uShip Forum / Discuss uShip Features & Functionality / Community, Trust & Safety

Bogus auto bids

aaron111 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:52:22 GMT

http://www.uship.com/shipment/ASAP-Mercedes-wagon-from-Indianapolis-to-Wisconsin/195380630/

See the first bid from earthautoshippers ?? This is an automated bid

Why is uship promoting these douchebags? Bad feedback, mile long user agreement and whopping surcharges.Only an idiot would hire these brokers.

How do i get that bogus bid off my listing page? Can i block certain users from bidding on my listing? Like you can block a buyer on ebay? This is crap. Its not a real bid, uship is trying to influence bids by placing a false starting bid on my page.

Carefull what you say

preamped — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:14:23 GMT

A service provider listed looking for load from/to as a shipment. I entered pollitely as possible as a question to the shipment that he please be considerate of the site and other TSP's by not doing this as we will soon be looking through hundreds of people looking for loads to find an actual load. I was red-flagged and have been unable to get the red-flag removed.

Is it OK or NOT OK to ask for Tax dollars in addition to bid price?

Driver57 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:13:04 GMT

I am just wondering. In Canada we have a Federal Goods and Services tax, which by law in not allowed to be combined in the total price of the goods or services being sold in Canada. It has to be added in addition, and shown separately. So according to Canadian Federal law, this is how I use to place my bids. However, I received a red flag and was told all bids must be inclusive. So now I just include it. I see other Canadian TSP following my old path, however, they have gotten green flags even though they have stated they are adding the GST in addition. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE CLARIFIED. YES or NO. Can we add the tax to the amount due after the booking deposit? Because l if I am including it in the bid, which the booking fee is based on, then there is a fee being collected on tax dollars. Which I don't think is legal. But then I am not an accountant and will probably have to call the CCRA to find out.

uShip GREEN flagged a phone number....

Chadharper — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:44:12 GMT

http://www.uship.com/shipment/born-11909-puppy/690219647/

Please be aware of KEVIN1975

soukeyna — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:32:42 GMT

He is not professiona, will steal your properties by not delivering it to you ,will profane insanity against you as well as harassment ..be aware

Policing the shipper community on uship

geoffbaker — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:21:52 GMT

I tried to use uship about two years ago and couldn't find a shipper at the price I was looking to pay. This time, I tried for nearly three weeks to find a shipper and this time I wasn't looking for a particular price... I was looking to find a reasonable deal, no more, no less. I got perhaps 20 bids ranging from the ridiculously low to the ridiculously expensive. The first time I chose a cheaper one; my mistake. The second time I went with a much more expensive one... still my mistake.

This time, I twice contracted with the shipping company and both times as soon as we had a contract, they 'went dark' on me and coudn't be contacted... then didn't show up, leaving me to cancel and reschedule. After much discussion with a honest and helpful shipper, I ended up still doing it myself!

I've come to some conclusions I want to share with the uship community.

1) There are far, far too many shipping companiess out there who are "cherry picking"... offering multiple bids and then taking the best one at the last minute... leaving the others in the dark and refusing to answer their phones...

2) uship needs a random, continuous testing process which validates shippers phone numbers and contact emails. Both shippers I used simply stopped answering their phones as soon as they got the bid... how do you fix that? One possible answer would be a texting system run through uship so that the people looking to ship something could send a message to the shipper without the shipper being able to ignore it... and if they fail to answer in 24 hours, they should be delisted. Let's face it, in this modern world there is no reason why a shippper should not be in constant communication with the client, no matter what!

3) The cancellation process appears to be biased in favor of the shipping company. Any negative feedback left after a cancellation does not appear as negative feedback... and it should - instead it merely appears under the generic and uninformative heading of "cancellations". People should be able to see such negative feedback right away, without having to look under the "cancellation" section. And if it was listed that way, the shipping company would be much more careful to avoid getting such feedback. But as it is, not merely does the feedback not get listed under negative feedback... but I as the user, now have a mark against me for "excessive cancellation"... as if I did anything wrong!!! Why on earth should I get a negative mark against me due to the unethical and dishonest practices of the shipping companies I tried to work with in good faith? It's frankly ridiculous.

4) Ive had most of my money refunded by uship but frankly, I got a $16 charge today AFTER two failed shipping attempts, both of which cost me time and money (airline tickets that I'll have to try to get refunded...) it seems to me that uship should have a policy of immediately refunding 100% of all charges, in any case where an individual has wasted time and money and been abused by the shipping companies...

5) I think uship should distinguish two types of shipping companies: actual companies with a fleet of trucks - who may cost more but stand by their product... and everybody else. uship might consider having companies with low feedback scores or a troubled history post a bond, for instance, which they could lose if they get too much negative feedback.

