Amazon Employees Launch First VanStar Rideshare from Mt. Juliet to Downtown Nashville

The first VanStar vanpool serving Amazon’s BNA12 Operations Center of Excellence is officially on the road, giving employees from Mt. Juliet a smarter, more affordable way to commute to downtown Nashville.

The new vanpool travels approximately 23 miles each way between Mt. Juliet and Amazon’s offices at 1010 Church Street, helping employees avoid the rising costs and stress of driving alone.

Employer Benefits Make the Difference

Amazon’s commuter benefits program made launching the vanpool especially attractive. The benefit covers the full cost of participating in VanStar, meaning employees have no out-of-pocket transportation expenses. Participants also receive preferred parking at the BNA12 parking garage—a valuable perk considering the parking waitlist exceeds one year and downtown parking costs continue to rise.

Together, these benefits provide employees with significant financial savings while improving their daily commute and work-life balance.

For primary driver Sandeep Grandhi, joining the vanpool was an easy decision.

After recently paying for major engine repairs on his personal vehicle, which has already surpassed 100,000 miles, Sandeep saw VanStar as an opportunity to reduce the costs associated with vehicle ownership, including maintenance, insurance, and fuel.

Originally from India, he appreciates transportation options that reduce dependence on personal vehicles and provide a reliable alternative for getting to work.

“I like saving money and using a benefit that Amazon offers,” Sandeep shared. “It’s one more way the company supports our work-life balance.”