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Volunteer driver shortage threatens specialized transportation; county cites insurance and reporting barriers
Summary
Bayfield County staff said the Volunteer Driver Program is short on drivers and identified high insurance rates and federal income-reporting requirements as obstacles to recruitment and retention; eight transportation providers still serve elders across the county.
Brynna Watters-Moffitt reported that elder transportation is provided by eight entities, including BART, Bayco Door to Door and Namekagon, and that the Volunteer Driver Program is currently short on drivers. She said several factors—"high insurance rates and federal requirements to report income"—are barriers to retaining volunteer drivers and that recruitment efforts are ongoing.
The shortage may affect how often volunteer-based trips are available; Watters-Moffitt said county staff are pursuing outreach and other measures to recruit new drivers but did not specify immediate mitigation steps or funding to offset insurance costs.