I have to say, that the next time I need to ship something, I'll check uship again. But if they haven't fixed these problems... I'll keep looking elsewhere.

no insurance coverage

dale45 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:46:12 GMT

PLEASE everyone ask to see the insurance from your shipper, [content removed – outside of the uShip forum policies; review the uShip forum policies here: http://www.uship.com/discussion_rules.aspx]

[content removed – outside of the uShip forum policies. Members may not use the forums in the following ways:

- Using the forum to rate other members or to give them negative feedback, including "warning" or discouraging the community from transacting with or responding to any other uShip member, regardless of whether such posts are justified or not. Please use the feedback system to rate any member you have completed a shipment with. If you have not completed a match with another member, you cannot give them feedback.

- Posting instances of member violations or fraud. To report suspected violations or fraud, please follow the procedures in the uShip User Agreement.

- Posting profanity, hate language, hostile, or disruptive comments, interpersonal disputes, or threats of violence against other members.

- Discussing or reposting deleted posts.

- Posting contact information.

Review the uShip forum policies here: http://www.uship.com/discussion_rules.aspx]
PLEASE ask to see their insurance both personal and business

weight of a fireplace mantel

purplebear — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:23:17 GMT

I need to know what a fireplace mantel 77" long,53" high and 15" deep might weigh...so I can fill out the form to ship this item!!!!@

Re-Book or Cancel?

MICourier — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:57:08 GMT

Here's the deal: I planned on going to Indiana to pick up something (not uship related) last weekend. I thought I might be able to haul something with me on the way down, so I bid on a boat motor going from Indiana to KY. I had not nailed down a specific date for this, so when I bid on the boat motor shipment, I specified a 2-week time period. Shipper requested for me to change my dates for pickup/delivery to that weekend, and also a lower price. Maybe I was really eager to win the job, so I agreed. Then after thinking about it and not being able to get a hold of the contact for my first shipment, I knew the bid on the boat motor was not a good idea. I logged on to cancel my bid, but the guy already accepted! I told the shipper the situation, that basically I would be driving around 1,000 miles round trip for only $100, and that I couldn't do it. Rather than cancel on the guy and leave him hanging, I re-booked the shipment with a different provider, and for more money than I was going to do it for. I clearly stated this in e-mails to the customer and assured him that this was an experienced uship provider and everything would be fine (which it was), albeit delayed from what I quoted and at no extra charge to him. I felt like I was providing excellent customer service, but this guy seems to think that I "made a buck" without doing the work, which clearly I didn't if you look at the listings and that this is something I've "practiced". He left me negative feedback saying this!
I'm wondering if any other providers have found themselves in a similar predicament, where you win a job, but then for whatever reason, you can't do it. Do you just cancel and tell the customer "Sorry, better luck next time", or actually try and help them out, by re-booking? Uship customer service indicated to me that I should have cancelled. Doesn't seem like a proper way to treat customers to me. I realize that you won't get negative feedback when you cancel, just doesn't seem like the right thing to do. Call me crazy!
Also, I just realized that you can check the option that says "This shipment was not completed". Should I have checked that, because I didn't actually complete the shipment? I made a mistake by listing this as a completed shipment. Does anyone know if this can be edited to reflect that? The shipment that I listed was completed by another service provider. It doesn't seem like an accurate representation of facts for the shipper to leave me negative feedback on punctuality, and care of goods, communication, etc. when he clearly states that the shipper that did eventually provide service did a great job. I really feel like I'm being unjustly hit with negative feedback and being publicly libelled against when I was clearly just trying to help the guy get his shipment.
And finally, before anyone asks, yes I have gotten in touch with uship customer care. Thanks in advance for any and all replies. BTW, this is a great forum, thanks to all the frequent posters on here. You've already answered some of my questions before I could even ask them!

adnan82ny — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:58:31 GMT

[content removed – outside of the uShip forum policies; review the uShip forum policies here: http://www.uship.com/discussion_rules.aspx]

[content removed – outside of the uShip forum policies. Members may not use the forums in the following ways:

- Using the forum to rate other members or to give them negative feedback, including "warning" or discouraging the community from transacting with or responding to any other uShip member, regardless of whether such posts are justified or not. Please use the feedback system to rate any member you have completed a shipment with. If you have not completed a match with another member, you cannot give them feedback.

- Posting instances of member violations or fraud. To report suspected violations or fraud, please follow the procedures in the uShip User Agreement.

- Posting profanity, hate language, hostile, or disruptive comments, interpersonal disputes, or threats of violence against other members.

- Discussing or reposting deleted posts.

- Posting contact information.

Review the uShip forum policies here: http://www.uship.com/discussion_rules.aspx]

There needs to be a terms and conditions sectiond for listing shipments.

landtechmontana — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:28:23 GMT

I am becoming very agitated with this service. I have had one shipment arrive on time with great service and one that I have now canceled twice. I have been waiting for this shipment now for 3 weeks! I first listed it as an auction accepted a bid. That provider failed to contact me until almost 2 weeks had passed and I canceled the shipment. The second cancellation I initiated 4 days after booking because the carrier could not pick up or deliver within the time frame specified in the listing. In the "additional information" section in the listing I asked that providers not bid that could not deliver under the terms specified. Yet a provider booked it using "Book it Now" and had then to cancel later. I keep wasting time here! Is there a way to penalize providers who do not honor the terms of the agreement? Is there a better way to ensure that providers pay attention to the terms of the shipper? I just want providers to pay attention, communicate and follow through with delivery! Isn't this what the whole shipping and logistics industry is based on? This is all very frustrating, and I am probably just going to go pick up the load myself now. Any advice?

