Volunteer Drivers Toolkit

Volunteer Driver's Programs

Public transportation, which includes Tribal transit, urban, and rural transit systems, as well as human services transportation, encompasses a broad range of services designed to meet the mobility needs of population groups who have few if any options for travel. Older adults, people with disabilities, veterans, and people with lower incomes are often in particular need of greater mobility options. Depending on their abilities, their environment, and the transportation services available in their community, these individuals may also require a variety of mobility options. Volunteer driver programs and organizations that choose to sponsor volunteer driver programs help to fill critical mobility gaps for people who live outside public transit service areas, need to access jobs or services outside public transit service hours, or need more personal or specialized services to travel. 

Organizations like Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), Community Action Agencies, independent living centers, faith-based organizations, urban, rural and Tribal transit systems are well suited to serve as sponsoring organizations to volunteer driver programs. Sponsoring organizations provide necessary structure, financial oversight, and liability coverage. 



This section of the Toolkit introduces specific things an organization should do as a standard part of planning, implementing, and operating a volunteer driver program. It provides an overview of requirements, processes, and procedures known to be of value to volunteer driver programs and sponsoring organizations. Methods and practices used by a variety of volunteer driver programs and sponsoring organizations are included as examples throughout. 

• Volunteer Driver Programs
• Volunteer Driver Programs and Sponsoring Organizations
• Mission Statements, Goals, and Objectives
• Rider Eligibility
• Limiting Financial Exposure Related to Risk
• Tips for Understanding Volunteer Insurance
• The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997
• State Laws for Nonprofits and Volunteer Liability
• What Type of Insurance is Needed?
• Liability Insurance
• Property Insurance 
• Volunteer/Employee Dishonesty
• Medical Insurance
• Risk Management
• Post Sedation Transportation
• The Importance of Community Relations
• Community Outreach
• Marketing
• Branding
• Policies and Procedures
• Organizational Policies
• Emergency Management 
• Personnel 
• Funding
• Local, State, and Federal Funding
• Subcontracted Services 
• Operating Across Borders
• County Borders
• Mobility Management
• Additional Reading on Other Types of Volunteer Driver Programs
• Section Resources
  

Acknowledgements

Updated October 2025