Volunteer Transportation Services

General information

Volunteers

Do you want to be outdoors, help your neighbors, and feel good? Become a volunteer driver! Your interest in volunteering to drive older adults, veterans, and adults with temporary or permanent disabilities to the doctor, pharmacy, or grocery store is vital in keeping them healthy and involved in our community.

Who can qualify as a driver?
Any adult, 21 years or older, with a good drivers record and a standard driver’s license can be eligible to volunteer.

How long of a commitment is required?
You can volunteer as many times as you like over as long a period as you like.

What kinds of skills do I need?
VTS is all about helping people in a manner that is prompt, courteous, and reliable. Safe driving and customer service skills are important to making each trip a success.

Is there training involved?
All volunteer drivers must complete an initial orientation training session provided by VTS.

What about insurance?
All volunteers are covered by $1 million in supplemental liability insurance. This comprehensive insurance policy includes supplemental medical coverage, auto liability, and an overall umbrella policy.

What will I receive back as a volunteer?
We value each of our volunteers for helping others in their community. We hold regular volunteer recognition events, and we also reimburse drivers for miles driven.

How can I become a Volunteer?
Call the VTS office at 844-887-7433 to request a driver application or visit the website at www.centralinavts.org.

You can also fill out the form online, save it to your computer, and email it to NMiller@centralina.org.

VTS will complete a driving and criminal background check as well as a drug screening on all applicants before they are approved to volunteer. All volunteers complete mandatory training to ensure safe and reliable service for the community.

Passengers

Volunteer Transportation Services (or VTS) was created in 2013 to fill the transportation gap for adults with permanent or temporary disabilities, veterans, and individuals 50 and over, in order to enhance quality of life by providing access to daily life activities.

Who is eligible?
The service is targeted to adults 50 years and older, veterans, and adults with permanent or temporary disabilities.

Where can I go?
Destinations can include medical offices, shopping, visiting family, etc. Our service area covers the nine counties of the Centralina area (Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly and Union).

Can I use this service for emergencies?
VTS provides transportation for daily life activities. VTS is not an ambulance service. For emergency transportation, dial 911.

When are rides available?
All trips are based on availability of volunteers, but rides are most often available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

How much does this service cost?
Rides are provided at no cost to the passenger, although donations are encouraged and appreciated.

Can someone ride with me?
Yes, each passenger may bring one escort to help them with mobility needs. Children are not permitted.

How do I become a passenger?
Call the VTS Customer Service Center at 844-887-7433 (844-VTS-RIDE) to request an application. VTS is not yet available in all areas.

How do I schedule a trip?
Once approved as a VTS passenger, you can begin requesting rides by calling VTS scheduling at 844-877-7433 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please call at least 72 hours before you need your ride. Requests can be made up to 30 days in advance. Not all requests are guaranteed rides.