To the uship team!

Chadharper — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:43:40 GMT

Hey guys unfortunately my black berry won't email you directly from the site. I have a question. A bid is suppose to be "all inclusive" so if a bid of 350 (361 total with auction service fee) is accepted. That leaves the remaining balance around 311.xx. So when the provider sends a paypal request can he (without prior warning or acknowledgment) request 325.00 as "paypal charges a 13 or 14 dollar fee now" when you guys read this can you email me directly or if this is acceptable here I think it would be great lessons for all the providers as I just want some clarification.

talk to someone

topshelfreps — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:53:10 GMT

I paid for a shipment of a motorcycle on May 5th and still have not seen the motorcycle. I contacted the shipper and he keeps giving me the same old crap! When I went to file a complaint I clicked on the wrong tab and put it at archived. Now I can’t file a complaint about it or him or issue for a refund. Anyone have any ideas? I would like to talk to someone on the phone with uship but no phone numbers seem to be listed anywhere. Please help.

can anyone help me feel secure in using uship?

alice846 — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:28:27 GMT

i was almost scammed by brokers when looking into moving from nm to sc. now i'm starting from scratch again, and i'm very hesitant to use a big company (thinking of bekins) because of all the bad reviews i've read. i had someone offer (he hasn't bid yet) to move my stuff, but i need to know how i can be sure he won't take my money and run. i read his reviews which are all positive, but i'm sure if someone is sneaky enough they could write their own reviews. i'd like to know i can trust this guy to help me move, and i'd also like to know what steps i'd take if something went wrong. i'm new to uship. obviously. thanks.

The mover asserted an additional $500 charge to pack my kitchen

mtankersley1614 — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:27:49 GMT

My mover arrived this morning to move my 1BR apartment 5 states away. They informed me the uship bid they received did not specify that they were to pack my kitchenware (normal plates, glassware, pots, pans for a 1 person 1 bedroom apartment) and that they needed to charge me another $500 to pack it. The uship system for registering a move does not have a special box to click indicating that kitchenware is to be packed, and it seemed obvious to me, but not to my mover, that the default expectation is that a normal amount of kitchenware will be packed and shipped in this sort of comprehensive move. This seems like either (a) a shake down by the mover or (2) a major gap in the uship system. Whose position is out of line here?

Quotes

movesnj — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:11:59 GMT

For some reason shippers are posting items they don't even own yet to get an idea on how much to bid on eBay. Why not have uShip create a place especially for these people so TSP's won't waste anymore precious time.

Are we allowed to mention Uship Fees in our Communications now?

SkyeDS — Wed, 13 May 2009 01:04:18 GMT

Are we allowed to mention Uship Fees in our Communications now? I have noticed a lot of TSPs making mention of Uship Fees (as in, "(insert bid $ amount here) + uship fees") and being green flagged. If we are allowed to mention Uship fees in our communications now, by way of saying, "My Bid $ Amount + Uship Fees", I'd like to know immediately please. Thanks in advance.

Please be aware of crook Bidder - FAMILYMOVERS79

abidshah — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:45:20 GMT

Caused a lot trouble to many customers including me, additionally caused me $400 for rush shipment as he did not honor his bid.

Bid Details...

Chadharper — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:42:35 GMT

So when you sign up for MOST things such as memberships (Uship included) And credit cards and such, you are required to check " I agree" or " I Disagree" or some variation of the wording. I assume that if uship as a website adapted this policy, the amount of "true" cancellations (And when I say true I mean due to shipper error from NOT reading bid details) would be reduced and within ONE months time uShip would see a NOTICEABLE reduction in the amount of "True" cancellations.

Well, This is my food for thought today. I only hope that this can be of some use to uShip as a whole. Also it may have already of been suggested but I didn't search due to laziness, I guess.

Delayed answers to questions

taylorade — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 09:50:28 GMT

Heather, I was communicating with a shipper yesterday and he responded to say price was agreeable to him but the answer was delayed a couple of hours before I got it. By then he gave up on me to answer and logged off. I needed this load for a back haul and am in jeopardy of loosing it now, because of my delay to respond. Why does this happen, for no reason. He was only telling me price was ok to him and for me to place a bid. The response he sent me that was held up for me to read showed a green flag when uship finely let me read it, by then he was already gone. Please advice why this happened, Mike

Something odd I noticed

wepackandship — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:35:17 GMT

I spotted a shipment that was recently awarded to a new service provider. Something looks very wrong, and i suspect either a huge error on the SP side, or perhaps something closer to fraud. I think Uship should look into it but cant figure out how to contact them so that they can look into it.

