Become a Partner | Tacoma Shuttle – Tacoma, WA
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Partner network · For independent operators

Keep your business.
Fill your calendar.

Tacoma Shuttle partners with independent owner-operators, larger-vehicle operators, and transportation companies across Pierce County and the greater South Sound. You stay your own business — we send you dispatched trips from a brand that Pierce County has trusted since 2015.

You stay independent
Your authority, your fleet.
Your authority, your insurance, your vehicles, your customers — all yours.
We bring the volume
Dispatched trips on demand.
Airport, cruise, corporate, and group trips added on top of your own book of business.
A compliant network
Real standards, real vetting.
UTC-registered operators, insured, vetted, and held to network quality standards.
01 · Who we partner with

Built for operators, not gig drivers.

If you run a vehicle or a fleet as your own business — legitimate, insured, and licensed — there's a place for you in the network. This isn't a gig platform; it's a B2B relationship between operators.

Type 01

Sedan & SUV owner-operators

Independent drivers with their own qualifying sedan or SUV, ready for clean, professional transfers — corporate, airport, and executive black car trips.

Type 02

Larger-vehicle operators

Vans, shuttles, Sprinters, and limos for group transfers, wedding shuttles, cruise-group arrivals, corporate charters, and events.

Type 03

Transportation companies

Established operators looking for overflow trips and referral partnerships during peak demand — cruise season, Puyallup Fair week, holidays.

Type 04

UTC-registered drivers

Licensed, registered drivers operating under their own Washington UTC authority who want steadier, dispatched volume alongside their own bookings.

02 · How the partnership works

A clean B2B relationship.

No employment, no exclusivity, no hidden terms. You run your business; we route you work. That's the whole model.

01
We dispatch

We dispatch, you decide

Our team sends trip offers your way through our dispatch platform. You accept the ones that fit your schedule and decline the rest — no penalties, no ratings-based leverage.

02
Transparent terms

Transparent per-trip terms

Trips are offered at a competitive per-trip rate, paid out weekly. Full rate sheet provided before you sign anything — no pressure, no surprises, no bait-and-switch.

03
Your business

You stay your own boss

Keep your own customers, branding where appropriate, and authority. The network adds work — it doesn't take over your book of business or restrict who else you can work with.

The relationship, plainly

Partners are independent businesses, not employees. You retain your own UTC registration, commercial insurance, vehicles, and operating authority — and you're responsible for your own taxes and team. Tacoma Shuttle does not W-2 partners, does not claim exclusivity over your calendar, and does not deduct from your other business.

03 · What you bring · Partner requirements

Real standards on every ride.

We hold the network to real standards — it's why customers trust the name on the door. We vet every partner, and we're not shy about turning down operators who don't meet the bar.

UTC registration

Active Washington UTC registration and authority where applicable to your service type.

Commercial insurance

Current commercial coverage that meets Washington State minimums and our network requirements.

Registered, inspected vehicles

Properly registered, well-maintained, and clean — every vehicle in service, every trip.

Valid business license

Operating as a legitimate, licensed Washington State business with current filings.

Qualified drivers

Licensed drivers with clean driving records who pass standard background screening.

Professional standards

On-time, courteous service that reflects well on the network. Private-only positioning — no shared rides.

Exact thresholds vary by service type. Insurance minimums, vehicle age limits, and required registrations differ between sedan, SUV, van, and Sprinter service. We'll share our specific requirements when we open the conversation. For larger vehicles, we partner exclusively with UTC-registered operators to ensure full regulatory compliance on every ride.

04 · Why partner · What the network gives back

Trip volume + local trust.

You bring the vehicle, the authority, and the standards. The network adds volume, brand trust, and the operational infrastructure that lets you keep your calendar full.

Benefit 01

Steady trip volume

Fill the gaps in your calendar with dispatched airport, cruise, corporate, and group trips across Pierce County.

Benefit 02

A trusted local name

Trips come attached to a brand Pierce County has known since 2015 — customers already expect quality when they see the Tacoma Shuttle name.

Benefit 03

Dispatch & booking handled

We manage the reservations, customer communications, flight tracking, and scheduling — you focus on driving well.

