We understand how frustrating it is when you're not matched in a carpool and we would like nothing more than to match you in a trip, each time you schedule. 

On the days we're unable to match you in a carpool, it means we weren’t able to find another commuter—either a Driver with an open seat or a Rider requesting a pickup—whose route, timing, and availability aligned with your request.

Matching depends on real-time demand. Even if there are other Scoop commuters nearby, they may be scheduling at different times, traveling slightly different routes, or already matched in another carpool.

How to improve your chances of matching

While matches depend on availability, there are a few ways to increase your ability to match:

• Schedule with wide pickup time windows. 

  • We recommend a pickup window of 30 minutes or more, as this gives Scoop more flexibility to create matches.

• Add flexibility to your schedule whenever possible.

  • Select ‘popular’ pickup times or the option to ‘Ride or Drive’. The more flexibility you have in your trip request, the easier it is for us to find you a carpool. 

• Coordinate with coworkers, neighbors, or friends.

  • Coordinating with people you know on similar routes and aligning your trip requests improves your likelihood of matching.

• Use Favorites or Top Favorites.

  • Prioritize matching with commuters you already know to add predictability to your carpools.

Growing the Scoop community helps everyone

Match availability improves as more commuters join Scoop. When new Riders or Drivers sign up—whether on your route or nearby—it increases overall matching opportunities. 

Sharing Scoop with coworkers or friends can have a ripple effect that helps strengthen matching across many routes over time.

How the Carpool Shortlist can help when you go unmatched

The Carpool Shortlist gives Riders and Drivers a second chance to find a match after the standard Scoop matching period ends.

For Riders:

• Drivers in your area can view your approximate route and requested pickup time window.

• A Driver may schedule a carpool with you using any time within your original request window, as long as you receive at least 30 minutes’ notice before the trip begins.

For Drivers:

• You can access the carpool shortlist after the normal matching period ends and you are unmatched, even if you did not schedule a trip for that period.

• The shortlist shows Riders along your route who still need a carpool.

The shortlist updates daily to reflect real-time commuter availability. For full detail, see our carpool shortlist article

What to expect going forward

Commute demand can change daily, so going unmatched one day doesn’t mean future trips won’t match. As the Scoop community continues to grow, match availability and success rates improve, helping make unmatched trips less common over time.