USERS DOUBLE AND TRIPLE LISTINGS

ivanjess — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:59:52 GMT

HAS ANY ONE NOTICED THAT SHIPPER'S ARE PLACING THE SAME BIDS UNDER DIFFERENT AMOUNT OF BEDROOMS AND PRICE TARGETS BUT HAVE SAME ORIGIN,USER NAME AND DESTINATION.

Making Direct Contact with a Mover

wobbeegone — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:41:28 GMT

is there a way to make direct contact with a mover BEFORE i agree to hand over my money and house to them?
i would really prefer to speak with a human beforehand.
i keep seeing not to put email/phone numbers on anything and i really just don't feel comfortable with not speaking to someone first.

Carrier got my shipment, now what??

Dagwood55 — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:11:47 GMT

The carrier said he would figure out his delivery scheldule while waiting for the shipper to open. He did'nt call me then, but breifly called after picking up the shipment. It's been over a week now and I cannot get in touch with him. he does not answer the phone and does not have a message answering. I don't know if the shipment will be here tomorrow or next week or next month. I'm really disappointed the item won't be here before
Christmas and had I have known it would take this long, I would have gotten another carrier. Shame on me for not figuring this out earlier. We were planing on taking a short vacation between Christmas and NY, but now don't know weather to plan on it or not.

Any ideas???

Accidentally hit "report violation" flag, how to clear?

Joachim16 — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 10:37:36 GMT

How can I clear an accidentally hit "report violation" flag? My intention was to as a question but I have hit the wrong button.

Thanks!

Joachim

Bidder "won" my shipment yet I never accepted anything

crwchf16 — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:10:45 GMT

I had a shipment listed for a snowmobile to be moved from New York to Vermont. There were 2 bids in place Saturday night and I hadn't yet chosen one. Sunday morning came around and suddenly someone I had never heard of before had "won" my shipment. Imagine my surprise to find my shipment booked without any sort of input from me! I immediately put a cancellation on it but as of Tuesday still haven't heard what is going on with it. I emailed the bidder and english is definitely not his first language. Don't blame this guy right away: for all I know he had nothing to do with his bid being the one that was accepted. I don't know if this is a fraud issue or something innocent like a system glitch. I did not use the "book it now" feature so how did this guy win? Has anyone else had this kind of problem? Is there a phone number to contact Uship directly?

Shipper No Show??

kbrick — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:11:25 GMT

I have a shipment that was supposed to be picked up last Thursday or Friday and delivered today. Spoke to the shipper directly. They have not picked up goods or contacted the pick up contract. He has not returned phone calls or emails. What are my options at this point? Fairly new to uship. Thank you for your assistance.

Removing a Negitive feedback

sunmark — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:02:38 GMT

I left negative feedback on a shipper that was non comunicative, shipper finaly contacted me and we resolved to a cancled shippment. How do I remove the negative feedback and make it a cancled?

Lets make it easier for shippers

Specialized — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:10:22 GMT

I propose to Uship to add a link on its site for shippers that want to do the right thing and cover their butts!

Uship needs to go a step further,since it puts the website address for shippers to go to,to check out the TSP's, in the user agreement, Why doesn't Uship go the extra mile and put a link to the website on its site. This would help encourage Shippers to check out their providers before accepting a bid! Yes I know that some TSP's don't put their USDOT or MC numbers on their profile page but shippers can ask for them and if they have one they can click on the link and run the numbers. Man that would be so easy for them to check out their service providers bidding on their shipments. Uship put the website in its user agreement (#13) why not put a link to the page where they can type in the company name,USDOT or MC number. there they can check the status of the service providers and see if they are Compliant and or legit!

Hire only USDOT compliant TSPs

Bad transaction, Accusation of blackmail & bad feedback

PaulVaine — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:00:16 GMT

I was having a car shipped across the USA

I trusted the cheapest transporter ( big mistake ) after looking at his 15 or so good feedbacks and his ad which stated how his courteous staff would call and keep me informed of my cars status,

Things turned dark right after I booked them,

They made a time frame to pick up the car and were late never calling me or the seller of the car, the seller of the car called me to see what was up with late pick up and no call.

I had to call the transporter who seemed vague and not to care, telling me the car would be picked up that day.

I asked to be called when they did pick up the car which didn't happen.

The seller had to call and tell me, he was less than impressed with the driver.

While I was told my car would not be moved from one truck to another they picked my car up on one truck and held it in their yard all weekend only to load it and move out that Monday on a different truck, again I had to keep calling them many times at the mercy of an answering machine to learn the status of my cars transport.

I never received any of the courtesy calls as the ad stated I would, I have come to believe there is no "staff" but just one fellow doing this.

I was worried at this point as all I could get was an answering machine and no call backs

They never answered my calls all weekend and no call backs when I saw his last feedback was bad and talked of them driving the car and being almost a month late I was very worried about my car.

