CONNECT Centralina recently partnered with Commute with Enterprise to explore how vanpooling can support employers and commuters. Here are the key takeaways. Watch the full webinar recording below.
What Is Vanpool, Exactly?
At its core, vanpool is a shared commute. A group of four to twelve employees traveling from a similar area to the same worksite share a single vehicle. Commute with Enterprise provides and manages the van; including insurance, maintenance, and roadside assistance, for a monthly fee that riders and employers can split or subsidize as they see fit.
It’s a model that has worked quietly in corporate campuses and industrial parks for years. The question employers are now asking is whether it can work for them.
“Transportation challenges often appear indirectly — through attendance issues, hiring difficulties, turnover, and workforce shortages.”
Who Is It For?
Vanpool tends to be most effective where employees are facing long commute distances, shift-based schedules, and locations where public transit simply doesn’t reach. That description fits a large share of employers in the Charlotte region, particularly in manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.
It’s also a natural fit for workforce development organizations trying to connect job seekers with employment opportunities in areas that are hard to reach by transit.
Does It Work for Hybrid Schedules?
This was one of the most common questions from employers in the room, and the answer is yes. Routes and participation levels can be structured around actual commuting patterns, including employees who are only in the office during the week. Flexibility is built into how the program operates.
What Does It Cost — and Is There a Subsidy?
Pricing is calculated based on distance, number of riders, vehicle size, and route structure. For commutes that either originate or end in Mecklenburg County, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) currently offers a subsidy of up to 45% — a significant reduction that can make vanpool genuinely affordable for both employers and employees.
For routes that don’t touch Mecklenburg County, the CATS subsidy generally isn’t available, though pricing structures remain similar, and vanpool can still be a viable option. Organizations in those areas are encouraged to connect with Commute with Enterprise directly for route-specific information.
Key Pricing Factors
- Number of riders sharing the van
- Route structure and stops
- Applicable subsidies (up to 45% in Mecklenburg County)
Is This Only for Mecklenburg County?
No. Vanpool can operate throughout the Charlotte region and surrounding counties. Whether a worksite is in Cabarrus, Gaston, Cleveland, or elsewhere, programs can be set up setup and pricing may vary slightly depending on distance and subsidy eligibility, but geography is not a barrier to participation.
What About Underserved Populations?
Attendees at the webinar raised an important point: transportation barriers fall hardest on those with the fewest alternatives. For refugee communities, workers on nontraditional shifts, and individuals in areas with limited transit access, vanpool can provide a pathway to employment that simply didn’t exist before.
Workforce development partners in the room spoke to this directly — describing vanpool as another practical tool in the toolbox for helping employees reliably get to work.
Ready to Explore Vanpool for Your Organization?
The right contact depends on where your commute is based.
Jessica Lanier
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
For employers & employees commuting within Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County Commutes
Talitha Walter
Commute with Enterprise
Route setup, pricing, implementation & regional vanpool support
Regional & Outside Mecklenburg
Rose Thomalen
Centralina Regional Council
CONNECT Centralina connects employers across the region with workforce resources, programs, and partners. If you have questions about transportation access or other workforce challenges, reach out to our team.
Watch the Full Webinar Recording
Hosted by CONNECT Centralina and Commute with Enterprise
