Homebound vehicle fleet. (submitted image/Homebound)

By Kevin Rothwell

Homebound Driving Service

Vernon driving service getting some traction

May 17, 2023 | 1:30 PM

A new driving service in Vernon that gets you and your vehicle home safely if you’ve had a few drinks, is starting to make some headway, but it has been uphill.

“The service has been received pretty well,” owner Tom Lane said. “We have people come up to us whenever we are stopped in the cars. They always ask for cards and ask if we are just like Driving Hands and Bittermans. Everyone seems excited to have the service back, there are some that don’t like the price ($50), but with minimum wage being just about $17 a hour, we have to send out two drivers and the price of gas is astronomical. If we go any lower, we will be non-profit.”

Lane said patrons seem to understand when he explains the costs to them.

The company has also added debit and credit payment options. Promotion has also ramped up to try get the word out to more customers.

“We have ads on Facebook, Google and a few other places, we have a Facebook account, Instagram and most other social media. We also have a website and own our domain and email all set up ready to rock and roll,”Lane stated.

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“I think the most challenging part has been getting our name out there to get steady customers. Some times we sit all night, other nights we are busy and it doesn’t have to be the weekend. Our busiest night was actually on a Tuesday.”

The company has two Hummers, but those are mostly for promotion and mobile advertising.

As with any new business, cash flow is king.

“It takes money to make money and everything has start up fees and cost for new equipment but we are pushing along,” Lane explained. “We are still in the process of working with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) to get bumper stickers made and get us out there more. Our main goal is to send out to every one drinking and driving is not OK because we see it every night, and we just want everyone to know we are here so there is no reason to drive drunk.”

As the service grows, Lane hopes to expand further with more personnel and an office.

“We have had a lot of calls with people asking for work so hopefully we can get the calls and hire more people and get the drinking off the road,” Lane added.

“We are currently looking for a shop space to keep the vehicles at night and to have a small office with hopefully a bay to pull in and work on the cars. We invision a big future with this company and we’re are just going to keep pushing on.”