5 questions to ask before choosing a school transport service

Handing your child's morning routine to a third party is a big decision. Here's what to ask.

1. Are the drivers background-checked?

A clean driving record and a background check are different things. Ask for confirmation that criminal record checks are run on every driver — and renewed annually.

2. What happens if the regular driver is sick?

Consistency matters to children. Find out whether a substitute is guaranteed, how quickly parents are notified, and whether the substitute has met the family beforehand.

3. Is there live tracking?

Real-time GPS isn't just convenient — it means you know your child has boarded, is en route, and has arrived. Ask whether tracking is in a parent app, WhatsApp, or SMS.

4. What's the seatbelt policy?

Every seat, every trip, no exceptions. If a provider is vague on this, move on.

5. What is the escalation process?

If something goes wrong — a late pickup, an unfamiliar detour, a child left behind — what happens? A good provider has a named contact reachable immediately, not a call centre queue.

At Wimpy Drive, all five of these are built into our school transport service. Set up a route →