What is OC Vanpool?

OCTA helps employers launch and maintain vanpool programs that enable employers to attract, retain, and nurture their employees. Over 100 companies have participated in the program that adds an employee benefit, eases parking problems and can help meet South Coast AQMD requirements. This “super carpool” comprises groups of employees who travel together in a vehicle leased monthly with costs partially subsidized by OCTA.

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How does Vanpool help employers?

Strengthen employee engagement, productivity, retention

Vanpools ease the attrition among long-distance commuters and attract talented people who live far from your worksite.

Reduce parking costs and congestion

Vanpools allow companies with parking problems to free up space and save money by decreasing vehicles arriving at the worksite.

Helps to meet South Coast AQMD requirements

Vanpools help companies with over 250 employees regulated by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Tax incentives

Employers can achieve a savings of up to 7.65% on average on payroll taxes when their employees enroll in a pre-tax commuter benefits program.

Ease pending relocation

Vanpools decrease stress among employees whose commute is lengthened by worksite relocation.

Go green and boost community initiatives

Your contributions to reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions can be provided upon request.

How will my employees benefit?

Save Money

Each vanpool participant can save $200 or more per month on gas, maintenance, insurance and personal vehicle depreciation.

Stress Less

Vanpoolers can share driving duties and use passenger time to nap, browse social media, catch up on work or watch videos on a vehicle's TV.

Save Time

Vanpoolers save time – up to a minute per mile – by using carpool and toll lanes.

How does OCTA help?

OCTA provides services that make vanpooling successful:

$400 monthly subsidy ($500 for qualified groups) per vanpool – equal to roughly 25% of the monthly fuel and lease costs
Guaranteed Ride Home for unplanned emergencies (2 incidents per year)
Support to implement, grow and maintain a corporate vanpool program – at no cost to employers
OCTA vanpools must remain open to the public in order to receive the subsidy so our staff can assist in finding riders from other employers when ridership is low

“Implementing the vanpool program and starting up a new vanpool is easy! All you need are eligible riders who want to save gas money, ride in the carpool lane, and limit their environmental impact. OCTA and the vanpool vendors will support you every step of the way.”

- Herbalife

“Having a vanpool program in place is a great rideshare option for our commuters in general, but especially for employees that travel long distance. Many of these commuters have shared that without the vanpool program in place, they would not be able to work in our city.”

- City of Anaheim

“A vanpool program can enhance an employer's image to their employees without having to spend a lot of money. Our program is self-sufficient, meaning it pays for itself through employee payroll deductions. Our employees see it as an added employer benefit." ”

- University of California, Irvine

Implementing a Program

Implementing a vanpool program that benefits your company and employees is easy. Here's how it works:

Let's Identify Your Potential

The first step in implementing a program is identifying which employees will be a good fit for the program. Those who live longer distances from work near coworkers with a common schedule are ideal candidates.

Meet with the Groups

Once we've identified potential vanpoolers, we'll meet with them at your convenience at your business.

Form Vans!

After the meetings, groups can decide to vanpool, carpool or not change their habits. If vans are formed, we will provide all customer service necessary for maintenance, insurance, billing and subsidy enrollment.

Step 1: Identify Potential

Let's Identify Your Potential

We'll create a complimentary analysis that indicates how many employees could be vanpooling and which groups have potential. This analysis is completely free and there is no obligation to rent any vans. It can be done in as little as a week.

Step 2: Meet with Groups

Meet with the Groups

Once we've identified potential vanpoolers, we'll meet with them at your convenience at your business. Along with Enterprise, our vanpool provider, we'll present the benefits of vanpooling.

Step 3: Form Vans

Form Vans!

Ready to start a vanpool program?

If you're ready to start a vanpool program or have questions, please contact vanpool program specialist, Kristopher Hewkin, at 714-560-5331 or khewkin@octa.net.

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Helpful documents

Fact Sheet

Guidelines

Orange County Transportation Authority

Vanpool for Employers