When my car thankfully got here I had paid for delivery to my house but the driver parked 1/2 block away and did help me push my car home,

After the driver was gone and I was looking the car over I noticed both aftermarket aluminum wheels on the passenger side were scraped badly during transport , I am not talking old curb rash but almost like someone took a chisel to the rim lip, little pieces of loose metal were still on the rim / tire

My guess was at some point that side fell off a loading ramp, but regardless of how it happened the rims can not be used now.

So I contacted the transporter via email as he didn't answer the phone I wrote him telling him my wheels had been damaged in transport and I wanted to learn what he would do about it before completing this transaction by leaving his feedback,

The transporter wrote me back a rather arrogant email stating that the damage "could" have been during loading that the wheels might have scrapped a ramp,

However,

He went on the state that he docks his drivers paychecks for damages and would have to look at the BOL and talk to the driver to decide IF the damage happened, that's akin to calling me a liar.

I wrote back that I didn't feel I was at his mercy any longer since I have my car and that there was no question if the wheels are damaged and that damage did happen while they had my car,

I told him I simply wanted to know what if anything he would do about my damaged wheels before I complete this transaction and leave his feedback.

His reply to that was accusing me of blackmail and said he will be reporting me to authorities.

On a side note I feel that it is ridiculous that he doesn't have insurance and makes the driver pay for damage to transported cars.

So I have no clue who he thinks he can report me to as I never tried to blackmail him in any way,

The wheels were used but near new and I was not trying to stick it to him but rather just asked if he would rebate the cost of two such wheels used,

On the subject of feedback I feel it is the only way that we as buyers can learn if a seller or transporter is good or bad,

I do lots of business on Fleabay and I try hard to always leave great feedback which is what I wanted to do in this uship case I feel feedback is the last part of any transaction and never should be jumped into.

I do feel that in this case bad feedback is warranted,

I want to get views and opinions from both transporters and shippers where I should go from here,

My wife says cut the loss, leave bad feedback to warn others how he does business and move on,

What do you guys think?

Thanks

Cheers,

Shipping and PROTECTING Yourself

VeteransTransport — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:11:12 GMT

AS A REMINDER, I HIGHLIGHT THE FOLLOWING EXTRACTS OF THE USER AGREEMENT. ADDITIONALLY I INCLUDE THE VARIOUS COMMODITY “SHIPPER'S TIPS” FOR YOUR CONVIENCE.

http://www.uship.com/user_agreement.aspx

1. uShip is a Neutral Venue. uShip is not a transportation service provider (TSP), freight forwarder or broker. As a result, we have no control over the quality, safety, or legal aspects of the transactions that take place on our website. uShip does not prequalify or validate the claims of TSPs including with respect to their licensure, insurance and registration.

11. Shipping. IMPORTANT: uShip does not screen or qualify TSPs for compliance with federal, state or local laws and regulations. It is recommended that you confirm such compliance directly with the TSP before services are rendered by the TSP.

13. Household Goods Shipments. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, administers laws and regulations for the protection of shippers of household goods. Your TSP is required by the FMCSA to provide you with certain information pertaining to a household goods move. You can determine the FMCSA registration and safety status of your TSP at www.fmcsa.dot.gov and review the FMCSA regulations for household goods moves as well as other helpful information at www.protectyourmove.gov

14. Non-household Goods Shipments. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, required that all TSPs handling interstate shipments register with it and provide certain information. You can determine the registration and safety statues of your TSP at www.fmcsa.dot.gov

Boat transport link:

http://www.uship.com/Boats/articles/choosing-boat-carrier/

When shipping a large boat or yacht, it is essential that you find a reputable transport company who has the proper equipment, experience and authority to safely ship your boat.

It is your responsibility to ensure that the boat transport company you choose is reputable and that your boat arrives at its destination with no problems. Researching a boat shipping company’s authority, insurance and past business record will help you determine if you can trust them with shipping your valuable boat or yacht.

Check Boat Transport Authority

Before considering any boat transport company, you must check that the company has Federal Motor Carrier Authority and Federal DOT Authority.

Any legal boat carrier should be able to provide their MC and DOT numbers, and any responsible shipper should verify these at www.safersys.org to make sure the carrier is registered for boat transport.

Car transport link:

http://www.uship.com/vehicles/articles/choosing-an-auto-transporter/

Choosing an auto transport company can be an overwhelming experience. There are several ways to find a transporter—the phone book and the internet are the most commonly used resources. If you are moving, ask your moving company for recommendations but do not feel obligated to use the same mover for your household goods and your car. Transporting a vehicle takes special skills, equipment and insurance, and your household mover may or may not be the best option for transporting your car. You should also ask friends and family for references, as first hand experience is the best indicator of the service you will receive.

Check for proper transport authority

When searching for an auto transporter, a few minutes of research can save you from major headaches in the long haul.

All auto transporters are required to be registered with the Department of Transportation and must have an active USDOT and MC number.

The only exception are forwarders or brokers, who only have MC numbers.

