Zum Review

Zum is a transportation service especially for kids aged 5 and above.  Zum operates services in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Seattle and constantly expanding its territory.  The platform provides point-to-point transport and car-pooling services. Services are also available at weekends and in the evening times.  To date, Zum has facilitated transport for more than 400,000 children traveling more than 2 million miles and partners with parents and schools to ensure the safest and most reliable transport for children.  Security is a high priority and Zum’s drivers need to be highly qualified and pass a tough vetting procedure to work for the company.

Zum Pros

All Zum drivers are fingerprinted and background checked and vehicles have to pass a 20 point vehicle inspection. Drivers also must show proof of regular vehicle maintenance and inspection.   As well as carpooling and general transportation services, Zum can provide additional childcare.  Zum services are available from 6 am to 9 pm 7 days a week with exceptionally high levels of security. Users can view their driver’s personal and vehicle profile through the app in advance of any journey.   Real-time tracking allows parents to monitor their children’s journeys and they receive live text notifications throughout the journey as well as a final confirmation when their child is dropped off.  After each ride, users can rate their driver and experience.  The platform provides 24/7 online and telephone support.

Zum Cons

Although the platform has plans to expand nationwide, Zum is only currently available in certain areas in California.  Zum’s booking cutoff time is 7 pm on the evening before the ride is required.  Booking a ride after this time means that a driver is not guaranteed.  Zum only offers rides for children aged 5 and upwards.  If children are more than 10 minutes late for their pick up, a charge of $6 is charged for each 15-minute increment.

Zum Bottom Line

Zum offers highly flexible transport and childcare solutions to parents and guardians in California.  Security is of the highest priority and the platform has such high standards that only 1 in 5 driver applicants actually make it through the screening process.  Zum’s 7-day services mean that parents and guardians can access the service to help with bringing kids to and from sports events, music lessons and family activities on weekends and in the evenings as well as during the week.

How Zum Works

You can think of Zum as doing for school buses what Uber and Lyft do for taxis. Zum primarily helps children get to and from school, although it can be used for other appointments as well, such as soccer practice, dance lessons, and recitals. To use Zum, you will need to download the Zum app and then choose what kind of ride your child needs. You can choose a ride for just one child, for multiple children from the same family, or for a carpool of kids from multiple families. You can also set up Zum drives to occur daily, weekly, or one-off.

Wait Times and Scheduling

Zum works a bit differently from other ridesharing services in the sense that you can’t request a driver and expect them to show up five minutes later. Instead, you schedule appointments for when a driver will show up to wherever your child needs to be picked up. You will need to schedule this appointment by 7 p.m. the day before.

Driver Background

Driver background checks for Zum are, not surprisingly, much more stringent than they are for rideshare services that cater to adults. Drivers must be 21 years or older, have at least 3 years of driving experience, 3 years of experience working with children, and own a four-door vehicle that is from 2006 or later. Furthermore, drivers must pass National FBI and DOJ background checks, SSN validation checks, sex offender registry checks, and have clean DMV records and good referrals. There is also a stringent interview process and, according to Zum, only one out of every five applicants are approved to drive.

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