Drive Your Business Forward – In a FREE 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van

If there was ever a promotion tailor-made for a transporter on uShip, this is it. 

Fast Company magazine and Mercedes-B​enz Sprinter have created a marketing program to find the brightest small or midsize businesses​ looking to grow while using a Sprinter van in the process.

All they are asking for is a :30-90 second video telling them about your business and how it could benefit from owning a Sprinter van (hint: it helps if you haul stuff).  Their judges then select the business whose video represents the most compelling plan for using a Sprinter van to propel its overall business strategy.

Submission deadline is next week – May 31, 2012 – so grab that smartphone and start filming. 

The winner not only receives a brand new 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, but will be featured in a video series promoting both Sprinter and the winning business. The winner also receives a voucher worth $10,000 toward customizing the new van.

Here’s the kicker:  If you are a uShip service provider – and win this contest – uShip will toss in an additional bonus:  no match fees for an entire year from the moment you are announced the winner.

Good luck!

 

Earth Day 2012: Meet the ‘Prius Trucker’

Among the 250,000 registered carriers on uShip there are some truly colorful characters. Without a doubt, the greenest, most eco-friendly of them all is green tech “trucker” Adam Winters.

But you won’t find Adam driving a Class 8 rig or even a Ford F550.  Adam drives a Toyota Prius. 

Five years ago, Adam transformed his electric hybrid hatchback into a custom, re-engineered, trailer-hauling machine that primarily moves motorcycles, including Harley-Davidsons. 

Known as the Green Technology Transporter, he’s driven ~20,000 miles a month since getting on uShip 4-5 months ago.  Today, he earns 100% of his business though uShip.com, where he’s a Silver Power Provider with a 100% customer service rating. 

His 40-50mpg and emission-free driving gives him amazing fuel efficiency and ability to offer the best prices while going green, a double-win for his customers and the environment as the world  celebrates Earth Day on Sunday, April 22.   

Where Adam creates Prius envy is when he transports motorcycles to big cities.  “With my Prius, I can zip in and out of alleys and make deliveries in places bigger trucks can’t or would rather not go.” 

As a ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certified mechanic, Adam also does a free inspection of motorcycles before he hauls them -- especially for customers who purchase bikes site-unseen.   A significant portion of the motorcycles that he moves come through eBay Motors, where uShip is offered as a shipping service to buyers and sellers. 

Adam’s gone totally paperless in his business, thanks to his array of Apple products, including his iPad2, Macbook Pro and iPhone.  He uses uShip Tracking to keep his customers informed, as well as the uShip Mobile App.  He’s also signed up as a TerraPass Certified Provider. 

When he hauled pets in years past, he even used his iPad to host pet-video-conferences so excited owners could get to know their in-bound pet virtually before delivery.          

While he may not be a trucker in the traditional sense, Adam is a great example of green innovation and entrepreneurial spirit in the transport industry. 

“uShip has been great for me because it’s given me a career where I was the boss and a dream job where I became a workaholic doing something I really enjoy."

‘Shipping Wars’ Season 2 Hits This Summer

 A&E has ordered new 26-episode seasons for three of its popular real-life series:  Shipping Wars, Storage Wars and Storage Wars: Texas.   All three will launch this summer.   uShip serves as the backdrop of Shipping Wars which premiered in January to 3 million total viewers. 

Shipping Wars trucker (and Baja road race enthusiast) Marc Springer loads a vehicle for transport to Mexico.

If you haven’t seen Shipping Wars, it follows six independent truckers who competitively bid to transport oversized, bulky loads found on uShip.com. From rookie haulers to seasoned veterans, no shipment is too big or bizarre for these carriers, who compete in a high-stakes, deadline-driven race where any setback can cost big bucks.

“America is at a crossroads where people are finding new ways to make money and earn a living,” A&E’s EVP programming Davod McKillop told Deadline.com. “We’re holding a mirror up to this trend in our programming and it’s proven to be incredibly relatable to our viewers yet remain highly entertaining.”

Check out the transporter leaderboard at http://uship.com/shippingwars or catch video from Season 1 episodes, the “uShip Utorial” or watch the uShip Webisode, checkout A&E’s Shipping Wars site.  Below is Shipping Wars pilot episode that aired Jan. 10:

Romney Pet Faux-Paw: How Not to Ship Your Dog

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney continues to be hounded by a dog problem that occurred 25 years ago.  Apparently, the former Massachusetts governor transported his dog in a kennel tied to the roof of the family car during a 12-hour trip from Boston to Canada. 

One of the latest jabs at the issue that's been dogging Romney came through a video (below) from MoveOn.org, a liberal advocacy group, that characterizes him as "Bad for Dogs."

While Romney's approach is clearly a safer means of pet transport than Chevy Chase's ficticious Clark Griswald character in National Lampoon's Vacation, it's by no means the proper, humane way to get the job done. 

In fact, every year thousands of people turn to uShip Pets to get it transport done right.  Puppies, rescue dogs, long-distance buys of virtually every breed and size imaginable make their way through uShip.  Check out the thousands of stories left by satisfied customers who have had amazing experiences getting connected with their dogs.

 

No dogs were harmed in the writing of this blog post.

 

Living the Transport ‘Dream’ on Apple Gadgets and uShip's Mobile App

Jumping into the cab of Scott and Susie Bawcom's Ford F450 truck, you’d think you just walked into an Apple Store.