To check the credentials of a transport company, search by their company name, DOT number and MC number at www.safersys.org.

In addition to verifying that their USDOT and MC numbers are valid, make sure that the carrier is specifically credentialed to transport motor vehicles.

Verify liability and cargo insurance

Along with being registered with the Department of Transportation, all carriers are required to have COMMERCIAL liability and cargo insurance.

Although the amounts of coverage vary, you should request written proof of a transporter’s coverage before hiring them.

You can confirm insurance information on www.safersys.org or by calling the transporter’s insurance company.

The insurance should be current and should adequately cover the value of your car. Ask about any limits on the insurance, and if it is necessary, request additional coverage.

MotorCycle Transport link:

http://www.uship.com/motorcycles/articles/Choosing-a-motorcycle-transporter/

You should choose your motorcycle transporter based on their authority, insurance, and experience. Only once you verify carriers’ credentials should you start to compare quotes and service levels. There are enough legal, experienced motorcycle carriers available that you should have no problem finding one that fits your needs.

Verify transport authority

All legal motorcycle carriers are required to be registered with the Department of Transportation.

A carrier’s authority can be verified by checking their DOT and MC numbers at www.safersys.org.

In addition to checking your motorcycle transporter’s registration, verify that they are legally allowed to ship motor vehicles.

Check insurance coverage

All motorcycle transporters should carry a minimum amount of insurance coverage. You should ask your carrier for a copy of their certificate of insurance. On this document, you will find the details of their insurance policy along with contact information for the insurance company. Check the information provided on the certificate with the insurance company listed or through the Department of Transportation at www.safersys.org.

Household Goods link:

http://www.uship.com/moving/articles/investigating-moving-companies/

Moving an entire household is stressful enough without having to deal with a disreputable moving company. When hiring professional movers, time spent investigating a company can save you a lot of money and heartache. You should know that the movers you hire are credentialed, insured, and experienced.

Verify transportation authority

Before considering a moving company, ensure they are legally registered as a mover. The Department of Transportation requires all household moving companies to have USDOT or MC numbers. All legal movers should provide you with these numbers, which you can verify on http://www.safersys.org. At this site you can search by company name or USDOT number to make sure that your mover is credentialed to provide household moving services.

Check insurance coverage

In addition to being registered with the Department of Transportation, all household moving companies are required to carry a minimum amount of liability and cargo insurance. Coverage varies from mover to mover, so be sure to ask for each company's specific policy.

A moving company should be able to provide you with written proof of their insurance coverage, called a Certificate of Insurance. Confirming a mover's insurance is easy: just look them up on http://www.safersys.org or call the insurance company listed on the certificate. You should also be able to purchase additional insurance from the moving company, which is highly recommended.

For Household Movers, you can also go to these links to do your research

http://ai.volpe.dot.gov/hhg/Search.asp?ads=

http://ai.volpe.dot.gov/hhg/search.asp

Pet and Livestock transport link:

http://www.uship.com/Pets/articles/choosing-a-pet-transporter/

Like any other professional shipping service, pet transporters are bound by strict federal, state, and local regulations. Because pet transporters are responsible for shipping live animals, the requirements for licensing and certification can be very stringent. Before trusting your pet with a transporter, make sure they have the correct authority, experience, and knowledge to safely transport your pet.

What authority and licenses are required for a pet transporter?

A pet transporter must be licensed by the USDA as a dealer, carrier, or intermediate handler if they are transporting "regulated" animals. If an animal is unregulated, such as a bird, fish, or reptile, an animal transporter does not need to be licensed by the USDA. Regulations vary animal-to-animal, so make sure you hire a transporter with the proper authority to ship your pet.

In addition to being licensed, your carrier should provide a minimum amount of insurance. Usually this is one to five hundred dollars per pet. Pet transportation insurance should cover loss, injury, or death of your pet during the trip. Usually, insurance will not cover illness or natural death during transportation.

Experience

In addition to being properly licensed and insured, your carrier should have experience with your type of animal. A pet shipper used to handling horses may not be able to ship your snake properly. Make sure to choose a transporter that specializes in your animal, so you know they have the proper knowledge and experience.

Questions to ask your pet transporter:

How long have you been transporting pets?

What are your policies and procedures?

Are you licensed and insured?

How often do you stay in contact with me during the trip?

What are your fees?

How often do you let out the animals?

What do you do with animals that stay with you overnight?

What supplies should I pack with my pet?

Freight shipping link:

http://www.uship.com/freight/articles/finding-a-freight-carrier/

Finding a Freight Carrier

A freight carrier is the company or person who directly handles your shipment. If you are shipping LTL or international freight, several carriers may handle your shipment. For some shipments, you might hire a freight broker or a freight carrier—companies that contract with a network of carriers to arrange for your freight shipment.

It’s often best to hire a freight carrier directly. Freight carriers are usually small companies or independent owner-operators who offer great services at reasonable prices.

