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Reliable Rides: Connecting Workers to Jobs

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Reliable Rides: Connecting Workers to Jobs

Two workers in orange safety vests and hard hats place cardboard boxes onto a gravity roller conveyor inside a warehouse.

When good employees can’t get to work, everyone loses

Picture this — you’ve hired someone reliable, capable, and ready to work — and then they miss shifts, disappear in the first few weeks, or don’t show up. Sound familiar? Transportation barriers are often the hidden cause.

But savvy employers are changing how they approach the problem — enhancing their bottom line while they do it:

  • Fewer missed shifts
  • Higher employee retention
  • Reduced onboarding churn
  • A wider, more inclusive hiring pool
  • Tangible ROI — often for less than the cost of replacing one worker

A reliable, resilient workforce is a competitive advantage

If you’ve ever lost a good worker because they couldn’t keep a reliable ride, you’re not alone. Employers of every size are facing the same challenge.

The difference? Some are taking small, smart steps to make transportation part of their retention strategy — and they’re saving money while widening their hiring pool, saving on hiring and training costs, and realizing higher uptime as a result.

Get the full playbook

Successful transportation programs that reduce absenteeism, improve retention and ease hiring are built on these key elements:

Icon of a hand holding soil with a coin sprouting from a plant, symbolizing financial growth and return on investment.

Employer return on investment

Link support to attendance, retention and hiring needs.

Example: Funding an employee car repair saved Witzenmann USA thousands in turnover costs.

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Reliable rides

Daily, on-time service is non-negotiable.


Example: Hope Network reports 98% on-time arrivals.

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Confidential help

Safe, stigma-free access increases use.


Example: Greenleaf uses third-party coaches; Henry Ford uses anonymous survey QR codes.

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Strong partnerships

Coordinate with transit, nonprofits, and workforce boards to stretch funding.

Example: Henry Ford co-funds with Michigan Works to support 50K+ employees.

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Repeat communication

Promote across multiple channels and touchpoints.


Example: TVs, breakroom posters, newsletters, supervisor scripts.

Passengers ride a city bus on a rainy day, some seated and others standing near the mid-bus door as people board, with yellow handrails and blue patterned seats visible.
Passengers ride a city bus on a rainy day, some seated and others standing near the mid-bus door as people board, with yellow handrails and blue patterned seats visible.

Lock in your competitive advantage

The good news is you don’t have to start from scratch. These approaches are already being tested by Michigan employers, backed by state workforce leaders, and supported by nonprofit partners.

By joining in, you’re not just fixing a local problem — you’re part of a larger movement to make Michigan’s workforce stronger and more resilient.

Access the full report and playbook

When employee transport breaks down, so do your operations.

Transportation isn’t just a logistical hurdle — it’s often a deciding factor in whether someone shows up, stays or even applies.

  • Candidate attraction challenges
    Strong candidates opt out before applying
if they know the commute won’t work.
  • Low employee retention rates
    New hires leave within days or weeks because transportation isn’t sustainable.
  • Missed shifts and late arrivals
    Reliable workers miss shifts or show up
late, even when they want to succeed.
  • Attrition of good talent
    Employees avoid available help when access feels confusing, embarrassing, or risky.
Learn about the causes

Savvy employers think differently, saving money in the long run.

More employers are moving beyond one-off fixes, and the most successful strategies share a few key principles:

  • Tying transit to business outcomes

    Show how commute support impacts attendance, retention, and hiring costs.
  • Solving simple problems first
    Small fixes — like gas cards or repair help — can prevent turnover.
  • Prioritizing privacy and ease of use

    Make access discreet with QR codes, forms, or trusted staff referrals.
  • Loud and clear communication

    Reinforce support in breakrooms, onboarding, and team huddles.
See what's working

You can adopt best practices without breaking the bank.

You don’t need a full-scale program to make a real impact. Here’s how many employers are getting started:

  • Assess your attendance data
    Check shift coverage, early exits and exit interviews for signs of commuting issues.
  • Start with a small, targeted trial
    Pilot one solution — like gas cards, ride credits or a repair fund — and track impact.
  • Make access easy and stigma-free
    Use QR codes, simple forms or trusted staff to make support discreet and accessible.
  • Measure impact, scale and partner
    Track usage, absenteeism and retention to show what’s working.
Start building your plan

Reliable Rides promotional toolkits

If you would like to help promote the Reliable Rides: Connecting Workers to Jobs playbook, please download the promotional toolkit for partners, a free resource that includes sample website content, talking points, email templates, customizable social media messages and graphics.