Carpooling for companies
What is carpooling?
Carpooling from Ruter is a digital service that helps employees with similar travel routes find each other and share the car journey. For workplaces, this means that employees can:
- Offer or find carpooling to and from work
- Share costs
- Reduce the number of cars traveling to and from the workplace
It’s easy to get started with carpooling at the workplace. Ruter also provides a communication package you can share internally to increase interest.
Why carpooling to work?
Good for employees
- Lower costs
- Less stress
- Social and flexible
Good for the workplace
- Fewer cars and less pressure on parking
- Contributes to the sustainability goals and ESG efforts
- Simple measure that gives visible results
Good for the local community
- Less queueing
- Lower emissions
- Better use of existing roads
How it works in practice
- Employees download the TRIPS app and create a profile
2. They enter when and where they are traveling
3. The service connects employees with suitable trips
4. The driver and passenger agree on the details between themselves
5. The trip is carried out – simply and flexibly.
Note that Ruter does not set any guidelines for who chooses to ride together, and arrangements are made directly between the users. Carpooling is voluntary and can be either regular or occasional.
What must companies do?
Carpooling is a low-threshold measure with no administrative burden.
Therefore:
- you don’t pay anything to start using the service
- no binding agreement is entered into with Ruter
- do you have no operational role in the actual coordination
The company’s role is first and foremost to:
- inform employees about the opportunity
- facilitate internal communication
- motivate use through campaigns or competitions
What does this mean for the employees?
- Participation is completely voluntary
- Employees choose for themselves whether they want to drive or ride along
- Ruter manages the actual service
- Coordination does not change employment conditions, salary, or working hours
- It is possible to combine carpooling with public transport
- The compensation employees receive for bringing a passenger is not taxable
How to get started
Step 1: Decide to run a test
Coordination can be tested on a small scale, for example in one department or at one office.
Step 2: Share information with employees
We’ve made it easier for you to provide information about the carpooling service. Below you can download materials from Ruter that you can print out or share digitally with employees.
Step 3: Monitor and adjust
You receive insights about user behavior from Ruter, allowing you to adjust incentives along the way. Some workplaces succeed quickly, while others need a bit more time.
Resources and materials for businesses
- Ready-made email templates for employees
- Presentation for all-hands meeting / intranet
- Posters and digital banners
- FAQ that can be shared internally
- Proposal for an internal launch plan
- Suggestions for incentives and tips for creating long-term engagement
Do you want access to this material? Send an email to samkjoring@ruter.no.
Frequently asked questions about carpooling
Does this require a lot of follow-up from the company?
No. For most partners, this is primarily about informing employees and, if relevant, supporting the launch with simple measures (for example internal communication or voluntary incentives). Ruter is responsible for the service, operations, further development and user support. Follow-up from the employer can be adapted to the level of ambition and available capacity.
Can employees carpool outside working hours?
Yes. Carpooling can be used both to and from work, and at other times that suit each individual. The service is not limited to working hours, and it is up to each user when and how they wish to use it.
Is this safe?
Yes. Carpooling takes place through a closed digital service where users must verify themselves before they can participate. The trips are recorded in our partner app TRIPS, where both driver and passenger can provide feedback after the trip is completed. This helps ensure transparency and safety for everyone involved. In addition, employees often carpool with colleagues or people connected to the same workplace.
Who is responsible if something happens?
Carpooling is considered private transport, similar to colleagues agreeing to drive together. The driver is responsible for the vehicle and the driving, just as in other situations involving private car use. The employer does not have any special responsibility for the journey itself, as long as the carpooling is voluntary and not required as part of the employment relationship.
What if few people sign up at the start?
That’s completely normal. Ride-sharing builds volume over time, and many services naturally have a start-up period before usage picks up. Experience shows that visibility, a low barrier to trying it out, and simple incentives can help increase participation. The pilot phase is specifically intended to test, learn, and adjust along the way, including when it comes to recruitment.
Is it taxable?
No, compensation related to ride-sharing is intended to cover the costs of bringing a passenger (such as fuel and wear and tear), not to generate financial profit. The model has been assessed against the current regulations and falls within the framework for non-commercial transport. Any changes in connection with later scaling will be assessed separately.
Is privacy being protected?
Privacy is safeguarded in accordance with GDPR. Only the information necessary to deliver the service is collected, and the data is used for operations, security, and anonymized analytics. Employers do not have access to individual travel data about employees. Ruter is the data controller for the information collected in the pilot.
Contact and further dialogue
Do you have any questions or want to share experiences from your workplace? Send an email to samkjoring@ruter.no.