Frequently asked questions

What is CrewCommute?

CrewCommute is a workplace commute-sharing platform that helps organisations understand and act on shared commuting opportunities. The starting point is a Commute Opportunity Report — a data-driven analysis of whether shared commuting is viable for your workforce. From there, organisations can choose to run a 6-week Commute Activation Sprint to get staff sharing commutes, and then continue operating the platform for ongoing use.

Who is CrewCommute designed for?

CrewCommute is built for councils, health services and large employers with staff who commute to a fixed site. It works best where there is parking pressure, a spread of staff home locations and genuine appetite from leadership to support behaviour change. The Commute Opportunity Report is a low-commitment starting point to find out whether your organisation is a good fit.

Does CrewCommute require IT integration?

No. CrewCommute runs in any browser and does not need to connect to your organisation's systems. Staff sign up using their work email address. There is nothing to install.

How do staff join?

For a Commute Opportunity Report, staff use the organisation's report link and verify with their work email before mapping their usual commute. They provide a suburb, postcode or general starting area, their worksite, usual work times and a few short answers about what would make shared commuting practical or difficult.

This is not the same as joining a carpool. Staff are not asked to post rides, book trips or commit to carpooling during the Report stage.

If the organisation later proceeds to a Commute Activation Sprint, staff can review or update their commute details before offering or requesting shared trips.

Is CrewCommute only for large organisations?

CrewCommute works best where there are enough staff travelling to fixed worksites for useful commute clusters to emerge. Workforce size helps, but it is not the only factor. Clusters, route compatibility, work times and staff readiness matter more than headcount alone.

The Commute Opportunity Report shows whether there is a broad opportunity, a targeted opportunity around specific corridors or worksites, or not enough evidence to proceed.

How does the onboarding process work for organisations?

The first step is usually the Commute Opportunity Report. We help confirm your worksites, prepare staff launch and reminder communications, and provide the commute mapping process.

Staff complete the commute mapping themselves using the organisation's report link. CrewCommute then analyses the de-identified responses and provides a digital report, downloadable executive summary and findings call.

If the report shows strong potential, the organisation can choose whether to move into a 6-week Commute Activation Sprint.

What is the Commute Opportunity Report?

The Commute Opportunity Report is a practical first step for organisations that want to understand whether shared commuting could reduce solo car travel, parking pressure, commute emissions and staff travel costs — before launching a full program.

CrewCommute runs a structured staff commute mapping process over a defined response period, usually two weeks. We then analyse commute clusters, worksite patterns, timing compatibility, staff readiness, likely barriers, motivators and behaviour-change supports such as rewards, recognition and backup-ride reassurance.

The result is a de-identified report showing whether there is a broad opportunity, a targeted opportunity around specific corridors or worksites, or not enough evidence to proceed yet.

Staff are not asked to post rides, book trips or commit to carpooling during the Report stage.

What does the report include?

The report covers commute cluster density, strongest corridors, drive-alone reduction opportunities, staff willingness, timing and shift compatibility, likely barriers, motivators, and the incentives or reassurance that may help staff feel ready to try shared commuting. It also includes indicative scenarios for CO₂-e, parking pressure and employee savings, plus a recommendation on whether to proceed broadly, target specific corridors or worksites, gather more data, or hold off.

What does the organisation need to provide?

The organisation provides the worksites, approximate workforce size, campaign timing and any relevant shift or site context. CrewCommute provides the staff-facing commute mapping process and communications support.

Staff provide their own commute mapping responses through the organisation's report link. The employer report is aggregate and de-identified — individual names, emails, exact home addresses and precise pins are not shown.

What happens if the report shows that carpooling isn't viable?

We will tell you honestly. If the data shows that your workforce is too dispersed, that shift patterns are too irregular, or that the density of staff in any one corridor is too low to generate reliable matches, the report will say so. In that case, we may suggest a lighter-touch approach or simply confirm that CrewCommute is not the right fit for your organisation at this time.

Does the report encourage more driving?

No. Walking, cycling and public transport should come first where they are realistic. CrewCommute is designed for trips where driving is still the practical option — reducing solo car travel, not encouraging more of it.

The report separates drive-alone reduction opportunities from staff already using lower-emission travel modes, so any future carpooling program can focus where it makes sense.

How do we get the report?

Start by registering interest in a Commute Opportunity Report. We will follow up to confirm your worksites, workforce size, timing and whether the report is a good fit.

Once the report campaign is set up, staff are invited to complete a short commute mapping process over a defined response period, usually two weeks. CrewCommute then reviews the de-identified data and prepares the digital report, executive summary and findings call.

