many Cab and/or Uber/Lyft business models across the state and have been effective for a certain portion of the population. However, there are many that can’t or won’t pay that much for their needed service because they cannot afford it or the service does not exist. Hence why there has been identified need for Volunteer Drivers that are willing to donate their time, and frequently the cost of running their vehicles. Many volunteer driver program supporters are seeking a fiscal break on the burden to the Volunteer Drivers that may get reimbursed the mileage cost of running their vehicles, and also not to be considered to be “for hire service”; and, therefore, required to pay higher insurance rates and pay income tax on the mileage reimbursement.

Question 3: What is the cost of a ride on average (of Mobility4All)

Answer: The average ride cost is between $15 to $18. For low-income seniors; in Southeastern MN (Rochester and Winona areas), we are working with the state and senior centers to provide ride subsidies to help defray those costs.

Question 4: What mobile app/software program do you use (Mobility4All)?

Answer: We integrate multiple third-party software tools to manage our booking, dispatch and billing. Our drivers utilize our mobile app to manage their rides and communications with our call center. We had a passenger mobile app, but our senior customers rarely used it, so we have taken it down. Most of our customers prefer to use our call center to register and book rides. We are also partnering with Lyft to be on their mobile app to provide wheelchair accessible paratransit rides in the Twin Cities metro area. 

Question 5: Is Mobility4All working in other states in the US?

Answer: We are currently in the Twin Cities and expanding to Rochester and Winona in 2021. We are planning to grow to other states in 2022.

Question 6: Can the rider also bring their spouse or a support person, for example their PCA or nurse (for Mobility4All)?

Answer: Yes, an individual rider can have their companions accompany them for the same cost. Due to COVID and social distance requirements we are not currently allowing people from separate households (caregivers, PCAs and nurses excluded) to share the ride.