Bridging the Gap: Hop In Technologies’ Impact on Workforce Mobility

On May 26, 2025, Invest Durham Senior Content Writer Abigail Guevara published an in-depth profile of Hop In Technologies. Although the focus is on Hop In, we’re proud to see Boyd Reid, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, featured for his work addressing a critical barrier to employment: reliable, affordable transportation.

Born and raised in Jamaica, Boyd understood firsthand how a lack of transport options can keep good workers from good jobs. In 2018, he and co-founder Erich Ko launched Hop In to partner with local bus, taxi and shuttle operators. Their app collects real-time data on employees’ home addresses, shift schedules and available vehicles in order to design efficient pick-up and drop-off routes. This “last-mile” approach ensures that employers in north Durham and other underserved areas can fill late or remote shifts without relying solely on workers who own cars.

Guevara’s article highlights Hop In’s early projects in Durham Region, including coordinating safe rides for Durham Deaf Services during the pandemic, and more recent collaborations with Durham College and the Clarington Board of Trade to study transit gaps. Boyd shares that employees who use the service arrive calm and on time, often using the ride home to rest, while businesses benefit from reduced turnover and lower recruitment costs once transportation is no longer an obstacle.

The profile also covers Hop In’s expansion into the United States, noting their 2024 partnership with Alabama Industrial Development Training and ongoing discussions with Ultimate Kronos Group to integrate commute solutions for clients across North America. Throughout, Hop In’s mission to remove transportation barriers and unlock economic opportunity resonates strongly with DRABPE’s commitment to supporting Black entrepreneurs and professionals in our region.

Read the full Invest Durham story here:
Smart Commutes: How Hop In Technologies Is Connecting Workers to Jobs