Benefit 04

Starting-from pricing

Trips priced on the same starting-from model our customers trust — clear for them, clear for you. No surge, no algorithmic games.

Benefit 05

Real 24/7 support

A live dispatch team you can actually reach when a trip needs a hand — not voicemail, not a chatbot, any hour of any day.

Benefit 06

Your business stays yours

No exclusivity grab. Keep your own clients and run network trips alongside them. Grow both books, not one at the expense of the other.

05 · How to join

Four steps into the network.

Simple, honest, quick. From first inquiry to first trip typically runs 7–14 days for straightforward applications.

01

Apply

Send the form below with your operation, vehicle details, and current authority status.

02

Review

We verify UTC registration, commercial insurance, vehicles, and driver records.

03

Onboard

Agree on terms, get set up on our dispatch platform, and align on network standards.

04

Start taking trips

Receive trip offers on your phone and accept the ones that fit your schedule.

06 · Join the network

Tell us about your operation.

Fill this out and we'll open a pre-filled email to our partnerships team — just hit send. We'll follow up within one business day to verify details and talk terms.

We treat partner applications the same way we treat customer bookings — a real human reads every inquiry, and we get back to you within one business day (usually faster). There's no automated screening, no ratings gauntlet, no ghosting.

When you send in the form, share as much as you can: your business name, current authority and insurance status, vehicles you operate, and a rough sense of how much dispatched volume you're looking for each month. The more context you give us, the faster we can match your operation to the right kind of trips.

If you'd rather skip the form and talk directly, that works too. Call dispatch or drop us an email — we'll walk through the same conversation over the phone.

Prefer to talk?

Phone: (253) 666-6560

Email: support@tacomashuttle.com

Partner application

Operator details

07 · Common questions

Partner FAQ.

Are partners employees of Tacoma Shuttle?
No. Partners are independent businesses, not employees. You keep your own UTC registration, commercial insurance, vehicles, and operating authority, and you accept the dispatched trips that work for you. If you're looking for direct employment behind the wheel instead of a partnership, see our Become a Chauffeur page for our in-house chauffeur roles.
What do I need to join?
Generally: active Washington UTC registration where applicable, current commercial insurance, properly registered and inspected vehicles, a valid Washington business license, and drivers with clean records who meet professional standards. Exact insurance minimums and vehicle age limits vary by service type — we'll share our specific requirements when we open the conversation.
Do I keep my own customers and authority?
Yes. The network sends you additional dispatched trips on top of your own business. You retain your own customers, authority, insurance, and vehicles — there's no exclusivity requirement. You can run our network trips alongside your own book of business without either taking priority over the other.
How are trip payouts handled?
Trips are offered at a competitive per-trip rate, and payouts are processed weekly. Full rate sheet is provided before you sign anything — no bait-and-switch, no ratings-based penalties, no algorithmic price cuts. You see the rate before you accept the trip.
What kinds of trips will I be offered?
Primarily airport transfers between SeaTac and Pierce County addresses, cruise season transfers, corporate accounts, wedding and event shuttles, and group charters. The mix depends on your vehicle type (sedan/SUV work is heavier on airport transfers; van/Sprinter work leans toward groups and events). All trips are private rides only — no shared shuttles.
How much volume can I expect?
Volume varies by vehicle type, service area, availability, and your acceptance rate. Established partners typically receive several dispatched trips per week; volume scales with your capacity and reliability. During peak seasons (summer cruise months, Puyallup Fair week, winter holidays), volume can be considerably higher.
Is there a partner exclusivity requirement?
No. You can run trips for other networks, keep your own client book, and take work from any source you choose. The Tacoma Shuttle network adds to your calendar — it doesn't lock down your calendar.
How quickly can I start after applying?
For straightforward applications with all documentation in order, the review-to-first-trip timeline is typically 7 to 14 days. Larger operators or those requiring additional vehicle inspections may take longer. If you're ready and your paperwork is complete, we move fast.
Grow with us

Put your wheels to work.

Join a vetted local network and fill your calendar with dependable, dispatched trips — while staying fully your own business. From application to first trip in 7 to 14 days.