AgVan: Reducing greenhouse gases one carpool at a time

AgVan: Reducing green house gases with transportation for agricultural workers

According to the American Public Transportation Association, “If one commuter of a household switches his or her daily driving to using public transportation, the household carbon footprint decreases by 10 percent, or reduces daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds. That is more than 4,800 pounds of carbon emissions reduced in a year.”

Since the program’s debut in 2008, Pacific Vineyard Company has successfully organized transportation for as many as 28 employees in two separate vans. Ride-On Transportation provides the vans, fuel, insurance and vehicle maintenance for all agricultural workers seeking a safe and dependable ride to work. It just requires a California licensed driver, who rides for free. All riders share the cost of the monthly fee, which on average costs $4.00 a day for a ride to and from work. The Pacific Vineyard employees pay this out of their own pocket and coordinates with the group’s van driver appropriate pick-up times to ensure punctuality.

Pacific Vineyard is pleased that the non-profit organization Ride-On Transportation developed this program and can assist other local companies in being environmentally responsible by reducing greenhouse gases with employee carpooling.