Carpooling saves you money. Even if you carpool with just one other person, you can greatly reduce your commuting expenses. Carpooling also helps improve the region’s air quality, and makes commuting less stressful.

To find carpool partners using our online carpool matching database, simply register to be a part of Smart Trips. Once you have registered, or if you are already a member, follow these instructions.

1. Click on the website for the company you work for. You can find the list of employers by choosing “I Want To…Register for Smart Trips, or Log My Commutes” from our homepage. Then click on the company you work for, or choose “Other Company” if your employer isn’t listed or “College Students” if you are a student.
   
   
2. Once you have logged into your employer’s site, Choose “Find a Carpool” under the Rideshare tab on the left side of the page.
   
   
3. Select the days of the week you wish to carpool with someone and set your Search Radius. (Hint: Setting a wider search radius from your home and work locations will yield more results.)
   
   
4. Choose your arrival and departure times, this is when you need to arrive at and leave from work, not when you wish to depart from or arrive home.
   
   
5. Click on “Find a Ride.” This should bring up a list of potential carpool partners listed A, B, C, etc. Review the information provided about your matches and see which ones might work best for you.
   
   
6. Click on “Request a Carpool” for the ones you wish to follow-up on. This will bring up a screen where you can contact potential rideshare partners and send them messages. Provide as much or as little information about yourself as you wish.
   
   
7. Choose the days you are interested in carpooling and click on “Request a Carpool” to send your message. Doing so will bring up a list of your Carpool Match Requests. Check back often to see if you have any responses or provide your email addresses so potential matches can contact you directly.

If you have any questions or need help running a ridematch feel free to contact us at smarttrips@knoxtrans.org or call (865) 215-2916.

Carpool Tips

Use these guidelines to get the most out of your carpool arrangement.

• Cover the basics. In making your carpool arrangements, be sure to get answers to some key questions:
  • How often will you carpool?
  • How many carpool partners will there be?
  • Who will do the driving?
  • Do all drivers have full insurance coverage?
  • Where will you meet? Carpoolers can pick each other up at home or meet at a mutually convenient location.
  • When will you meet?
• Discuss carpool costs. If commuters rotate the driving equally, money doesn’t have to exchange hands. But if only one person drives the carpool, decide how the costs of gas and parking will be handled.
• Get to know your fellow carpoolers. Carpoolers who don’t know each other sometimes feel more comfortable meeting prospective carpool partners before they drive together for the first time. Plan to talk on the phone or meet for coffee to discuss carpool specifics and decide whether or not you would feel comfortable sharing a ride. You can also arrange a trial rideshare to test the waters.
• Establish some rules. Carpoolers should agree upon certain ground rules at the outset:
  • Food, coffee, smoking, and perfume/cologne usage
  • Radio choices
  • How long drivers will wait for delays
  • Who is notified if someone is sick
• Give carpooling a trial run. Many commuters start carpooling on a trial basis for a month or two. You can always add more days and more carpoolers in the future once a routine has been established. Don’t worry about getting the details perfect right away.

Carpool Etiquette

DO:

• Communicate with your fellow carpoolers. If you’re running a few minutes late, call them and let them know. If you can’t carpool on a particular day, give your carpool partners ample notice so they can make other arrangements if necessary.
• Drive safely at all times.
• Keep your vehicle clean and in good condition.
• Respect any restrictions the carpool has agreed on, such as smoking, eating, or drinking.

DON’T:

• Make a habit of being late.
• Ask your carpool partners to make extra stops along the way so you can take care of personal errands.
• Bring up controversial topics like religion or politics unless you know your fellow carpoolers well. While some people enjoy debating the issues, others may prefer a quieter commute.
• Have lengthy cell phone conversations while you’re in the carpool.