A real time carpooling management system, comprising: one or more processors, and a memory coupled to the one or more processors storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform steps of: receiving a request for transport of a first end user by receiving the request electronically, wherein the request includes preference data that indicates one or more carpooling preferences of the first end user, wherein the one or more carpooling preferences includes (i) at least one of a number of passengers, or a number of luggage(s) to be transported, (ii) and no more than a predefined number of passenger and/or luggage drop offs is made prior to the first end user and/or luggage's first end user being dropped-off at a destination location; in response to receiving the request for transport of the first end user, selecting a transportation vehicle unit that is currently en route to or is currently transporting a second end user for transporting the first end user, wherein selecting the transportation vehicle unit is based on ascertaining that the transportation vehicle unit is able to accommodate transport of the first end user while transporting the second end user, and in accordance with the one or more carpooling preferences of the first end user, wherein selecting the transportation vehicle unit includes ranking (751, 752) two or more candidate transportation vehicle units according to the carpooling preferences as candidates for transporting the first end user, and transmitting one or more directives that direct the selected transportation vehicle unit to transport the first end user; and transmitting one or more notifications that provide notification that the selected transportation vehicle unit has been selected to transport the first end user. receiving a request for transport of a first end user by receiving the request electronically, wherein the request includes preference data that indicates one or more carpooling preferences of the first end user, wherein the one or more carpooling preferences includes (i) at least one of a number of passengers, or a number of luggage(s) to be transported, (ii) and no more than a predefined number of passenger and/or luggage drop offs is made prior to the first end user and/or luggage's first end user being dropped-off at a destination location; in response to receiving the request for transport of the first end user, selecting a transportation vehicle unit that is currently en route to or is currently transporting a second end user for transporting the first end user, wherein selecting the transportation vehicle unit is based on ascertaining that the transportation vehicle unit is able to accommodate transport of the first end user while transporting the second end user, and in accordance with the one or more carpooling preferences of the first end user, wherein selecting the transportation vehicle unit includes ranking (751, 752) two or more candidate transportation vehicle units according to the carpooling preferences as candidates for transporting the first end user, and transmitting one or more directives that direct the selected transportation vehicle unit to transport the first end user; and transmitting one or more notifications that provide notification that the selected transportation vehicle unit has been selected to transport the first end user.