Safe, dignified mobility starts with the person behind the wheel. That’s why Driverge partnered with National Interstate Insurance to publish a clear, practical guide to wheelchair and passenger handling best practices—so fleets can reduce risk, protect riders and drivers, and keep vehicles in service.
👉 Read the whitepaper: https://loom.ly/gkN6_Kg
📘 Explore Driverge driver training programs: https://loom.ly/13teXsI
Why driver training matters right now
Whether you operate NEMT, senior living shuttles, municipal paratransit, or healthcare transport, your drivers are doing complex work in dynamic environments—tight schedules, varying curb heights, weather, and diverse passenger needs. A short, consistent set of procedures improves:
- Safety & compliance: Fewer incidents and better adherence to securement and ADA-related practices.
- Rider experience: Faster, calmer boarding and secure rides that build trust.
- Uptime & cost: Less damage to equipment, fewer delays, and reduced claims.
What the guide covers (and how to use it)
The whitepaper distills field‑tested steps into checklists your team can adopt immediately:
- Pre‑trip readiness
Quick inspection of lift/ramp operation, restraints, belts, seat tracks, and flooring; confirm batteries/controls; stage equipment for the first stop. - Curbside setup & communication
Position the vehicle safely, set the brakes, deploy cones or hazard lights as needed, and explain each step to the passenger or caregiver before moving. - Boarding & deboarding
Correct lift/ramp angles, hand placement, and chair control; maintain three points of contact; manage bystanders; never rush a slope transition. - Securement fundamentals
Four‑point tie‑down technique, belt routing at the correct angles, occupant restraint fit, and re‑check after the first turn or stop. - Cabin management
Clear aisles, stable stowage of loose items, climate control for all rows, and seating adjustments to keep conversation and visibility comfortable. - On‑road etiquette
Smooth throttle and braking, extra following distance, wide turns, and a careful approach to speed humps and driveway aprons. - Incident response & documentation
Immediate scene safety, basic communication protocols, and concise reporting so supervisors and insurers have the facts they need.
Use the guide as a standard operating procedure, a new‑hire training aid, and a refresher tool for quarterly ride‑alongs.
Turning best practices into everyday habits
- Coach to the checklist. Post laminated SOPs near the lift controls and in the driver area.
- Drill the basics. Practice securement on an empty vehicle until it’s second nature.
- Measure what matters. Track boarding time, securement errors caught in QA, and passenger feedback; celebrate improvement.
- Refresh often. Short tailgate trainings and periodic competency checks keep skills sharp.
Add structured training to lock in results
For teams that want deeper competency building, Driverge offers hands‑on driver training focused on lift operation, securement, passenger assistance, and route-specific risk scenarios. Courses are designed to be practical, repeatable, and easy to roll out across multi‑site fleets.
📘 Get program details: https://loom.ly/13teXsI
Start here
- Share the whitepaper with supervisors and drivers.
- Adopt the included checklists as your baseline SOP.
- Book an on‑site or virtual training session to reinforce skills.
👉 Download the Best Practices whitepaper: https://loom.ly/gkN6_Kg
👉 Talk to our training team: https://loom.ly/13teXsI
Note: This article is for general educational purposes; always follow your organization’s policies, local regulations, and OEM component instructions.