This is designed as a low-lift, evidence-gathering step before any carpooling rollout — not a commitment to launch a full program. Start with a Commute Opportunity Report →

What information do staff need to share?

During the Report stage, staff are invited through the organisation's report link to map their usual commute. They provide a suburb, postcode or general starting area, their worksite, usual work times, current commute mode and a few short answers about what might make shared commuting practical or difficult.

They are not asked to provide an exact home address, post rides, book trips or commit to carpooling.

If the organisation later proceeds to a Commute Activation Sprint or ongoing program, staff may be asked to review or update their commute details before offering or requesting shared trips.

What can other staff see?

During the Report stage, no individual staff information is visible to other staff — the report is based on aggregate data only. During the Sprint and Ongoing stage, before a shared commute is confirmed, other staff can see only the information needed to assess whether a trip might work — such as first name, broad suburb or direction, worksite and approximate timing. Email addresses, phone numbers and exact locations are not visible to other staff members.

Once a shared commute is accepted, the driver and passenger can exchange the pickup details needed to coordinate that specific trip.

Can staff members block or avoid someone they do not want to ride with?

Yes. CrewCommute includes a feature that prevents two staff members from being matched again if either party does not wish to share a commute with the other. This is handled discreetly and the other person is not notified of the reason.

Is participation mandatory?

No. Participation is entirely voluntary. Staff choose whether to create a profile, whether to offer or request shared commutes, and whether to accept any particular trip. The organisation sets up the campaign, but individual participation decisions are always made by the staff member.

How is personal information handled?

During the Report stage, the employer receives aggregate, de-identified reporting only. Individual staff names, emails, exact home addresses and precise pins are not shown in the report.

CrewCommute only collects the information needed to provide the service, support the commute mapping process and produce organisation-level reporting. Information is not sold to third parties. For full details, see the Privacy Policy.

Can a staff member delete their account?

Yes. Staff can contact us to request removal of their account and associated personal information. We may need to retain some information for security or operational reasons, but we will take reasonable steps to de-identify or remove data that is no longer needed.

Is this just for regular carpooling?

No. Staff can offer or request one-off trips, regular shared commutes, or simply register their interest to see whether shared commuting may be possible — with no commitment required.

Is this the same as Uber or a commercial rideshare?

No. CrewCommute is deliberately not a rideshare for profit — it is cost-sharing between colleagues, not strangers. Staff are matched only with verified colleagues from the same organisation. The suggested contribution covers vehicle running costs only; drivers are not paid for their time.

How does matching work?

CrewCommute uses the start location, worksite, shift timing and role preference that staff provide to identify colleagues who may be travelling a similar route at a similar time. A match is a suggestion — it does not book a trip or create any commitment. A shared commute only goes ahead when both a driver and a passenger agree to it.

What happens after a passenger sends a trip request?

The driver receives a notification and can accept or decline. If accepted, both parties receive confirmation and the pickup details needed to coordinate the trip. If declined, the passenger can look for another available trip.

Can staff offer both one-off trips and regular shared commutes?

Yes. Drivers can post individual trips for a specific day, or set up recurring commutes for days when they regularly travel to the same site at the same time. Passengers can save their commute details to make it easier to find matching trips as they become available.

Does CrewCommute work for staff on shift work or irregular schedules?

Yes. The platform supports both regular and irregular commute patterns. Staff can save multiple commute profiles for different shift types, and drivers can post trips for specific days rather than committing to a fixed recurring schedule.

Can a driver offer return trips as well?

Yes. Drivers can post a matched return trip at the same time as their inbound trip. This makes it easier for passengers to plan a full shared commuting day and gives drivers a complete picture of who they may be travelling with.

What is the driver's responsibility?

Drivers are responsible for their own vehicle, licence and insurance. CrewCommute facilitates the connection between colleagues — it does not operate as a transport provider and does not carry any responsibility for the trip itself. Drivers decide whether to offer a trip, who to accept, and whether to cancel if circumstances change.

What is the Commute Activation Sprint?

The Commute Activation Sprint is a structured six-week workplace program that gives shared commuting the best conditions to become a habit. It runs after the Commute Opportunity Report confirms that carpooling is viable, and combines staff registration, matching, optional rewards, communications support and a closing report — all within a defined sprint window that creates urgency and momentum.

Why six weeks?

Research on habit formation suggests that a sustained period of repeated behaviour — with social encouragement and a clear goal — is more effective than a one-off event. Six weeks is long enough for staff to experience shared commuting more than once, build familiarity and make a more informed choice about whether to continue. The first week is used for setup and launch, giving staff time to register before the active commuting phase begins.

