ScenarioPlusby Waiver Academy
‹ Ride Right

Pocket guide · NEMT

Ride Right

Safe rides. Real miles. Every trip on the record.

  1. Secure every rideEvery wheelchair passenger is secured every time: four tie-down straps on the chair, plus a lap and shoulder belt on the person. A short trip or a late schedule never changes that. Running late is a call to dispatch, not a shortcut. Episode 1: Locked In
  2. Inspect before every shiftCheck the vehicle before every shift: tie-downs, belts, ramp or lift, lights, tires. If something isn't safe, the vehicle doesn't go out. Report it, write it in the vehicle log, and let dispatch rearrange the rides. Episode 2: Check Before You Roll
  3. No ride, no billIf the passenger doesn't ride, the trip is a no-show, never a completed ride. Knock, call, wait the time your company sets, and tell dispatch. Then record your arrival time, what you tried and when you left. Billing a ride that didn't happen is fraud. Episode 3: The Ride That Didn't Happen
  4. Real miles onlyRecord the real odometer readings and the direct route for every trip. Personal stops never go on a trip log. If you had to take a longer route, like a road closure, write down why. Padding miles, even a few, is billing fraud. Episode 4: Real Miles
  5. Only approved riders and stopsEach ride is approved for a person, a pickup and a destination. Extra passengers, escorts and stops need approval first, so call dispatch instead of deciding yourself. Kindly explain the rules, and help the person ask for what they need. Episode 5: Just a Quick Stop
  6. Their trip is privateWhere a passenger goes, why, and anything you learn about their health is private health information. Don't share it with other riders, family, friends or online. Share it only with the people who need it to do their job, as your company's privacy rules allow. Episode 6: Who's Asking?
  7. Sign for real rides onlyA passenger signs for a ride only after it happens, with the real pickup and drop-off times already filled in. Never ask anyone to sign ahead of time or sign a blank or unfinished log. Their signature confirms the ride really happened. Episode 7: Signed and Accurate
  8. When it's an emergency, call 911You're a driver, not an ambulance. If a passenger becomes very unwell, stop somewhere safe, stay with them, and call 911 for a medical emergency. Then tell dispatch and any nearby staff, follow your company's incident steps, and write down what happened and when. Episode 8: He Doesn't Look Right
  9. Phone down while drivingNever read, text or use your phone while driving. Check messages before you set off, or pull over somewhere safe. Your riders are trusting you with their lives. Follow your company's phone rules and your state's driving laws. Episode 9: Phone Down
  10. Ask before you helpTreat every rider with dignity. Ask how they'd like help instead of taking over, let them do what they can, and speak to them, not about them. Being in a hurry is never a reason to rush someone's body or take their mobility aid away. Episode 10: Ask, Don't Assume