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SPECIAL JOURNEYS
ROUTE
DRIVERS
DRIVE FOR US
Special Journeys vacations would not be possible without our dependable Route Drivers.
Because our Travelers generally do not drive, Special Journeys provides pickup and drop-off service across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
Route Drivers pick up the Travelers at their residences and bring them to our tour bus, and then drop them back off after the trip.
Our Drivers are paid, per day, in full- or half-day increments, and we cover all expense including: vehicle rental, insurance, gas, meals, and lodging. Couples are encourage to travel together, and we cover all expenses for both individuals.
Responsibilities
While every Driver is expected to perform the following duties, volunteer Travel Companions often accompany the routes to provide additional assistance with our Travelers.
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Driving – Our drivers operate a minivan or Ford Transit passenger van (with a step stool to aid loading/unloading). We don’t travel in August due to the heat, and we wrap up for the year by mid-December. We don’t resume trips until March/April due to winter weather.
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Pickup/Loading Travelers – Pickup involves tagging the Traveler’s luggage and loading it into the van, collecting their meds and spending money, and give them a nametag. We have custom medicine and spending-money bags marked with Traveler information for these items. Med bags have times marked on them. Drivers usually verify at pickup what meds need to be given before meeting up with the tour bus.
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Traveler Meals & Pit Stops – Stopping for bathroom breaks (or just to stretch), and at least one meal (usually just lunch). Feeding Travelers involves helping them select a meal and get drinks, assisting anyone who needs their food cut up, and monitoring their eating (ie, eating too fast). We don’t do waiter-type sit-downs or gas stations for these meals, only fast food or fast-casual restaurants. Drivers are provided with a Special Journey’s debit card for meals, along with a spreadsheet of Travelers’ food restrictions.
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Distributing Medication – Not all of our Travelers take meds, but those who do require assistance. Meds are collected at pickup and marked by time in med bags, and typically just have to be passed out at noon. All Drivers complete a Nebraska medication class and have a special, limited license to pass out medication.
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Drop-Off/Unloading Travelers – Drop-off involves unloading the Traveler’s luggage from the van and making sure they get into their residence. Drivers return their souvenirs and any unused medications and spending money.
Types of Routes
Each trip has 2 routes: Pick-Up and Drop-Off. Some of our routes leave and return on the same day, but most are a day and a half long (driving to the starting city the day before).
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Same-Day Local Route – Drivers start in the morning, pick up Travelers and drop them off at the bus, and are finished later that afternoon. There are fewer of these routes available.
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Overnight Route – Drivers depart in the late afternoon for the city of their first pickup the next day, stay overnight in a hotel, begin their route the next morning and are finished that afternoon/evening. This is the most common route.
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Overnight with Pre-Pickup Travelers* – Drivers pick up 1-2 travelers the first day, stay at a hotel that night (making sure Travelers shower and go to bed), and then pick up the rest the following day.
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Overnight Drop–Off with Travelers* – Drivers stay at a hotel that night (making sure Travelers shower and go to bed), and then drop off Travelers the following day.
*These routes are for Travelers who are significantly remote enough from Omaha that pickup the day before is only way they can take a trip. About 5-10% of our routes involve pre-pickup.
Steps & Requirements
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A regular, non-commercial driver's license
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Clean driving history
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Pass background check
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Able to lift 50 lbs.
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Complete a Ride Along on a trip or two to get comfortable with our Travelers and procedures.
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Attend a Medical Training Class* to get the Nebraska license to pass out meds.
*This is a 2-day class, taught by a nurse. Special Journeys covers the cost of the class and pays you to attend! Upon completion, you’ll receive a 2-year NE license.
Our Typical Drivers
We have Drivers from all walks of life. While prior professional driving experience is not a requirement, it is absolutely welcomed! Great fits with us are retired truck or school bus drivers, and people with rideshare (Uber, Lyft) experience.
This is a great position for retirees, or anyone looking for part time work. It’s a particularly good fit for couples because we cover expenses for both of them. In many instances, the spouse riding along is a volunteer Travel Companion.
How We Support Our Drivers
Because Special Journeys vacations would not be possible without our Drivers, we strive to make this position as seamless, enticing, and headache-free as possible. This means:
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We supply the vehicles and cover the insurance
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We cover all expenses on the routes including fuel, food, and hotel
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You have corporate fuel card for gas, debit care for all other expenses
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Hotels are pre-booked by our team
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We pre-plan the route for you including verifying addresses, providing complete plan with exact route directions, and using Google Maps Street View to add notes as appropriate.
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Dispatch is available on every route with all information concerning each traveler (how to handle meals, etc.)
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Pay is based on length of route. Additional pay for overnight with Travelers.
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There is NO forced dispatch – only drive when you are available
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Ongoing access to video-based, online training about our processes and steps
Not sure if you are ready to apply?
Email Nicole and set up a time to chat:
What People Are Saying
To go on tour with Lexi and Tom catches your heart to the motto of their life and their beautiful business. Yes, for most of us that assist in the field of Developmental Disabilities, this is a way of life. It is not a job. Our Heavenly Father put these two in my life, for which I am and will be forever grateful. They both have become my friends, and I would do anything to help their dreams become mine.
- Mindy