The Bawcoms are die-hard Apple fans who use the tech products to run Dream Time Transportation (uShip profile), their shipping business of Nashville, Tenn. 

Their gadget lineup would make Steve Jobs proud:  2 iPhones, an iPad2, a MacBook Pro and Apple’s iCloud service.  They also have Comcast Xfiniti 4G Wi-Fi and a Rand McNally Intelliroute TND 710 Truck GPS.

And with 100 percent of their business coming from uShip.com, the Bawcom’s iPhones and iPad are loaded with uShip’s free mobile app so they have complete control of their account while managing customers’ shipments of boats, aircraft, RVs, cars, motorcycles, snow mobiles, and ATVs. 

Scott and Susie Bawcom have several Apples a day.

What They're Sayin' About 'Shipping Wars'

A&E's new real-life series 'Shipping Wars' (which features uShip.com) has been receiving some nice reviews and visibility -- but what's not to like about a giant gnome and American's independent truckers?  Tune in Tuesdays at 9/8C to catch all the action, only on A&E.  Here's a run-down of the buzz...

uShip Featured in A&E’s New Reality Series ‘Shipping Wars’ Premiering Jan. 10

A&E just announced that its latest original real-life series -- "Shipping Wars" -- premieres January 10.  We’re excited to write that uShip plays a significant role as the show follows independent truckers on uShip who competitively bid against each other to transport oversized, bulky and truly bizarre loads found on our site.

The 10-episode half-hour series begins with back-to-back episodes Tuesday, January 10 at 9PM and 9:30PM ET/PT.

The competition begins on uShip, the world’s largest online shipping marketplace, where these truckers haul anything if the price is right. The high-stakes race is on as they set out to deliver the loads in time, and any setback can cost big bucks.

From rookie haulers to seasoned veterans, no shipment is too big for these professionals to handle. Check out A&E’s brief descriptions of the featured truckers, or visit their profiles on uShip:

• Scott & Suzie Bawcom (uShip handle: dreamtimetransportation)
• Jennifer Brennan (uShip handle:  texascowgirl)
• Roy Garber (uShip handle:  arbiesteam)
• Jarrett Joyce (uShip handle:  jjncsu2000)
• Marc Springer (uShip handle:  snortnboartransport)

Be looking for more information on the Ship Happens blog about the show, the truckers, and more leading up to the premiere.

“Shipping Wars” is produced by Megalomedia for A&E Network.  Executive producer is Jonathan Nowzaradan.  Co-executive producers are Tom Mireles, Jeff Keels and Graham Davidson.  A&E executive producers are David McKillop, Elaine Frontain Bryant and Neil A. Cohen.

 

LeBron James Goes 1-on-1 with Truckers on uShip

The current NBA labor lockout has resulted in the league cancelling 2011-12 season games through November, and more cancellations are expected.  While fruitless negotiations and back-room talks go into the wee hours, NBA players simply aren’t makin’ any scratch.  No pay day. No direct deposit. Nothin' (unless you're getting endorsements). 

While the average NBA player's salary is $5.15 million a season, believe it or not, a number of players who make around $1 million are having to change their lifestyle pretty quick.  Some are applying for jobs you wouldn’t expect and even moving back home with their parents. 

So, let's make sure we have this straight:  You’ve got a basketball league with 400+ players out of work AND a trucking industry that’s starving for drivers, currently 150,000 short.  If this lockout turns into a full season, why not get a few players some driver training, MC/DOT authority and get them out on the road?  Gentlemen, your chariot and open road awaits! 

So how would they stack up?  Here’s a comparison between LeBron James, one of the NBA’s top players, and the thousands of truckers on uShip:

2011 Trucker Mustache Contest - uShip Joins the Movember Campaign to Fight Cancer

IT'S MOVEMBER, Y'ALL!

uShip is proud to announce the month formerly known as November is now dedicated to the enthusiastic growing of mustaches and raising of awareness and funds for men's health. 

uShip has formed Team uStache for the second consecutive year, and we're encouraging the  uShip Community to join us in the fight against cancer. Visit our team page to join Team uStache or make a donation that will benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Lance Armstrong's LIVESTRONG. 

JOIN US, 'STACHE WEARERS!
On your mark... Get set... Grow!

Truckers, Transporters and Friends!: Through November 30, post your 'stache to our Facebook page for a FREE uShip trucker hat! Simply write out your uShip username in your photo for free stuff.  

One Grand Prize winner will receive a uShip "Care Package" including a $50 gas card, a uShip shirt and hat, and, best of all, a lovely retro beaded massaging seat cover. To win the grand prize, simply collect the most "likes" and comments from your friends.* 
(*In order to win, you'll need to register on uShip.com. This, of course, is open to men and women-- 'mo sisters can rock a mean faux stache, too.)

Our hope is that Movember mustaches will spark conversations and generate some laughs, all in the name of raising vital awareness and funds for cancers affecting men. Check out our progress photos from 2010:

Week One   -   Week Two   -   Week Three

Clearly, we only have so much facial hair to go around-- which is precisely why we'd like to recruit the uShip community to help us in our month of 'stache cultivation. We raised over $900 last year and would like to hit $1000 for 2011. To dedicate your upper lip to men's health and help us reach our goal, sign up for Team uStache here.

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.