Welcome to Vanpool

SHARE YOUR COMMUTE AND SAVE

Driving to work on your own puts wear on your vehicle and a dent in your wallet. For a low monthly rate, Pierce Transit provides you with a vehicle to share your commute with others for less. Ready to get started? Click below!

ARE YOU LOOKING TO...

Save money?
Reduce wear and tear on your vehicle?
Share driving responsibilities?
Get access to the faster HOV lanes?
Help the environment?

Pierce Transit Vanpool can help!

HOW IT WORKS

Decide if you want to join an existing vanpool or start a new group.
Click “Start Vanpooling” below and again on the next screen.
Sign up and set your preferences.
Select “Join a Vanpool” to join an existing vanpool or “Start a Vanpool” to start your own.
Enjoy saving money, saving time, and helping the environment!

It’s that easy!

JOIN AN EXISITING VANPOOL GROUP

We have hundreds of vanpools already on the road. Find a match at PTVanpool.com.

Have questions about joining a vanpool? Contact us at 253.581.8000, option 3, then 2 or Vanpool@PierceTransit.org.

START A NEW VANPOOL GROUP

A vanpool is a group of 3 to 15 people who share their commute to and from work. Each group has an assigned driver, backup driver, and bookkeeper.

Need help finding riders? Visit our Find Riders page.

Have questions about starting a new group? Contact us at 253.983.3792 or CommuteSolutions@PierceTransit.org.

VEHICLES

Pierce Transit operates a fleet of over 250 vanpool vehicles ranging from 7 passenger SUVs to 15 passenger commuter vans. Find one that’s right for you!

FARES

Pierce Transit Vanpool offers a simple, flat rate fare option. All monthly fares are based on the distance your vanpool commutes each day.

Daily Round Trip Miles (Vehicle)	Monthly Vanpool Fare Per Rider
< 50	$100
51-75	$125
76-100	$150
101-125	$175
126-150	$200
151+	$225

We also offer a part-time rider service designed to provide hybrid commuters the benefits of vanpooling. All daily fares are based on the distance of your daily vanpool commute.

Daily Round Trip Miles (Vehicle)

Daily Fare
Per Rider

< 100

$15

100 +

$20

DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

Vanpooling is an affordable solution to fight expensive commuting costs. According to AAA, at 15,000 miles per year, it costs 61 cents per mile to own and operate a personal vehicle. Multiplied out, the total cost can be staggering. Let’s do the math…

Average Costs on Your Own:
61 cents per mile X 15,000 annual miles = $9,150

Costs with Pierce Transit Vanpool:
10 cents per mile* X 15,000 annual miles = $1,500

The savings are huge!** See the true cost of your commute on the commute calculator. *Vanpool fares are based on the daily roundtrip miles of the vanpool vehicle. View our fares on the Vanpool Fares page.

Still not convinced? Hear from some of our vanpoolers:

Jason H | Chehalis to Lakewood
The savings on gas helps keep the roads less crowded, allows you to get to know your coworkers and strengthen relationships, which in turn makes work better by giving it a personal touch.

Happy Vanpooler plugging in electric vanpool

Ronda M | Gig Harbor to Auburn
I’m loving the vanpool. Everyone is so nice! I’m glad to be in vanpool, especially during the rainy dark season… I am impressed that the vehicles are taken care of regularly so I never worry about mechanical problems.

