What is carpooling?

How does carpooling work?

Carpools are based on sharing commute expenses. There are two basic types of carpool arrangements:

• The car poolers use one car owned by one driver. One person does all of the driving, and is reimbursed for mileage by the riders.
• The carpools rotate car use and driving so that each person’s vehicle and time is shared equally. No money is usually exchanged in this arrangement.

What is van pooling?

Seven or more people sharing a ride in a van constitutes a van pool. Van pools are generally more structured and formalized in their organization than carpools due to the cost of obtaining, maintaining, and insuring the van. Operating costs are covered by monthly fares paid by the passengers. Driving is done by one or more individuals. The driver is often the person who collects the fare from the passengers. Van pool one-way commuting distances typically begin at 15 miles, but frequently operate at much greater distances.

How does van pooling work?

Vanpools are based on sharing commute expenses. There are four basic types of van pool arrangements:

• Owner-operated van pools: An individual owns a van and provides others with transportation to their work-site in exchange for sharing expenses of operating and maintaining the van.
  
• Employer owned: The employer owns and operates its own fleet of vans. The company administers the total program and maintains the vans. Employees pay the company a set fare, depending on the length of the commute.
  
• Employer leased: The employer contracts with a van pool management firm to lease vans to its employees. Employer involvement depends on the terms of the lease.
  
• Employee monthly leased vans (Third party vans): An individual or employee group contracts directly with a van pool management firm for a van. The management company usually provides maintenance and insurance as part of the package for which individual van pool group pays a monthly fare.