ECRTCC Volunteer Driver System: Volunteer drivers are a key component of human services transportation in Minnesota. They provide a low-cost form of transportation for people that need services provided by these organizations in situations where other forms of transit would be less cost-effective and/or provide a lower level of service.
A wide variety of organizations utilize volunteer drivers. These include counties and other local governments, human service providers, public transit providers, faith-based organizations, and other non-profit organizations. Not surprisingly, given the wide variety of organizations, they also provide a wide variety of trips, ranging from non-emergency medical appointments to trips to work or school, to general errands or other unspecified purposes. While most of the organizations that utilize volunteer drivers are located in small towns or rural areas where dedicated transit services do not exist, many are located in urban areas as well.
To support the volunteer driver programs Minnesota Council on Transportation Access (MCOTA) has studied the benefits and costs of the programs to the State and conducted a Volunteer Forum in early 2018 to share best practices and identify issues and solutions for maintaining this valuable network in Minnesota. One of the findings of the Volunteer Forum was the need for ongoing support at the local level in attempting to address many of the issues facing Volunteer Driver Programs. It was identified that the RTCC organizations can assist in this effort by convening the Volunteer Driver Programs to coordinate their efforts at maintaining and improving the vital networks. RTCCs will be required to organize and provide direction on statewide Volunteer Driver Program Guidelines for a seamless network of volunteer drivers.
ECRTCC – Centralized Training develops regional coordination efforts to identify and facilitate transit training. ECRTCC staff will work with transportation service providers in order to understand their needs and how the ECRTCC can assist. The skills needed for a bus driver job have amplified and the region’s population demographics, mindset and requirements have changed through the years. Those who drive and those who ride need to be mindful of these changes.
Meeting Dates | Zoom / Mtg Information | Meeting Notes |
June 27, 2019 | Centralized Training meeting review 6-27-19 | |
July 10, 2019 | Volunteer Driver meeting review 7-10-19 | |
August 9, 2019 | Centralized Training meeting review 8-9-19 | |
September 9, 2019 | Volunteer Driver meeting review 9-9-19 | |
September 16, 2019 | Volunteer Driver Program meeting review 9-16-19 | |
September 20, 2019 | Volunteer Driver Program meeting review 9-20-19 | |
Centralized Training GO Driver Info | ||
Volunteer Charitable Reimbursement letter | ||
October 2, 2019 | Centralized Training meeting review 10-2-19 | |
December 2, 2019 | Centralized Training meeting review 12-2-19 | |
April 2020 | Volunteer Driver Program meeting review 4-20 | |
April 2020 | Volunteer Driver Centralized Training Discussion Guidelines | |
December 16, 2020 | Volunteer Driver Program meeting review- 12-16-20 | |