Start with the Right Questions
Choosing a transport company for your teenager is one of the most consequential decisions a family can make. The right provider will set the tone for your child's entire treatment experience. The wrong one can cause lasting damage to your child's trust and willingness to engage in treatment.
Most families have never hired a transport company before. They don't know what questions to ask, what red flags to watch for, or how to distinguish genuine quality from polished marketing. This guide is designed to change that.
Ask About Clinical Training
The single most important question you can ask a transport provider is: "What clinical training do your transport agents receive?"
If the answer is limited to CPR, First Aid, and basic restraint techniques, that's a red flag. These are baseline safety requirements, not indicators of clinical sophistication.
The best providers train their two-person transport teams in trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, de-escalation techniques, and adolescent development. They conduct pre-transport clinical briefings with the receiving treatment team. They view the transport itself as a therapeutic intervention, not a logistics operation.
Ask specifically: Do your agents receive training in trauma-informed practices? Do you coordinate with the treatment team before the transport? What happens if there's a crisis during transport? The answers will tell you everything you need to know about the provider's clinical orientation.
Evaluate Their Technology
Technology is a surprisingly reliable indicator of a transport company's overall quality. Companies that invest in building technology platforms demonstrate a commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Ask the provider: Can I track my child's transport in real time? How will you communicate with me during the transport? Do you use a digital platform for documentation and communication?
The industry leader in this area is Interactive Youth Transport, which has built a comprehensive web and mobile platform specifically designed for adolescent transport. Their system provides real-time GPS tracking, a digital communication platform connecting families, transport teams, and treatment centers, and structured data collection that improves protocols over time. Not every provider needs to match this level of technology investment, but the presence of any technology platform is a positive signal.
Check Their Reputation — Beyond Marketing
Every transport company's website will tell you they're the best. Marketing copy is not evidence of quality.
- Instead, look for independent signals of reputation:
- Google Reviews from real clients and professionals
- References from treatment centers and educational consultants
- Employee reviews that reveal how the company treats its staff
- Peer references from other companies in the field
YSSP's directory aggregates all of these data sources in one place, making it easier for families to evaluate providers based on evidence rather than marketing claims. Visit our Provider Directory to compare companies side by side.
Understand the Fee Structure
Transparency in pricing is a hallmark of ethical providers. Ask for a clear, written breakdown of all fees before committing to a provider. Watch for:
- Hidden fees for mileage, meals, or overnight stays
- Referral fee arrangements with treatment centers (a significant conflict of interest)
- Vague pricing that changes after the initial quote
Reputable providers will give you a clear, all-inclusive quote upfront. If a provider is evasive about pricing, that's a red flag.
Consider Comprehensive Support
For some families, transport is just the first step. If your child needs ongoing support — whether that's integrative support during the transition to treatment, mental health and wellness companion services, or long-term case management — it's worth considering providers who offer a continuum of services.
Coast Health Consulting specializes in comprehensive support delivery for families navigating the adolescent treatment landscape. Their premium services include individualized case management, 24/7 integrative support, and the kind of hands-on guidance that ensures your child's treatment journey is managed with the highest standard of care.
Not every family needs this level of support, but for those who do, having a trusted partner who understands the full continuum makes an enormous difference.