How does vanpool work?
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A vanpool is a group of 3 to 15 people sharing the ride to work in a 7, 12, or 15 passenger vehicle. The vehicles are assigned to groups of people who share their commute and are driven by an approved member of the vanpool group. Every group has a driver, backup driver, and bookkeeper. Pierce Transit owns, maintains, manages, insures, and licenses the vehicle.
How much does vanpool cost?
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Vanpool fares are based on the daily roundtrip commute miles of the vehicle and are paid in advance monthly. You can find your fare on our vanpool fares page. Many employers offer a commute benefit that may pay for all or part of your fare, so make sure to ask your employer about any available commute benefits.
If I join a vanpool, what is my commitment?
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You may withdraw from a vanpool at any time. Withdrawal notices must be submitted prior to the 20th of the month to avoid being charged the next month’s fare. Withdrawals will now be completed on PTVanpool.com
Who pays for fuel?
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Fuel is included in the cost of your vanpool fare. Approved vanpool drivers fuel the vehicle with a fuel card that is issued by Pierce Transit.
How are vanpool fares calculated?
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Vanpool fares are based on the daily roundtrip commute miles of the vehicle and are paid in advance. You can find your fare on our vanpool fares page.
What if the vanpool group gains or loses a rider?
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In May of 2022, we implemented a flat rate fare model for our vanpool program. Vanpool fares are now based exclusively on the daily roundtrip commute miles of the vehicle, regardless of how many riders are in the group. This means a simple, predictable, and consistent fare each month. All vanpool groups must have a minimum of three participants.
Do I get picked up at my home?
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Each group determines their route and schedule. Most groups decide to meet at a convenient location to keep mileage and commute times to a minimum. The initial route, and any changes, must be approved by Pierce Transit. All routes must either start or finish in Pierce County.
What happens when I'm sick or on vacation?
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Your fare reserves your seat on the vanpool. If you are a monthly rider, you may vanpool as often or as little as you like during the month. If you are a daily rider, you may ride on the days you reserved a seat and paid your daily fare. Pierce Transit does not offer refunds for nonuse.
Can I vanpool part-time?
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Yes, you may join a full-time vanpool group as a part-time rider and pay a daily rate if the group has three or more full-time participants. Please visit our vanpool fares page to view the daily rates.
What does the primary vanpool driver do?
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The primary driver is responsible for safely driving the vanpool vehicle, fueling the vehicle, making sure the vehicle is cleaned regularly, and coordinating with our team on required vehicle maintenance. The primary driver also coordinates driver coverage with other approved backup drivers to ensure (as much as possible) that the vehicle operates each work day.
How do I become a driver?
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Start by signing up for vanpool at PTVanpool.com and select the driver option on the Application & Agreement. . We will review your information and conduct a motor vehicle driving record review. After approval, we will provide you with online vanpool driver training.
What are the benefits of becoming a primary vanpool driver?
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Primary vanpool drivers do not pay a fare if there are at least five fare paying participants in the group. Approved drivers may also use the vehicle for things that are incidental to the commute, such as going to an appointment during work hours or stopping by the gym on the way home. A low standard mileage rate applies for all incidental use miles.
How are vanpool drivers selected?
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Vanpool drivers must have five years of recent driving history, a valid Washington State driver license, a safe driving record, and proof of insurability. All potential drivers must apply to become a driver. This includes a review of their motor vehicle driving record. Drives are also required to complete a defensive driving course provided through Pierce Transit.
I drove a PT vanpool before. Am I automatically reapproved?
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The short answer is no, you are not automatically reapproved. If you were a Pierce Transit vanpool driver within the last year, we may be able to waive the defense driving course if you meet certain criteria. The fasted way to get reapproved as a driver is to sign up for vanpool at PTVanpool.com and select the driver option on the Application & Agreement.
What if I drove a vanpool for a different transit agency?
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If you were a vanpool driver at different transit agency within the past year, we may be able to waive the defense driving course if you meet certain criteria. The fastest way to get approved as a vanpool driver with Pierce Transit is to complete the online Driver Application & Agreement.
What happens if the primary driver is sick or on vacation?
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Vanpool groups with five or more participants are required to have at least one approved backup driver who can drive when the primary drive is unavailable. If no approved drivers are available, the vanpool cannot operate. No fare refunds are provided for nonuse.
What does a bookkeeper do?
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The vanpool bookkeeper is vital to the success of the vanpool. This volunteer records ridership and mileage. The bookkeeper also ensures that completed vanpool reports are submitted to Pierce Transit by the tenth of each month. A vanpooler who rides regularly is a good candidate to keep the books for the group.

A potential bookkeeper submits an application and receives training before assuming volunteer bookkeeper responsibilities. The bookkeeper must be an active participant in the vanpool.
How does vehicle maintenance work?
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Our fleet of vanpool vehicles are kept in top working order. We ensure that all required and suggested routine maintenance is completed on schedule. When a vehicle is called in for service, an approved driver brings the vehicle to Pierce Transit and a spare vehicle is issued to the group while the vehicle is being worked on. Maintenance is usually completed within 3-5 days.
What happens if the vehicle breaks down?
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In the rare event that your vehicle breaks down, please contact Pierce Transit immediately. We will dispatch our team of highly qualified service technicians to assist you and bring you a spare vehicle as quickly as possible.
How does vanpool insurance work?
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Vanpool insurance works a lot like renting a car or driving your own vehicle. Pierce Transit is insured through the Washington State Transit Insurance Pool (WSTIP), which provides coverage for the vehicle and limited coverage for authorized occupants. Uninsured motorist coverage is also provided. Please review our vanpool insurance coverage prior to joining a vanpool.
How do we find more riders for our vanpool group?
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Our team can work with you and your employer to recruit additional riders. Ride matching services are also available at PTVanpool.com. Some of our vanpool groups have had success recruiting additional riders through their employer newsletter and posting Rider Wanted flyer at their workplace. Please contact us for additional ideas and resources.
Is smoking allowed in the vanpool vehicle?
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No. State law prohibits smoking in or within 25 feet of our vehicles or buildings. By signing the Participant Agreement, riders agree to refrain from using tobacco and/or vaporizer products while in or within 25 feet of our vehicles or buildings. Additionally, vanpool participants may not possess, use, or be under the influence of alcohol or any federally prohibited substance, including marijuana.
Are children allowed to vanpool?
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With approval from Pierce Transit, a youth rider may be added to a vanpool by a parent or legal guardian who is a member of the vanpool group. A youth rider is anyone who is age 18 or younger. A Youth Rider Agreement must be completed prior to youth riding on a vanpool. Please contact us for additional information about adding a youth rider on your vanpool.