Frequently
Asked Questions
Carpools
What is a carpool?
A carpool is any group of two or more
people who ride together to and from work
in a personal vehicle (e.g., personal
automobile, SUV, or truck).
Why should I carpool?
Carpooling saves in parking fees, gasoline,
and vehicle wear and tear.
Members of a carpool can use the extra
time to relax, read, pay bills, or just
to take a few deep breaths. The frustration
of commuting alone in congested traffic
is reduced when you share a ride with
others.
How much money will
I actually save by carpooling?
Carpooling frequently costs less than
what you are paying to commute alone.
Try the Commuting
Cost Calculator to find out exactly
how much money you can save.
How do I get started
carpooling?
Request a free
Rideshare
Matchlist. Indicate your preference
to join a carpool as a driver or rider,
and you'll receive a list of commuters
who live in your area, with similar work
destinations, and who are interested in
ridesharing.
Vanpools
What is a vanpool?
A vanpool is a group of no less
than seven and no more than 15 people,
who commute to and from work together
in a vehicle (e.g., a van or mini-van).
By state law, the vanpool driver must
be a commuter, whose operation of the
vehicle is incidental to their own commute.
How much does it cost?
Usually the cost is
considerably less than what you are paying
to commute to work alone. Try the Commuting
Cost Calculator to find out how much
money you can save.
How are the fares
collected?
The vanpool driver or coordinator (another
passenger) collects your monthly fare
at the beginning of each month.
Could my fare change?
Changes in gasoline, insurance, or maintenance
costs could cause a change in your fare.
The number of active riders also affects
vanpool fares.
What is my commitment
to the van?
In most cases, the driver and riders make
a month-to-month commitment with the coordinator.
You may leave the vanpool, by giving the
driver the requested amount of notice
at anytime.
Who owns the vans?
Many vans are owned or leased by a commuter
or group of commuters; some are owned
and/or organized by private leasing companies,
private employers, government agencies,
or private associations.
Is eating or smoking
permitted in the van?
You and the other riders decide on the
specific rules pertaining to the operation
of the vanpool.
Who does the driving?
A licensed driver, who is also a commuter
like you drives. A commercial drivers
license (CDL) is not a requirement under
state law. However, the driver should
have a safe driving record and be committed
to the responsibility of driving up to
14 other people to and from work each
day. The driver may drive every day or
share the driving with designated back-up
drivers.
What are the driver's
basic responsibilities?
Drivers are responsible for picking up
and dropping off the passengers at agreed-upon
locations, arranging for van maintenance,
fueling the van and collecting fares.
Does the van provide
door-to-door service?
Each group sets its own route and schedule.
Most vans have a common meeting point,
which cuts down on overall travel time,
while others may go door-to-door.
What happens to the
vanpool group when the driver is sick
or on vacation?
Usually, each vanpool has back-up drivers.
They are passengers who occasionally drive
the van in exchange for a reduced fare.
What if I have to
work late or have an emergency?
Check in advance with your employer or
your local Transportation Management Association
at 1-800-245-POOL to see if they have
an "Emergency Ride Home" program
to offer to you and to others in your
vanpool group. An on-call taxi service
or an employer-owned vehicle may be made
available to you in an emergency circumstance,
at a low or no cost.
What happens if I'm
sick?
To prevent unnecessary travel time delays
to the other riders, please call the driver
or coordinator and provide advanced notice.
What happens when
I go on vacation?
Vanpool riders reserve their seat by paying
a monthly fare. Contact your vanpool coordinator
for specific rules pertaining to the operation
of your vanpool.
How do I get started?
Request a free
Rideshare
Matchlist. Indicate your preference
to join a vanpool as a driver or passenger,
and you'll receive a list of vanpools
serving in your home and work area. The
driver or coordinator of the van is listed
as the contact person. The NJ Transit
Vanpool Sponsorship Program provides
information on financial incentive.
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