SAN DIEGO -- Only second to Intel, the EPA ranked QUALCOMM as one of the Best Workplaces for Commuters, 10News reported.

At 6:45 a.m., Dave Beadle starts his commute on foot.

"I walk out the door (and walk) about two blocks, catch the Carlsbad Coaster shuttle (and) that takes me to Village Station," Beadle said.

As a manager who oversees QUALCOMM's Commuter Resource Program, Beadle practices what he preaches by taking public transportation every day.

"If the traffic was good, I can get to work faster -- in about a half hour. But, most of the time the traffic is not good, so this is the preferred way to get to work," Beadle told 10News.

Qualcomm offers incentives for employees who carpool, bike or take public transportation to work. San Diego Association of Governments or SANDAG, helped create the program.

SANDAG staffers help 50 to 60 companies a year with commuter alternatives. According to 10News, they would like to do more.

Commute times are getting longer and more frustrating for drivers, which makes finding alternatives crucial, 10News reported.

Ray Traynor, from SANDAG, said, "Without these programs that encourage people to do something other than drive to work alone, we're going to see congestion, (which) causes gridlock, which will start to hurt our economy."

"At one point, I was driving 80 miles to get to work. It stresses you out and makes you, frankly, not your best," Beadle said.

At the end of his ride to Sorrento Valley, a QUALCOMM shuttle picks up Beadle and his co-workers.

Beadle's trip takes him more time than if he were to drive alone, but he says it takes less of a toll on his peace of mind and leaves more space on the road for San Diego County's other 1.2 million commuters.

To qualify as one of the Best Workplaces for Commuters, employers must provide:

At least one primary commuter benefit, such as a monthly transit/vanpool pass subsidy or a significant telecommuting program
At least three supporting commuter benefits, such as carpool/vanpool incentives, lockers/showers for bikers or walkers, compressed/flexible work schedules, or on-site daycare
A central point of contact, who actively informs employees of available commuter benefits
Access to an emergency or guaranteed ride home program

A recent ABC News poll showed that 14 percent of Americans have quit or changed jobs because of the commute. SANDAG can give free help to any company to create a program.

This is the second year in a row that Intel has topped the list.

The Top 20 Best Workplaces for Commuters are:

Intel
QUALCOMM
Oracle
Sun Microsystems
Microsoft
Texas Instruments
Cisco Systems
Advanced Micro Devices
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
Safeco
EMC Corporation
Boeing
Devon Energy
El Paso Corporation
Nike, Inc.
Hewlett-Packard
IBM
Reliant Energy
Wyeth
Apple Computer