A Day in the Life Series: How Smart Tools Empower Every Driver
Marcus has lived in Maple Glen his whole life. He knows the rhythm of the streets, the quiet corners where seniors wait for their rides, and the busy intersections where students rush to class. After retiring from long-haul trucking, Marcus joined Maple Glen Transit as a microtransit and paratransit driver, not just to stay active, but to give back to the community that raised him.
His day begins at 6:30 AM with a thermos full of coffee and a tap on the myDrive MDT; it loads his manifest instantly, syncing with information from the Rides on Demand app, powered by TripSpark’s NovusDR platform. No more juggling paper schedules or calling dispatch for updates. “It’s like having a co-pilot,” Marcus says. “Everything I need is right there.”
At 7:15 AM, he picks up Clara, a retired librarian who uses a wheelchair. Marcus has known Clara since childhood, she used to read stories to him at the public library. The app had flagged her mobility needs and preferred pickup location, and Marcus doesn’t feel rushed because he knows the system has allotted the time it will take to get her onboard and secured safely. Clara beams as she boards. “You always remember the little things,” she tells him. Marcus logs the pickup with a tap, and Clara’s caregiver receives an automatic notification.
Later in the morning, Marcus picks up Jamal, a visually impaired university student. The app reminds Marcus that Jamal prefers verbal confirmations and a seat near the front. “Thanks for always making it easy,” Jamal says. Marcus smiles. “That’s what the app’s for, it helps me focus on you, not the tech.”
Throughout the day, Marcus navigates a mix of paratransit and microtransit legs. While riders can use the app for intermodal trip planning, including seeing where their transfers to fixed-route services will occur, Marcus focuses on the real-time updates sent to his MDT. These updates help him manage schedules, support riders and stay aware of any emerging delays. He’s especially proud of how the app supports eligibility-based riders, veterans, seniors, and those with mobility aids, by syncing their preferences and history across the system.
By midday, Marcus has completed 14 trips. He checks his dashboard: on-time pickups, rider feedback, and fuel efficiency, all tracked automatically. “It’s not just data,” he says. “It’s a reflection of how I’m doing.”
In the afternoon, a new trip is inserted due to a cancellation. The app reroutes him instantly. No phone calls, no confusion, just a smooth transition. Marcus picks up a rider who booked through the Rides on Demand passenger app minutes earlier. “I didn’t think I’d get a ride this fast,” the rider says. Marcus nods. “That’s the beauty of it.”
As the sun sets, Marcus finishes his last ride and logs out. He reflects on the day: the familiar faces, the seamless coordination, the pride of serving his hometown. The Rides on Demand app, powered by NovusDR and synced with myDrive MDT, didn’t just make his job easier; it made it more human.