Mobile Usage by Truckers on uShip Surges 60%, Latest uShip Mobile App Available

If you're a transporter on uShip and find yourself more dependent on your mobile phone these days, you're not alone.  A recent uShip survey looked into trends in mobile phone usage by drivers on its site.  It found mobile usage for business while on the road has surged as nearly 6 in 10 (57%) are using their mobile device for business MORE this year than in 2010.  The study also revealed that text messaging is king when it comes to preferred method of communication -- 65% use their phone for this purpose -- and that most of you are yet to be smitten by the tablet computer phase -- 77% say you either won't be getting one (47%) or are unsure (29%).  

If you're one of the 65% with a phone from 2010 or later -- likely a smartphone -- you now have access to an enhanced uShip mobile app that helps you discover more business while you're on the road and also makes it easier to bid on uShip loads.  Based on a transporter’s GPS location, active shipments nearby will be displayed. Using the touch screen app, carriers can either place a bid directly through their phones or initiate questions to shippers before bidding.

How do you get it?  The free uShip app is downloadable directly from the phone provider’s online app store.  If you already use the uShip app, it requires that you redownload it.  Check out the short demo video below that shows how it works on an iPhone, or read our press release.

Here's a summary of additional mobile usage survey findings:

• 3 in 5 (57%) truckers are using their phone MORE for their daily business than they did last year
• 2 in 5 (40%) of owner-operators are using their mobile phones to find loads while on the road
• 1 in 3 (35%) of truckers have phones that are older than two years
• 1 in 5 (20%) don’t bring a laptop on the road anymore

For a full set of survey results, go here.

Trucking Gives Reason For Economic Optimism: NPR

National Public Radio ran a piece earlier this week on how economists are keeping an eye on trucking as a key indicator if we'll stay out of another recession. 

In September, the ATA Truck Tonnage Index was up 1.6% month-over-month, which is good news for the economy.

Ship Your Bananas - One Gorilla's uShip Story

What's a poor gorilla to do when he can't ship his bananas? uShip to the rescue!

On a Friday afternoon several months ago, teams of competing uShippers produced video skits and parodies with one goal -- to crack people up (and explain why uShip is awesome). Ideas included golden parodies of "When Harry Met Sally," "American Beauty," "Silence of the Lambs," a few music videos, and others that are just plain wrong and will never be suitable for public viewing.

This, however, is one of the clear winners.

uShip Keeps it Weird at the 2011 Great American Trucking Show [VIDEO]

uShip recently traveled to the 2011 Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, Texas. Our team had the opportunity to speak with hundreds of truckers from all over the world-- explaining how uShip can help carriers and owner operators can find loads on the road at any time. Our goal was to introduce as many trucking carriers and owner operators to the site as possible and promote the new uShip Mobile App.

We produced the video below to show the uShip community some of the more "unique" aspects of the world's largest trucking expo. You'll see us pitch uShip to truckers, and get a first-hand look at some of the wildest custom big rigs from the US -- tons of chrome, spinning wheels and flashy paint jobs.

The Pride and Polish Truck Beauty National championships also took place at the expo, so look out for a few of the 2011 "Best in Show" winners. A popular favorite was "Legends and Heroes," a Corvette yellow, 1998 Freightliner classic rig that's half homage to M&M's candy and half tribute to 9/11 heroes.

Michael Most's M&Ms Freightliner:

The Shipping Price is Right! - Saint Bernard Puppy

For this week's The Shipping Price is Right! contest on Facebook, we asked a couple questions.

1) "Is this, in fact, the cutest puppy in the world?"

Answer:  No. Absolutely not. This puppy may be pretty darn cute, but we can say with certainty that the cutest puppy in the world is in our office right now. He's a black lab, and his name is Remy.

2) How much does it cost to transport this Saint Bernard puppy from New Haven, IL to Grand Rapids, MI?

Answer:  $258. Here's the shipment listing for the puppy's 460 mile journey from Illinois to Michigan. Congrats to this week's winner on Facebook!

The title of this shipment listing reads "Needs ride to new home for surprise birthday!" In the shipment details, we see some more background on this adorable delivery: "7-week-old Saint Berdoodle puppy needing a ride to her new home for a boy's birthday suprise!"

So, whether you're shipping a puppy for your grandson's birthday, or shipping heavy equipment clear across the country for a construction job-- uShip's got you covered.

Advanced Bidding Now Available for All Service Providers

uShip’s advanced bidding tools are now available for all service providers. These tools help you bid more efficiently, saving you time and making you more money. Look for these features in the bid form when placing your next bid.

uShip Payments: Submit Payment Code via Text Message (SMS)

As we continue to improve our uShip Payments solution, we've just added a convenient new feature allowing service providers to submit a payment code by text message (SMS).

When the shipping customer chooses to pay online using uShip Payments, they receive a payment code that allows the service provider to release payment on delivery.

For example, if a service provider needs to submit the payment code "12345," you would text the following to USHIP (87447):

Paycode 12345

The service provider then receives a text validating the code, and funds are released to their account. This is an excellent way for service providers to confirm they have received the correct payment code while they are still with the shipper.

To enable the Payment Code by SMS Feature, please take the following steps:

1. Enter your mobile number in Communication Preferences
2. Verify your number and click "Save Mobile Number" on our SMS Learn More page.

Payment codes can only be submitted from the mobile number that you provide.

We're working hard to improve uShip for both service providers and shipping customers. As always, we welcome your feedback!

In Passing: That truck driver you flipped off? Here's his story...

Whatever you drive over the road -- be it a Class 8 rig or a Ford F550 with a trailer -- this is a really interesting article that appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune last week.  It gets to the heart of life on the road, the daily challenges, expectations and even tragedies.  It also includes a reminder that everything we buy -- whether at a physical store or online -- is moved by truck and that planes and trains can only take it so far.  

Clicking on the image below will take you to the online story.

Power Provider Program to Be Replaced by New Programs

Effective on November 1^st  2011, two new rewards programs will be replacing the Power Provider program. The current program lumps brokers and carriers together under the same requirements. We recognize that, over the years, it’s been harder for owner-operators and smaller carriers to qualify for the Power Provider program than it has been for  brokers who handle more shipping volume. It is time to create separate programs that more fairly recognize the top performing, elite brokers and carriers relative to their respective groups on uShip. The benefits of each of the new programs will be tailored to better suit the changing roles and unique needs of each of these groups on uShip.  

Here is a sneak peek at some of the changing requirements and benefits of each program:

The Shipping Price is Right! - Powerski Jetboard

For this week's The Shipping Price is Right! promotion on Facebook, we asked "What is this, and how much does it cost to move it across the US?"

The answer: it's a Powerski Jetboard. Basically, it's a powered, motorized surfboard that works similar to other personal watercraft. 

What's the final cost to ship the Jetboard from Tacoma, WA to Danielson, CT?

The answer is $549. Here's the shipment listing. Congrats to this week's winner on Facebook.

We've recently seen several powered surboards shipped on the site in our sporting equipment and personal watercraft shipment categories. The unit itself weighs about 190 lbs., but the shipper estimates when packed and crated it weighs closer to 380 lbs. When you consider the weight and nearly 9-foot length of the shipment, uShip is the only way to go for shipping.

The story behind this strange watercraft is pretty interesting-- evolving from an idea in 1987, to the development of over 100 pre-production prototypes, to its production launch in 2005.

It looks pretty awesome set to The Ventures' soundtrack.