Slugging refers to a method of transportation where people hitch a ride with strangers in order to share the commuting costs. There are several other words that can be used as synonyms for this term. One such word is "casual carpooling", which is commonly used in the San Francisco Bay Area. Another alternative is "instant carpooling", which highlights the spontaneous nature of the practice. "Ride-sharing" is also commonly used to describe slugging, and stresses the idea of pooling resources to save money. In some regions, the term "vanpooling" is used to describe a similar practice of sharing a ride to work in a van.