Nike employees Carol Lee Fritzler and Jill Wright were surprised to see a familiar face when they met for the first time to give carpooling a try. Nike’s internal web site brought the two Vancouver, Wash., residents together, who realized a past connection during their first drive to work.

“We spoke on the phone a couple times and decided to try carpooling for a month to see how it would go,” says Fritzler. “We met at a convenient rendezvous point, got to talking and realized we’d known each other from a social function years ago.”

It’s now been more than a year since Fritzler and Wright began carpooling. And both women have realized big cost and time savings in that year. Fuel costs, vehicle wear and tear, and stress are now all cut in half.

“It’s a long ride to work and there’s lots of traffic,” says Fritzler. Both Fritzler and Wright save about $1,000 a year by carpooling.

Fritzler and Wright switch off every other day driving the 50-mile round trip between Vancouver and Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. They meet in the mornings at a nearby daycare where Wright’s 4-year-old daughter goes—just between where Fritzler and Wright live.

“Being able to drop off my daughter at daycare and then carpool to work is a great time and cost saver. Carpooling can be much more convenient than many people think,” says Wright. “It’s just important to discuss the details ahead of time and find an arrangement that works.”

Wright added, “From time to time, one of us has a doctor’s appointment or late afternoon meeting so we don’t carpool on that day and it’s OK. Most of the time we do carpool though and it works out well for both of us.”

And, for Fritzler and Wright, the benefits of carpooling extend beyond convenience and cost savings. Both carpoolers enjoy the camaraderie that has developed between them.

“We’ve become good friends while sharing our commute,” says Fritzler. “It’s great to talk and laugh as the miles go by.”

Years ago, when Jude Barnes first started carpooling from his home in Vancouver, Wash., to his job in Tigard, Ore., he was skeptical about commuting with another person.

“The only reason I started carpooling was because a woman in my office needed someone to ride with and we were the only two from Vancouver,” says Barnes.

But after a year of carpooling together, Barnes’ co-worker left her job leaving him with no one to ride with.

“I made a memo and walked around to neighboring businesses to see if there was anyone who would want to carpool,” says Barnes.

Barnes got a few responses, but due to their working hours none of them panned out. He posted his name on www.carpoolmatchnw.org where he was connected with a new carpooling partner who was employed just down the road. Barnes is now happily settled back into a carpooling routine.

“Carpooling is great because it saves you money on gas, reduces your car maintenance costs and gives you the time to read or work on your laptop if you’re the passenger. And, the commute is faster because you get to use the carpool lane,” says Barnes.

Barnes’ employer, Western Family Foods, encourages its employees to carpool by giving carpoolers up to $600 a year as an incentive.

“At first it might be hard carpooling, but I think that everyone should try it to see the benefits,” says Barnes.