Who drives the team travel and transportation? The difference in safety management between professional drivers and ordinary drivers

Early in the morning, a child comes out with a large bag and says, "I'm leaving." It's natural for parents to entrust the school or teachers with the transportation of their children on school sports trips. But in September 2026, another accident involving a minibus carrying high school students heading for a sports trip was reported. The driver was not a professional driver but a school teacher. In this article, from the perspective of a company operating a jumbo taxi service,Transporting participants to and from sports club outingsIn this article, we compare what the differences are between "professional drivers" and "regular drivers," and provide materials for you to consider which of safety and fees you would prioritize.

Another accident happened on the way to a sports team outing

According to reports, the details of the accident are as follows. The cause and circumstances are still under investigation by the police, so we will only summarize the facts reported here.

In May 2026, a microbus carrying students from a high school in Niigata Prefecture on the Iwate Expressway in Fukushima Prefecture crashed, killing one student. In this accident, a rental car was used instead of a charter bus, and it was reported that the driver did not have a dual license to transport passengers.

This is not just a problem for "one teacher".

Teachers are professionals in education. However, they are not trained or supervised as “drivers” who are entrusted with the lives of many people in large vehicles. In addition to their primary duties of teaching classes and leading club activities, and supervising on holidays, there are aspects of the structure itself that can lead to difficulties. Instead of blaming individuals, we believe it is important to turn our attention to the mechanism of who drives and who oversees those drivers.

Reasons why parents with children have a hard time at heart

Schools are a “place where parents can trust and entrust their children.” That’s why parents are rarely asked to check on things like how much sleep the driver had that morning or how they were feeling. In fact, there’s no way to do that.

For example, imagine a situation like this.

• The day before, I was busy working and preparing until late at night, and the next morning I had to leave early. Does anyone check the driver’s sleep time before departure?
• People who usually only drive passenger cars often drive a large vehicle with a different height and width. Even on familiar roads, have you ever checked in advance whether you can drive this car?
• Is there anyone who, even if the driver has a chronic illness or is taking medication, has the authority to understand that and determine whether they are allowed to drive?

All of these things can happen even without malice or negligence. And for ordinary drivers, most of these checks are left to their own discretion.

Professional drivers and ordinary drivers have such different safety management standards.

Driving licenses come in two types: the "First Class License" for driving private vehicles, and the "Second Class License" for transporting passengers on a fare-paying basis. While anyone with a first class license can basically drive, taxi, chauffeur-driven car, and bus drivers must hold a second class license and work under the country's established operational management system. Let's compare the main differences.

Difference 1: The "third party" checks the previous night's sleep and alcohol intake and the person's physical condition on the day of the event

Professional operators always check their drivers before they start their shifts. In addition to checking with alcohol detectors, starting in 2018 they are required to check and record the status of “sleep deprivation” during their shifts. The key is for the operator themselves, not the manager, to check. We are reducing the room for error in this process by implementing a system that prevents drivers from making self-judgments such as “I’m a little sleepy, but it’s okay.”

Difference 2: It not only records the events of that day, but also the patient's medical history.

The cause of an accident is not always just the driver’s physical condition that morning. Professional operators, in accordance with the Health Management Manual of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, assess the results of health checks, medical history, and medication status to determine whether to entrust them with driving. The difference between a one-day driver and a regular driver is that they continuously monitor the person’s characteristics.

Difference 3: Unless certain conditions are met, the service will not be provided in the first place.

If a problem is found during the check-in process, the professional driver will not take the wheel that day. They will either appoint a replacement driver or cancel the operation altogether. It’s not because “we have to go today,” but because “the safety conditions are met.” This is the essence of operations management.

When we compare the parents' anxiety with the professional system,

Let me take a look at each of the concerns I mentioned earlier in the context of the operational management system.

The price includes measures to ensure "safety."

When you hire a professional, of course it costs money. If the parent or teacher drives, the cost might be as little as the gas price. It’s completely natural to feel that the difference is “high.”

However, the professional fee includes not only the labor costs of drivers holding two types of licenses, but also the costs of invisible safety measures such as on-call service by the operations manager, health management, vehicle inspection and maintenance, and insurance for passenger transportation. The fee is the amount calculated after safety measures have been taken.

Cases where charter jumbo taxis are suitable, and cases where they are not suitable

To be honest, jumbo taxis are not the best choice for all expeditions. If there are 20 or 30 members, it is more reasonable to consult a charter bus operator that operates under the same national permits and management.

On the other hand, in situations like this, the maneuverability of the jumbo taxi comes into play.

• I want a small group of about ten to twenty people to travel to the venue without changing trains.
• There are early morning departures or transfers to venues or training camps that are far from the station.
• Depending on the results of the tournament, the time of return may change, so I would like to have more flexibility in terms of time.
• The teacher wants to get away from driving and focus on watching the students while they are on the move.

In your next team outing, who will be driving and who will be responsible for checking the driver’s sleep and health? Let’s try to think of it in concrete terms for a moment.

5 things you want to check before requesting a transfer

Not only for Jumbo Taxi, when school or parent-teacher associations arrange transportation, it is reassuring to check the following points.

• Are you a licensed passenger carrier (with a green license for business use)?
• Does the driver have a second-class driver's license?
• Is the check-in before boarding (checking for alcohol consumption, health, and sleep) being conducted?
• Are you covered by insurance for passenger transportation?
• Will they suggest a vehicle and number of units that match the number of people and luggage?

The process from inquiry to the day of the expedition

1. Contact us via web form:Please provide the date, time, number of people, the amount of luggage, and the destination (venue and accommodation).
2. Vehicle type, route, and quote proposal:We will suggest a vehicle that suits the number of people and luggage, as well as a route that is not too demanding.
3. Confirmation of reservation:Once you are satisfied with the content, we will proceed with the order. We can also handle requests from both the school and the parent association.
4. On-site check-in and departure on the day:The driver who has finished the check-in will pick you up at the school or the meeting point.

Even a consultation would be fine.Inquiries from the web form are available hereIt is.

Should you prioritize safety or price?

A car is a massive piece of metal that can weigh over two tons. Basically anyone with a certain type of license can drive one.

As parents with children of our own, we understand the feelings of parents who believe in schools and send their children there. That’s why we cannot be indifferent to such accidents.

This service includes transportation that only costs gas, as well as measures for safety. I am not going to push you to choose one or the other. But I hope that when choosing a vehicle that carries your precious children, you will compare the “who” and “under what management” factors with the same weight as the “price.” The answer is whether you prioritize safety or price. The answer will be “when something happens.”