Check Authority, Insurance, and Business Records

The first thing to check when hiring a freight carrier is their authority. A carrier must be authorized by the Department of Transportation to transport goods for hire, and should have a USDOT and MC number that can be verified on safersys.org, unless they are a freight broker or freight forwarder. A freight broker or forwarder will only have a MC number. You can look up any company’s credentials by DOT number, MC number, or company name.

Next, verify your carrier’s cargo insurance. All freight haulers are required to carry a minimum amount of insurance, but you may want to purchase additional coverage from a third party. Ask your freight hauler for their claims-to-damage ratio. This statistic reveals the percentage of claims that have been paid as a result of loss, damage, or theft. A reliable company should have a claims-to-damage rate of 1.5 percent or lower.

Finally, look at a freight carrier’s transaction history. Do they have a positive reputation among fellow transport companies and previous customers? Any reputable freight hauler should be able to provide references from previous customers. You may also want to look up the company on the Better Business Bureau website to see if any complaints have been lodged against them.

Direct links to assist you with the instructions above.

http://www.safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx

Provides you a company’s safety record & the list of commodities they have registered with the FMCSA to transport

http://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/LIVIEW/pkg_html.prc_limain

Provides you a Carrier Insurance coverage information and the type of authority they hold.

Common

Contract

Broker

http://www.uship.com/community/fraud_prevention.aspx

Fraud Prevention Guidelines

Unfortunately, fraud exists and the transportation industry is not immune. uShip provides you with tools that make it a safer place to transact than just about any other venue. However, it is important to follow common sense guidelines to protect yourself against unscrupulous individuals. Whether you find a service provider on uShip, another website, or any other offline directory be smart and, most importantly, don't be a victim!

Basic Fraud Prevention Guidelines

· Avoid Instant Cash Transfer Services
uShip prohibits members from requesting payment from instant cash transfer services (non-bank, point-to-point cash transfer services such as Western Union and Moneygram). When you send money via one of these services, not only can you not confirm who the person receiving the money is, but once you send it, you cannot get it back. Avoid using these services and report anyone requesting you use these services to uShip.

· Execute a written Contract
After the shipment is booked, you and your service provider should execute a written contract outlining the details of your agreement. This is very important in case there is a disagreement about service.

· Understand deposits
Some service providers request an upfront deposit. If your service provider requests an upfront deposit, be sure that the details of that deposit, such as the circumstances in which it is refundable, are clearly outlined in the contract.

· Use Credit Cards whenever possible
Using a major credit card or a 3rd party payment system like Paypal to pay your service provider may provide you with additional safeguards and recourse in the event of a dispute or suspected fraudulent activity. Check with your credit card company for more information.

· Choose your service provider carefully
While uShip provides useful tools such as feedback ratings and comments, you should entertain the same level of due diligence as you would when selecting a service provider from another venue.

· Use common sense
Something that doesn't seem right probably isn't. Ask questions, get it in writing, review credentials and always pay safely.

· Verify credentials

Verify the credentials of any service provider you choose to do business with. Federal government sites such as Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Safety and Fitness Electronic Records System (http://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov) may provide you with useful information about your service provider.

About the uShip Marketplace

· uShip is a neutral venue and not a transportation service provider, freight forwarder or freight broker. The uShip marketplace serves as a venue where two parties agree on price for service. uShip is not involved in the actual transaction between shipper and service providers.

· Any and all arrangements are made between you and the service provider you select. uShip does not prequalify or validate the claims of transportation service providers with respect to their license, insurance, or other operating authority.

· Do not mistake a dispute for fraud. If you have a dispute with your service provider, please use the Report a Problem feature to contact uShip and we will do our best to help facilitate communication between the two parties.

· For a more detailed description of how uShip works, and its policies, please review the uShip User Agreement that you agreed to when you joined.

If you suspect you are a victim of fraud or theft:

· First, inform uShip of the issue using the 'Report a Problem' button on the shipment listing in My uShip

· If you suspect you are a victim of fraud, you should report the incident to the proper local, state or federal law enforcement agency

· File a report with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

· File a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center

Shipping and PROTECTING Yourself

VeteransTransport — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:28:43 GMT

http://www.uship.com/user_agreement.aspx

11. Shipping. THE "MC" NUMBER TO ENSURE THAT IT'S ACTIVE AND BELONGS TO THE PARTY CLAIMING THEM!

MOST SHIPPERS DO NOT VERIFY ANYTHING!!!

This site does NOT do it for you

Fraudulent Internet ad leads police in a different direction

Published: October 10th, 2008 01:47 AM
Last Modified: October 10th, 2008 02:08 AM

A fraudulent Craigslist posting has cost a West Virginia man $2,400 and has police in Anchorage looking for a suspect, but not because he posted the ad.

Anchorage police detective Sgt. Ron Tidler said he got a call about the scam from the Jefferson Country Sheriff's Department this week.

