the online shipping marketplace

You need to go back and read the Uship agreement you agreed to when you became a member.

It explains everything you need to know.

It has all of the do's and don'ts.

bumpus

I work as a freight broker agent. (That's wonderful, congratulations on your employment)  Wondering if that was allowed here.  (Sure...brokers are allowed according to the User's Agreement....remember reading it?) We have dedicated carriers we use and also have our own equipment leased on with a carrier. (Since when can a broker operate their own equipment?  Your FMCSA record does not indicate you're a motor carrier...only a broker.  Please explain what you mean when you say you have your own equipment)  Wanted to sign up and do some bids, but wanted to get feedback to see if would have many opportunities. (There may be some opportuinities, but it is very competitive.  And as Jack stated above, much of the cheap competition is from non-compliant and outright illegal transporters and brokers.)  We do mostly Truck loads and some LTL. We have 53' Dry Van's and a few Flat beds. (There is some FTL, but it is a minimal percentage of the total shipments.  The history of uShip's origins explains that the niche in the market that was targeted was for empty space on trucks only partially loaded.  Legitimate brokers have access to real freight boards for FTL & LTL so they're not likely to do well here.  Also, the uShip rates are enormous compared to true freight boards that charge subscription rates rather than for each individual shipment.  Loads from here for a broker is very much like it being brokered twice......and that ain't good.)  How does payment work. (Payment to the winning bidder works any way you arrange it between you and the shipper.  That is where your contract lies when you bid and win a shipment....between you and the shipper.  The same is applicable when you list a shipment for bidding by TSPs, the rolls are just reversed.  Each contract is separate and there are no uShip enforced rules concerning payment. Each is an individual and unique agreement between you and your client.  How you collect from the carrier when you broker the shipment is up to your own company policy.) We do some factoring are payments maid on the Credit Card we setup? (Very few on this website will even understand what you mean when you say "factoring".  There are some professionals that do, but the average Joe Smoe transporter with a pickup, and that constitutes the majority of the TSPs, won't have a clue.  The only thing charged to your credit card will be the deposit (which is actually uShip's match fee for using the service) and that happens when you ship something, not win a bid resulting in a match.   Is payment made upon receipt of merchandise or after all Shipping papers and Invoices are received? (That's up to you.... you can make any agreement on payment that you want.)  Could someone please let me know these questions.  (Apparently you already know the questions.....it seems to me that you're looking for answers)  Just as an OBTW....the feedback system works strongly against brokers so very few last long.  As the middle man....or whatever you are, you will get blamed for every cancellation and negative experience that results from the carriers you use and likely the shippers that contract with you.  Something else that you should have gleaned from the User's Agreement, if you had read it, is that uShip is a neutral venue.....the have no authority to intervene in disputs or to enforce any regulatory issues.  They simply provide and facilitate the opportunity for a shipper and transporter or shipper and broker to come together and meet.  But welcome to UShip anyway... ....

Don....

That's correct.....the listings are from "shippers" that are searching for a transporter.  You, as a broker or carrier, bid on the shipment.  If the shipper accepts your bid, it is then defined as a match (in uShip terminology).  Your bid details should contain all the terms such as how/when you are to be paid, time of pickup/deliver, type of transporter used, i.e. open..enclosed...straight truck...semi...etc.  Those bid details form the basis for your contract with the shipper.  Those terms and agreements are between you and the shipper....assuming you're the bidder (TSP again in uShip terminology).  uShip does have one rule that the total amount charged the shipper can not exceed the bid amount.  That can be a stickler if the shipment isn't described accurately or for many other reasons too, but we live with it and try to work through each situation.   The brokers frequently take a hit in the feed back process because often their carrier doesn't (1) know all the terms of the shipment or (2) isn't reliable & conscientious enough to honor the commitments of the broker.  But since the broker has the contract with the shipper, when something goes wrong the broker gets the negative feedback.  If you, as a broker, bid and win a shipment and then broker it to a carrier, that wouldn't be double brokering.  But as you know, if you lay it off on another broker, it would be.  Obviously the more layers in the deal the more likely for miscommunication and for something to go wrong.....again....guess who takes the hit in the feedback.  I would strongly urge you to read and understand every detail of the User's Agreement.....know it well and you'll save a lot of headaches.  The most significant part to comprehend is that uShip has no involvement in the terms of the agreement between you and your client.  They (uShip) only provide and facilitate a place to meet and communicate.  THEY ARE A NEUTRAL VENUE......  One other quick detail about fees, charges, and payments.....When a match is made, uShip collects a deposit from the shipper by charging their credit card of record according to the tiered fee structure contained in the User's Agreement.  That is transparently credited to the TSP's (winning bidder) account and subsequently paid from the TSP's account to uShip as their fee.  The amount owed to the TSP is the remainder of the total bid....minus the amount of the deposit (fee).  When and how that balance is paid is a function of the agreement in the bid details between the shipper and the TSP.

If you have additional questions feel free to ask in these forums.  It is very likely someone will be able to provide guidance and answers. 

Again....welcome to uShip and best of luck to you!

Don...