How does the sprint run, week by week?

The sprint follows a structured schedule:

• Week 0 — Setup: Platform configured, invitations drafted, communications toolkit ready, rewards confirmed. Everything in place before the sprint window opens.
• Week 1 — Launch: Invitations sent. Staff sign in, save commute details and discover whether colleagues share a compatible route.
• Week 2 — First shared commutes: Shared commutes underway. Rewards activating. Backup ride support available. Follow-up communications keeping momentum going.
• Week 3 — Sustaining participation: Reminder and encouragement materials sent. Staff who haven't yet shared a commute are prompted again. Live dashboard updated.
• Week 4 — Building habit: A second round of engagement communications. Drivers and passengers who have completed trips are encouraged to set up recurring commutes.
• Week 5 — Final push: Last-chance messaging for staff who are yet to participate. Focus shifts to locking in ongoing shared commutes beyond the sprint.
• Week 6 — Results: Post-sprint report delivered — registrations, shared commutes, employee savings, parking impact and CO₂-e avoided. Post-sprint review to discuss what comes next.

What does the organisation need to do during the sprint?

CrewCommute provides a ready-to-use communications toolkit with suggested messages, talking points and timing guidance for each week. The organisation's main role is to invite staff, share the sprint communications and provide any internal context — such as backup transport guidance or parking information — that is specific to their workplace.

Can the sprint be run across multiple worksites?

Yes. CrewCommute supports multiple campuses or sites within a single organisation. Each site can be configured separately, and the admin dashboard provides reporting at both site and organisation level.

What happens at the end of the sprint?

The organisation receives a closing report covering registrations, shared trips completed during the sprint, estimated combined savings for staff who participated, estimated CO₂-e avoided and parking impact. The platform does not switch off at the end of the sprint — staff can continue to use it if the organisation chooses to keep it running.

Are rewards required?

No. Rewards are optional. Many organisations find that the practical benefit of reducing commute costs — and the social element of a campaign — is enough to drive participation. Rewards can help with early uptake and are particularly useful if the organisation wants to recognise staff effort during the sprint.

What kinds of rewards can be configured?

CrewCommute supports milestone-based recognition and rewards. The organisation decides what is on offer — this might be vouchers, recognition in a staff newsletter, or an entry into a prize draw. CrewCommute tracks shared commutes and surfaces eligibility; the organisation fulfils the rewards directly.

Who pays for rewards?

The organisation provides and funds any rewards it chooses to offer. CrewCommute does not charge for reward fulfilment and does not hold or distribute funds on behalf of organisations or staff.

Can rewards be offered to drivers only, passengers only, or both?

The organisation configures reward eligibility as part of campaign setup. Options include recognising both drivers and passengers, or focusing on the role that most needs encouragement in your context.

How does CrewCommute verify that a shared commute happened?

When a driver marks a trip as complete, both parties confirm their participation. This provides a record that is used for campaign reporting and reward eligibility tracking. CrewCommute relies on good faith from participants — it is not a surveillance system and does not use GPS tracking.

What is a suggested contribution?

A suggested contribution is the amount CrewCommute recommends a passenger offer towards the cost of a shared commute. It is calculated to cover the driver's approximate vehicle running costs — fuel and wear — based on the route distance, using the ATO's published cents-per-kilometre rate. It is not a fare and is not paid to CrewCommute.

Is paying a contribution mandatory?

No. The suggested contribution is a recommendation, not a requirement. Whether passengers pay, how much, and how is entirely up to the driver and passenger to agree. Drivers can choose to offer free rides. CrewCommute does not enforce or facilitate payment.

Does CrewCommute process payments?

No. CrewCommute does not process payments, hold funds or confirm that payment has been made. Suggested contributions are paid directly between driver and passenger — typically via PayID or another method they agree on. CrewCommute does not chase unpaid contributions or resolve payment disputes.

What is PayID and why does CrewCommute mention it?

PayID is an Australian banking feature that lets someone receive a bank transfer using a mobile number or email address, rather than sharing BSB and account details. Drivers can optionally provide a PayID in their profile so that passengers have a convenient way to pay them directly after a trip. Sharing a PayID is optional.

Are tolls included in the suggested contribution?

Toll costs are shown separately where CrewCommute can identify that a route may involve a toll road. The final arrangement for how tolls are shared is up to the driver and passenger to agree. CrewCommute does not charge or collect toll costs.

Does sharing a commute affect a driver's car insurance?

