Greater Hartford Ridesharing Corporation

The Rideshare Company (TRC) aims to develop services and programs that make it easier for organizations to help their workforce and/or the clients they serve commute to work. We also aim to save commuters money by reducing some of the hassles and headaches related to transportation and commuting. Our mission has centered on reducing single-occupancy vehicles on the roads by providing comprehensive rideshare services and support to government agencies and corporations. Our fleet management services provide a range of typical and accessible vehicles that meet the specific needs of each client. Many of our clients are residential & group homes, adult day care centers, and assisted living facilities. In helping these communities, we address the transportation gaps that affect some of the most vulnerable populations. Our passion is to promote ridesharing and provide transportation services that enable a higher quality of life, reduce traffic congestion, and encourage business growth and development.

TRC works to lower the barriers that prevent people from taking advantage of the benefits of ridesharing, carpooling, and other alternate commute modes. For a commuter, these benefits include increased workplace satisfaction, reduced wear on their personal vehicle, and greater savings from vehicle maintenance and gasoline expenses. For an employer, these benefits include greater employee satisfaction and retention, increased parking access, and the promotion of corporate social responsibility. For clients of human services organizations, these benefits include the care and attention to ensure that they reach their destinations safely, on-time, and with consideration for their circumstances.

Through our programs, TRC provides measurable reductions in road congestion and energy consumption that enhance the health and quality of the natural environment. A single four-person carpool can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12,000 pounds annually, an environmental impact equivalent to saving 2 tons of recycled waste from landfills. With the world facing escalating climate change, TRC is committed to creating a positive environmental difference by encouraging sustainable transportation habits.

The Rideshare Company (TRC) operates several programs and services, including the easy fleet program, the easy commute program, the easygreencarpoolsⓇ program, a dedicated customer support center, comprehensive operational support, and consulting for transportation, commuting, and fleet management services. TRC has focused on the end result or ‘value’ that people realize from our programs and services. Instead of fulfilling a program or service need based on a specification, we also look at the value that it needs to provide to those who will be utilizing the solution we develop and implement.

The all-inclusive easy fleet lease program provides a range of typical and lift equipped/wheelchair-accessible vehicles that meets each organization’s specific needs. This is achieved without tying up an organization’s capital and without the difficulties associated with owning or private-leasing vehicles. TRC conducts a needs analysis of the organization and provides a detailed cost comparison to show the economics associated with easy fleet. TRC manages the logistics and accounting associated with all routine maintenance, gas, insurance, and more. These features lower the barriers for organizations to introduce cost-effective, environmentally friendly vehicles to their own programs and services.

easy commute is a fully managed incentive-based, customizable employer website that combines sophisticated ridematching tools, a trip-tracking tool, commute calculators, an environmental and cost-savings impact dashboard, monthly news, and helpful information content. The site serves as the all-in-one portal where employees register, keep track of their commuting, match with carpool or vanpool groups, and see the overall impact they and their company are making to improve the natural environment.

easygreencarpoolsⓇ is an employee carpool vehicle lease program that offers employees a simple and flexible solution to their commuting needs. For a low monthly fare, employers and their commuters will receive a fuel efficient vehicle and fully managed insurance, registration, GPS monitoring, maintenance, repairs, 24/7 customer service, 24/7 roadside assistance, and emergency rides. This program makes carpooling easy and appealing and opens the doors for commuters to embrace non-single occupancy travel.

The Commute Solutions Consulting program lets employers across the United States take advantage of TRC’s decades of fleet management and employee transportation experience. By offering a consulting service, TRC encourages organizations to adopt more sustainable transportation habits through the methods that work best for their specific circumstances.

TRC has over 40 years of experience in transportation services that help us identify deficits in commuting patterns and design programs that fit people’s needs. We match commuters with the right transit solutions, efficiently coordinate maintenance with our lease clients, and resolve conflicts between employees, employers, drivers, and other stakeholders. The data that we have collected over the years grants us a comprehensive insight into the people who benefit from our services.

TRC’s staff is critical to accomplishing our long-term strategy. Our sales team takes a needs-driven approach by meeting with and listening to the challenges and goals an employer may have. From the geographic location of the employer and their employees to the special needs of people being supported by a social services program, we put together a customized commuter solution for each client. Our marketing staff collaborates with our clients to develop integrated marketing strategies, review new media options, identify creative and production resources, and establish and manage budgets with a focus on ensuring an effective and consistent marketing presence. Our customer service staff breaks down many of the barriers and perceptions people have when it comes to leaving the car at home and going a better way.

Our operations staff handles all the logistics associated with maintenance and also provides replacement vehicles to keep everyone moving and ensure our customers are never without a vehicle. They constantly monitor and maintain every vehicle in our fleet from its first mile to its last. With every service, our operations staff coordinates an 85-point inspection with our vehicle maintenance partners. This includes brake and tire checks, key mechanical and safety systems checks, and more. Our proprietary fleet information system incorporates highly sophisticated vehicle tracking software that helps us monitor and maintain vehicles to get the best operational and cost performance, without sacrificing safety. Our fleet information system also enables us to manage everything from insurance to vehicle registration.

TRC began its mission in the 1980s to promote and educate ridesharing and commuting in the Greater Hartford area, including through a monthly publication called The Commuter Register. TRC then began assisting local companies and the State of Connecticut with establishing their own vanpool programs. In 1995, TRC purchased these vans and formed our own vanpool program, easy street. A couple years later, we expanded our easy fleet coverage to the neighboring states of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York. In 2000, TRC began the program now known as easy fleet by partnering with group homes to use TRC’s extensive vanpool. In the late 2000s, TRC opened several new programs, including the consulting service now known as Commute Solutions in 2007, the carpool program easygreencarpoolsⓇ in 2008, and the integrated commuter benefits program easy commute in 2009. Through easy commute, TRC expanded service to major cities across the country, including Chicago and Los Angeles. In 2014, we sold our vanpool program and made way for a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation service that quickly expanded to Indiana, Florida, and Michigan. Across all of our programs, TRC has had a significant impact on people and the environment. Our work has resulted in 576 million fewer miles traveled, 15 million fewer vehicle trips, 287 thousand fewer tons of emissions, and 27 million gallons of gasoline conserved.

TRC expects significant developments in the near future. We plan to transform our gasoline-powered vehicle fleet into being fully electric by 2035 by purchasing electric vehicles that meet our clients’ needs and installing vehicle charging infrastructure. As the transportation sector evolves, we will keep up-to-date with the most recent digital innovations. We also plan to remain involved in conversations, research, and pilot programs around advancements in vehicle technologies, especially in regards to autonomous vehicles.