Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Harris.
Hi Scott, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I founded Reliable Rides LLC on November 19, 2019, after a career in healthcare and hospitality. The idea came from a moment that stayed with me while I was waiting to pick up my wife, Gena, at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, where she works. I watched a patient being brought outside to a waiting cab and felt that the welcome and personal attention were missing. I thought, “If that were my mother, I would want to know she was riding with someone I could trust.”
That became the foundation of Reliable Rides: dependable transportation with kindness, respect, and a personal connection.
My background helped shape that approach. I became an EMT and volunteered with local rescue squads at 17. I later worked as a pharmacy technician and as a bartender and server at Boar’s Head Resort before moving into medical sales. Healthcare taught me to care about people’s needs, and hospitality taught me how much the little details matter.
Just four months after I started the business, COVID changed everything. By the grace of God, with help from friends and community support, I kept going. Winning the local QuadTank business pitch competition in 2020 and its $5,000 prize was an important turning point. A television interview about the win caught the attention of a UVA Hospital administrator and helped introduce Reliable Rides to people looking for dependable transportation for their patients.
Around that time, I also began picking up visitors who had taken rideshares to wineries but struggled to find a return ride. That opened my eyes to an opportunity to combine transportation with the hospitality I had always enjoyed. Wine and brewery tours became a natural part of the business.
Today, Reliable Rides serves Central Virginia with winery and brewery tours, wedding shuttles, airport transportation, and general transportation. We have built a loyal customer base, including UVA students and families who appreciate having someone they know and trust nearby—even when home is across the country.
We are also proud to be a preferred partner in the Nelson 151 network, an area known for its wineries, breweries, cideries, distilleries, and beautiful Blue Ridge scenery. That connection grew from recommendations following our guests’ tours, which makes it especially meaningful to me.
Gena and I have been married for 32 years, and we have two grown sons, Zachary and Dylan. I’m proud to have built a business around a simple idea: treat people the way you would want your own family treated. Our motto says it best: “Making life easier, one ride at a time.”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Starting a transportation business just before COVID meant learning how to run a company while everything around me was changing. For the first few years, adapting was part of nearly every day.
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset, and I’ve never been afraid of hard work. But I’ve made mistakes, learned some expensive lessons, and had to figure out how to turn a willingness to help into a sustainable business.
One of my biggest lessons has been that I can’t do everything myself. When you care deeply about your customers, it’s easy to keep saying yes and put your own needs last. I’m learning to build a dependable team, share responsibilities, and take care of myself so I can continue taking care of the community that counts on us.
Through it all, my guiding principle has stayed the same: treat people with the kindness and respect you would want for yourself and your family.
As you know, we’re big fans of Reliable Rides LLC . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Reliable Rides is about making the ride part of a positive experience. We specialize in winery and brewery tours, wedding shuttles, airport transportation, and general transportation throughout Central Virginia. Whether someone is planning a day with friends, celebrating a wedding, or catching a flight, we want them to feel comfortable, welcomed, and looked after.
Our wine and brewery tours are an especially enjoyable part of what we do. Central Virginia has so many beautiful places to visit, and we love helping guests relax, enjoy their time together, and create memories that bring them back year after year.
What sets us apart is the personal connection. Many passengers become repeat customers, and we get to know the people behind the reservations. I’m most proud of the reviews, referrals, and follow-up messages that tell us we made someone’s day easier or more enjoyable. We want everyone who rides with us to feel welcome.
One of my favorite memories is of a passenger who had been a drummer in a rock band. During a ride to a medical appointment, we put on Led Zeppelin, and he started air-drumming in the back seat, completely enjoying the moment. It reminded me that even an ordinary ride can become a bright spot in someone’s day.
Readers can learn more about our services and read our customers’ experiences at www.reliableridesva.com.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Before I turned 18, I had already assisted with three childbirth deliveries as an EMT with my local volunteer rescue squad. Those early experiences taught me a lot about staying calm, being dependable, and showing up for people when they need you.
Another thing people may not know is that I lived in San Diego at 23 and worked as a hotel bartender, where I was named Employee of the Month. Looking back, healthcare and hospitality have been the common threads throughout my life, and Reliable Rides brings those two sides together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reliableridesva.com
- Instagram: Reliableridesva
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19ZVA4SFTL/?mibextid=wwXIfr