This depends on the driver's individual insurance policy. Most standard comprehensive car insurance policies in Australia cover occasional passenger travel, particularly where no profit is made and contributions only cover running costs. Drivers should check their own policy if they are unsure. CrewCommute does not provide insurance and is not a transport service.

What is backup ride support?

Backup ride support is an optional feature that organisations can configure to provide staff with guidance if a confirmed shared commute falls through at short notice. It is organisation-controlled — CrewCommute provides a way to display the organisation's own guidance inside the platform, but the organisation decides what that guidance says and whether to offer it at all.

Does backup ride support guarantee that staff will get to work?

No. Backup ride support is not a transport service and does not guarantee alternative transport. It displays the organisation's own guidance — which might include information about taxis, rideshare services, public transport options or other arrangements the organisation has made. What is covered, if anything, is entirely up to the organisation's own policy.

Does CrewCommute pay for alternative transport if a shared commute falls through?

No. CrewCommute does not approve, fund or reimburse transport costs. Any support available to staff is provided by the organisation, not by CrewCommute. Whether a cost is covered depends entirely on the organisation's configured policy.

What if the organisation does not configure backup ride support?

Staff should use their usual backup transport options — public transport, a rideshare service, a taxi or a colleague who is not part of the current shared commute. CrewCommute does not provide emergency transport assistance.

Who sets the backup ride support policy?

The organisation sets and manages its own backup ride support policy during campaign setup. This is configured in the admin dashboard. CrewCommute displays the guidance the organisation provides — it does not determine, approve or change the policy.

What can organisation administrators see?

During the Report stage, administrators receive an aggregate, de-identified view of commute cluster patterns across their workforce — no individual staff details are shown. During the Sprint and Ongoing stage, administrators have access to a dashboard covering campaign-level data: the number of registered staff, broad suburb or route-cluster patterns, trips completed, estimated employee savings and estimated emissions reductions. The dashboard is designed to provide useful insight while avoiding unnecessary exposure of individual staff details.

Can administrators see individual staff members' commute details?

Administrators can see names and work email addresses of staff who have registered. They are not shown exact home locations, PayID details, ride notes, or choices staff have made about who they do not wish to travel with. Campaign reporting is aggregated where possible to avoid identifying individuals, particularly in small groups.

What does the closing campaign report include?

The Commute Opportunity Report covers commute cluster patterns, viability estimates and a recommendation on whether to proceed to a sprint — all based on aggregate, de-identified data. The Commute Activation Sprint closing report covers total registrations, shared trips completed during the sprint, estimated combined savings for staff who participated, estimated CO₂-e avoided and parking impact. It is designed to give leadership a clear view of what the sprint achieved and to support decisions about ongoing use.

How are emissions estimates calculated?

Emissions estimates are based on the approximate routes shared, using standard Australian vehicle emissions factors. They are indicative figures intended to give a directional sense of environmental impact — they are not certified emissions measurements and should not be used for formal reporting without independent verification.

Can reports be exported?

Yes. Campaign data can be exported from the admin dashboard. If you need a specific report format for internal purposes, contact us and we will work with you to provide the information you need.

Does the platform keep running after the sprint ends?

It can, if the organisation chooses to continue with an ongoing CrewCommute program.

The Commute Activation Sprint is designed to create initial momentum and test whether shared commuting works in practice. At the end of the sprint, the organisation receives reporting and can decide whether to continue, adjust the approach, run another focused sprint, or wind the program down.

Can we run another sprint in the future?

Yes. Some organisations may choose to run another sprint to re-engage staff, onboard new team members, target a different worksite or focus on a specific commute corridor.

If the organisation continues with CrewCommute, the next sprint can build on what was learned from the previous report or campaign.

What happens to staff profiles after the sprint?

If the organisation continues with CrewCommute after the sprint, staff can keep using their saved commute details and shared commuting tools.

If the organisation does not continue, access and data handling will follow the organisation's agreement with CrewCommute and the applicable privacy settings. Staff can request deletion of their personal information in line with the Privacy Policy.

Is there ongoing support for the organisation after the sprint?

Yes, if the organisation chooses to continue with CrewCommute or is considering next steps after the sprint.

We can help interpret the results, review what worked, adjust the approach and plan whether an ongoing program, another sprint or a more targeted campaign makes sense.

How do we get started?

The best first step is the Commute Opportunity Report. It gives your organisation a de-identified view of commute clusters, staff readiness, likely barriers and potential impact before committing to a carpooling rollout.

From there, you can decide whether a 6-week Commute Activation Sprint makes sense, whether to focus on specific corridors or worksites, or whether shared commuting is not the right next step yet. Start with a Commute Opportunity Report →