US van pooling is going to town
| Rochester, Wis.
Van pooling continues to gain popularity as more commuters take the plunge. Companies in the United States operating van pool programs increased from 5 percent in 1979 to 13 percent this year, according to a survey by Runzheimer Reports on Transportation.
Robert Kastengren, executive vice-president of Runzheimer's transportation division, attributes the increase to such benefits as:
* Lowering commuting costs for employees.
* Freeing of employees from driving chores - allowing them to work or read.
* Providing an employee perk that nearly pays for itself.
* Reducing traffic and pollution in communities.
Companies without a van pooling program cited such disadvantages as employees being forced to arrive and leave work at set times, more time spent in transit, and added administrative load for fleet manager.
