1. Purpose

Sinecera Care provides non-medical transportation and accompaniment services through trusted neighbors to support seniors in maintaining independence at home.

This policy establishes the insurance requirements, safety standards, and operational guidelines governing all transportation services.

2. Scope of Services

Sinecera Care transportation services include:

• Rides to appointments, errands, and social activities

• Door-through-door accompaniment (when requested)

• Wait time and return trips

Sinecera Care does not provide:

• Emergency transportation

• Medical transportation or clinical care

• Wheelchair lift or stretcher transport

• Heavy lifting or physical transfers beyond light assistance

3. Driver (Neighbor) Requirements

All neighbors providing transportation must meet the following:

Licensing & Eligibility

• Valid U.S. driver’s license

• Minimum age: 21

• At least 3 years of driving experience

Driving Record

• No DUI/DWI within past 5 years

• No reckless driving violations within past 3 years

• No more than 2 moving violations within past 3 years

Insurance Requirements

Each driver must maintain personal auto insurance with minimum limits of:

• $100,000 bodily injury per person

• $300,000 bodily injury per accident

• $50,000 property damage

Drivers must:

• Provide proof of insurance prior to approval

• Maintain active coverage at all times

• Notify Sinecera Care immediately of any lapse, cancellation, or claim

4. Vehicle Requirements

Vehicles used for transportation must:

• Be owned or legally operated by the driver

• Be properly registered and insured

• Be in safe operating condition

• Pass basic safety standards (tires, brakes, lights)

• Be clean and appropriate for transporting seniors

Sinecera Care reserves the right to disqualify any vehicle at its discretion.

5. Company Insurance Coverage

Sinecera Care maintains the following insurance:

Non-Owned Auto Liability

• Covers liability arising from drivers using personal vehicles for Sinecera Care services

General Liability Insurance

• Covers bodily injury and property damage during service delivery

Umbrella / Excess Liability

• Provides additional coverage above primary policies

Professional Liability (E&O)

• Covers claims related to negligence in service delivery

6. Nature of Relationship

Drivers are engaged as independent contractors (unless otherwise specified).

Drivers are responsible for:

• Maintaining their own insurance

• Operating their vehicle safely and legally

Sinecera Care does not own, lease, or control driver vehicles.

7. Safety & Conduct Requirements

Drivers must:

• Obey all traffic laws at all times

• Refrain from phone use while driving (hands-free only if necessary)

• Ensure all passengers wear seatbelts

• Provide reasonable assistance entering/exiting vehicles

• Avoid physical assistance beyond safe capability

Drivers must not:

• Transport seniors under the influence of drugs or alcohol

• Provide medical advice or care

• Perform unsafe physical transfers

8. Weather & Environmental Conditions

Services may be delayed or canceled due to:

• Severe weather conditions

• Unsafe road conditions

• Situations that create unreasonable risk

Drivers are authorized to decline trips they deem unsafe.

9. Incident Reporting

Drivers must report any of the following immediately:

• Accidents (regardless of severity)

• Injuries to seniors

• Vehicle damage during service

• Any situation involving law enforcement

Written incident reports must be submitted within 24 hours.

10. Client Acknowledgment & Waiver

All seniors and/or their advocates must acknowledge:

• Transportation is provided by independent drivers using personal vehicles

• Sinecera Care provides non-medical services only

• There are inherent risks associated with vehicle transportation

• Sinecera Care is not responsible for events outside its reasonable control

11. Insurance Priority & Claims

In the event of an accident:

1. The driver’s personal auto insurance is primary

2. Sinecera Care’s non-owned auto policy may apply as secondary

3. Additional coverage may be provided through umbrella policies

12. Compliance & Enforcement

Failure to comply with this policy may result in:

• Immediate suspension from transportation services

• Termination of relationship with Sinecera Care

Sinecera Care reserves the right to update this policy at any time.

13. Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) & Usage Limitations

All drivers (Neighbors) must comply with the following requirements as a condition of providing transportation services:

Motor Vehicle Records (MVR)

• Drivers must maintain a clean Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) with no disqualifying incidents

• Sinecera Care will:

  • Conduct an MVR check prior to approval

  • Conduct annual MVR reviews thereafter

• Any material change in driving record must be reported immediately

Limited Business Use of Personal Vehicles

Drivers acknowledge and agree that:

• Use of personal vehicles for Sinecera Care services is occasional and incidental

• Such use must not exceed 20% of the driver’s total driving time

Transportation Limitations

Drivers further agree that:

• They do not regularly transport people or deliver goods or products as part of a commercial driving activity outside of Sinecera Care

• Transportation provided through Sinecera Care is:

  • Limited in scope

  • Non-commercial in nature

  • Provided on a part-time, occasional basis only