The West Virginia victim paid $2,400 for a 2007 Honda CBR 600 motorcycle -- a price that was to include shipping from Alaska, Tidler said. But the bike never arrived, and Tidler says it's likely the victim was duped by an overseas Internet scam.

The ad was posted by a man calling himself Jack Stevens. Though that is not likely the poster's real name, Tidler said, police found out there is a man named Jack Stevens in Anchorage wanted on a $2,500 contempt of court warrant.

"Unfortunately for Jack Stevens, his name now came up on our radar, and we want to talk to him," Tidler said.

Anyone encountering online fraud should report it to federal officials at www.ic3.gov, he said.

Shipping contract when using uShip

StephanAndree — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:59:49 GMT
Uship does suggest that the uShip user and the shipper (carrier) sign a shipping contract. Is this commonly done ? Where do I find a suitable form of shipping contract to use ?

Charitable Shipping Program

matt@uship.com — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:54:05 GMT
We're considering putting together a "Charitable Shipment" program that would help people and organizations who are donating goods and supplies to find TSP's who are willing and able to donate their services to help deliver the goods. This would involve creating an icon to designate charitable shipments as well as a filter on Find Shipments. Obviously, uShip would not charge fees on these shipments.
Do you think there are enough TSP's out there who will donate their services to make this a viable program? Any other thoughts on how this program should work?

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)

VeteransTransport — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:11:39 GMT

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is an independent regulatory agency responsible for the regulation of oceanborne transportation in the foreign commerce of the U.S. The principal statutes or statutory provisions administered by the Commission are: the Shipping Act of 1984, the Foreign Shipping Practices Act of 1988, section 19 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, and Public Law 89-777.
http://www.fmc.gov/bureaus/secretary/DisputesinvolvingcargoincludingHouseholdGoodsandPersonalEffects.asp

Complaints or Inquiries Involving Individual Shipments of
Household Goods or Private Automobiles
Moving is a significant event that can be stressful, even in the best of circumstances. Most moving companies are legitimate businesses that do quality work. However, the Commission has experienced an increasing volume of complaints against international movers. Often, those complaints involve fraudulent practices by one of a small number of dishonest movers, known as rogue movers.
Once a mover has your household goods, significant problems can be experienced. Frequently, significant delays and additional expenses are incurred. In some situations, you may not be able to locate your household goods. International shipments involve a number of entities along the route, and many things can go wrong.
The Commission receives a number of complaints each year from individuals that have experienced difficulty with an international household goods shipment. Many of those complaints are filed by individuals that are first-time or very occasional users of international shipping services. Very often, they have employed a moving company that was discovered and hired based on quotes given via the internet, without a physical, on-site visit to the consumer’s residence.

Most difficulties could be avoided by following certain precautions. International household goods movers are almost always required to be licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission as an Ocean Transportation Intermediary. ("OTI"). Individuals can protect themselves by ensuring that any moving company they engage to move their goods to an overseas destination is licensed by the Commission, with an appropriate tariff (i.e., price list) and bond. The Commission urges individuals to contact us prior to committing to any one firm, to verify that the mover has an appropriate license. This is especially important as several internet web sites have advertised that a moving company holds a Commission license, when in fact it does not. For any further questions on OTI licensing, please contact the Commission's Office of Transportation Intermediaries, at 202-523-5843.

The FMC does not recommend particular companies, and the use of a bonded firm does not guarantee that your move will be trouble-free. Nevertheless, the vast majority of complaints come from customers of unlicensed entities.

An additional precaution is to make sure that the moving company has made an on-site inspection of the goods to be moved, and provided a written estimate. There is no substitute for knowing who is responsible for your move. Additional guidance may be found at the advisory web site www.protectyourmove.gov. Although that site is oriented toward interstate, rather than international moves, much of the advice would be applicable to any type of move.

Very often, a person realizes too late that a mistake has been made. In these cases, it is especially important that the shipper contact the Office of Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services (“CADRS”) for assistance. Although certain matters may be beyond the CADRS's explicit jurisdiction, we still may be able to assist parties in addressing their concerns. The matters with which CADRS intervention may be of help include:
the location of missing cargoes;
discussions with intermediaries holding or delaying shipments;
provision of bond information, when relevant;
advice concerning the preparation of loss and damage claims; and
information on the Commission's formal complaint processes, when relevant.
The international movement of personal effects and private vehicles can result in unanticipated problems and unexpected expense. Contact CADRS with any questions before you move and improve your chances of success. If you have any additional questions, please visit the Moving Household Goods FAQ.

Hurricane Ike

mickey@uship.com — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:38:52 GMT
All of us at uShip are concerned about our friends in the Galveston/Houston area. If any one has any news that they feel is important for the uShip community concerning this horrible storm, please post it here.
Thanks, and for everyone in the affected area, please be safe if you have chosen to remain.
Mickey

Privacy concerns

hprcnn — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:15:25 GMT
How do I communicate important data to my carrier WITHOUT it appearing in publicly available email postings? I want to schedule a pickup, but I don't want the world to know where I live.