Cars.com Selects uShip As Exclusive Shipping Provider

If you’re one of the millions of people who shop for and buy vehicles on Cars.com, your life just got  a lot easier:  Cars.com has selected uShip as its exclusive provider of vehicle shipping services. 

This means while reviewing vehicle listings, shoppers can link directly to Cars.com’s Shipping Center, powered by uShip, where they can access delivery price quotes on a purchase or a potential purchase, based on the vehicle type and origin/destination zip codes.  Shoppers can choose between two formats on uShip – Name Your Price or Auction – to get the best delivery price.

uShip App All-Star: How Carrier TShreeves Does Business on the Road

uShip Mobile has an MVP! 

Last month, we ran our first-ever Mobile Madness promotion for the uShip Mobile App, giving away thousands of dollars in credit for transporters on uShip. The top "bracket" of 64 carriers that booked the most loads using uShip Mobile won site credit.

We were impressed to find out that some uShip carriers book exclusively using mobile devices! The winner of uShip Mobile Madness, Tobias Shreeves, booked 17 loads throughout the month, all of which where booked with the uShip Mobile App. 

Shreeves (tshreeves) is an owner-operator from Tucson, Ariz. hauling boats, commercial freight, household goods, motorcycles and vehicles across the Western US. Since registering on the site in January, he's hauled 21 shipments with 100% positive feedback.

Seeing carriers doing brisk business with the app is a big deal for us-- we're putting a lot of sweat and tears into making the app an awesome, simple tool for carriers and customers that want to ship anything, anywhere, anytime. 

A couple days ago, we spoke with Shreeves to ask him how he uses uShip while on the road. Here are some of the highlights, along with some general advice for transporters:

 

How do you use uShip Mobile to book loads on the road?

"I have a full-time job during the week, and operate my hauling business on weekends. uShip is basically a vacation for me after work!

Typically I'll start looking for large shipments using Find Shipments during the week. I use search filters to narrow down the shipments that are along my route, and then for shipments that will safely fit on my trailer.

It has to be a shipment that is "significant" or pays well enough to cover my fuel and the way back as well. I always look at photos and shipment details to make sure its something I can haul.

Once I've booked a well-paying load, I'll look on my iPhone for smaller shipments to add along my route and for a backhaul shipment for the return trip. I've found I can book several shipments in one trip."

What are some other mobile apps you use?

"I frequently use Google maps, a GPS navigation unit and my mobile internet browser."

Do you have any practical advice for new transporters?

"Definitely. You'll never have everything you need on the road, so just be prepared to shell out for things you need at the last minute: chains, tie downs, blocks of wood, blown tires… and always ongoing maintenance costs. 

Other than that, you have to be smart about what you book. Pay attention to shipment details, and always know your limits in terms of your equipment and your planned route." 

Congrats to our Mobile Madness winner, TShreeves! Keep on truckin'!

Matt Chasen Discusses uShip's Growth, JOBS Act Importance (Video)

While in Washington, D.C., last week attending the JOBS Act Bill Signing Ceremony at the White House (see photo below), uShip CEO Matt Chasen stopped by Journal of Commerce for a quick hello.  Senior Editor Bill Cassidy interviewed Matt on a number of topics, including uShip's growth, global footprint and the importance of the JOBS Act for entrepreneurs. 

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.

Infographic: How Far Away are People Looking to Move?

Many customers that arrive at uShip are looking for a safe, reliable and affordable way to move their belongings to a new home. 

Which brings up a solid question: Why do people move?

Data from the 2010 US Census shows that more than 4 in 10 people move for reasons related to housing-- like the intent to move to a larger and better home. Another 3 in 10 move for family reasons, which includes marriages and breakups. The remaining 3 in that group of 10 move for work and the catch-all 'other reasons.'

How far are people looking to move?

This infographic from Trulia.com shows how far people are willing to move, based on data pulled from thousands of home searches on the site. What we find out is that only a minority of Americans (4 in 10) on the move are relocating locally.

For any of these categories, families have to consider how and at what cost they can move their belongings. And clearly, with Americans moving at greater distances than ever (almost 1 in 4 moving 500 miles or more), that's an expensive and potentially complicated proposition.

Thankfully, online tools like Trulia and uShip can make long-distance moves a bit easier for everyone.

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.

CNBC: uShip Offering Unique, High Tech Moving Alternative

We were honored to host CNBC in uShip's Austin's offices last week as their team gathered footage for a summer moving story being prepared for its 'Power Lunch' show, one of the top news programs for influential business decision makers and is viewed by approximately a quarter-million people on the average day.

The near-3 minute story ultimately ran today on a segment called Business Coast-to-Coast.  The video is found below, or check out a written piece on the same story here:

The essence of CNBC's story is this:  With more than 20 million Americans expected to move this summer and fuel prices super high, it's likely to cost more to relocate than it has in the past.  But uShip is helping people keep moving costs down, thanks for the competitive bidding process by transporters on its site.  The couple profiled in this piece saved 66% compared to the published rate from a commercial moving company and couldn't have been happier with their experience.

Affordable Vehicle Shipping, Only a Click Away: Expert Auto Transport Tips

As moving companies and vehicle transporters know, peak relocation season is right around the corner! From June through August, millions of Americans will pack up and move clear across the country.

For people moving over long distances or receiving a relocation package from their employer, knowing how to ship a vehicle is a fantastic convenience. Vehicle shipping saves time, hassle, and thousands of road miles on your vehicle. 

Online transport tools have made the process even easier-- but there are some important factors to consider before choosing how and with whom to ship your vehicle.

uShip Sets Vehicle, Motorcycle Transport Records for Q1 2011

Great news from our vehicle and motorcycle shipping categories!

For the first quarter of 2011, uShip saw a record $7.6 million in vehicle and motorcycle shipping transacted on the site. The new record represents a 24 percent increase over Q4 of 2010 and 33 percent over Q1 of 2010.

uShip-Led ‘Green Transport Network’ Helping UK Van Drivers Reduce CO2 Emissions

Hey, van drivers, do you know your shoe size?  How about your carbon footprint?

While you easily know the answer to the first question, chances are you’re a bit stumped on the second.  

To help you quickly find the answer – and ways to reduce your transportation business’ carbon impact -- uShip has formed the Green Transport Network, a campaign to help van drivers go 'green' through reduced emissions, affordable CO2 offsetting and cost-saving sustainable business practices.    Supporting the effort are The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) and the Prince of Wales' Mayday Network.

Defra in the UK estimates that vans alone represent 14% of the 121.8 million tonnes of carbon released by the freight transport industry every year. Yet still, drivers of 3.24 million vans are left without a clear solution for calculating and understanding their own footprint.

Check out coverage on the announcement on Business Green.

So, here are the Top 5 reasons why a UK van driver should visit the Green Transport Network web site?

1.       Quickly learn your business’ carbon footprint based on annual miles and trips
2.       Learn ways to reduce your fuel costs
3.       Offsetting purchases through JP Morgan Climate Care
4.       Easy way to join uShip and find active, available loads to fill your van
5.       Make your mother – and Mother Nature – proud
   
Many uShip transporters are already committed to carbon neutrality. According to David Sergeant (pictured below) of Preston-based DPS Transport (uShipID: Goldwing1969), "I reduce my carbon emissions to help me save on fuel costs. I use biodiesel for my vans, which cuts my CO2 by 50%. It's also a lot cheaper around £1 per litre, which helps me offer green solutions in other parts of my business."