Amy S. Chan, tech evangelist

So I carpooled for a couple weeks and love it. Even though I drive a Honda Civic which gets 35 mpg, I still burn a lot of gas on my long commute. I filled up the tank the other week and the charge actually hit the $50 mark!!

I’ve been Googling tips on carpooling and found a couple lists but wanted to compile a comprehensive list of top ten:

1. Agree on the route, pickup point(s), and times. A single pick-up point is recommended for simplicity and efficiency.

 

2. Be punctual.
• Agree on how long the driver should wait if someone is late. 5 minutes is a good rule of thumb.
• If you are running late, let the driver or passenger(s) know when they can expect you to be there with a call or text message.
3. Agree on a schedule for driving responsibilities.
• Find out which members of the carpool will be driving and how often. Will you rotate on a daily, weekly, or monthy basis? Weekly is a good starting point.
• Appoint a backup for each driver.
4. Determine how driving expenses will be reimbursed.
• If there will be non-driver(s), figure out how costs will be shared and when payment is expected. (per day or per mile contribution)
5. Establish a chain of communication.
• Exchange phone numbers and email addresses.
• Let members know ahead of time when you will be away on business or vacation.
• If a driver can’t carpool one day, an alternate driver should be notified as soon as possible.
• If a passenger won’t be carpooling one day, the driver should be notified as soon as possible.
6. Be flexible.
• There will be days that someone will be sick, need to drive in on their own, or will telework and won’t be able to participate in the car pool.
• Let members know ahead of time when you will be away on business or vacation.
7. Be considerate of your fellow carpooler(s)
• Fill your gas tank before you leave. Don’t waste everyone’s time at the gas station during the carpool.
• Adjust the cabin temperature for maximum comfort for all passengers.
• Make sure your car is clean.
• Avoid strong scents that may be irritating to others.
8. Establish guidelines from the start.
• Smoking or nonsmoking
• Food and drinks
• Music, station, volume. (Tastes may differ so you may want to suggest members to bring headphones.)
• Coffee runs
9. Be Safe.
• Maintain your car. Make sure your car is in good repair.
• Drive safely and drive defensively.
10. Give your carpool some time to work. It may take a few weeks to fine tune the details and for everyone to adjust to the new routine. You can also start off on a trial basis for a month or two.

Hope these help you!