Can 'vanpooling' offer a cheaper way to group commute?
Enterprise Rent-a-Car has another service that could help save on your commute.
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Public transit is not an option for every commuter. Driving can take a mental toll - and definitely a financial one.
That's where Commute With Enterprise comes in. Those with coworkers in the same area can use one of their cars as a vanpool. Five or more commuters split the fuel costs and maintenance.
“The average cost savings on an annual basis, I would say in this market, is anywhere between $7,000-$8,000 per person," said commute sales executive Kate Cowperthwait.
Enterprise says an average monthly rate in the NJ-NYC market is just under $1,700. The cost depends on the commute distance, vehicle type and number of users. There are also state subsidies - NJ Transit offers a $400 per month benefit to eligible vanpools.
The commuters take turns driving. The primary account holder can bring the car home. The fleet includes minivans, SUVs and 15-passenger vans. Large employers like Princeton University, Picatinny Arsenal and Merck are among those using "Commute With Enterprise."
Commuters can rent the vehicles on a month-to-month basis. Maintenance, insurance and roadside assistance are included. There’s no commuting mileage limit, either.
According to one study, New Jersey commuters lose 99 hours stuck in traffic each year. Vanpooling offers a way to use some of that time wisely.
“It does a great job of helping people with parking issues and just having to drive that sometimes hour-plus a day," said operations branch manager Bryan DeMarco.
“They’re essentially getting time back in their day," said Cowperthwait. "Yes, they are in the car and they're commuting, but that time is there. So whether they are watching Netflix, they're doing their grocery order, they're taking a nap, or they're already answering emails to start their day, they're not the ones that have to every day be behind the wheel.”
