uShip Forum / Discuss uShip Features & Functionality / The Bidding Process

New "My Rates" Feature

matt@uship.com — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 20:16:13 GMT

We're pretty excited about the new My Rates tool. It allows Transportation Service Providers to enter their standard rate tables and/or per mile rates into uShip. We then automatically calculate these rates for corresponding shipments and prefill the bid amount on the bid form.

My Rates is currently available in the Autos, Boats, Motorcycles and Local Moving categories. Please give it a try and let us know what you think. We've already collected a lot of input from our TSP's, but you can never have too much feedback!

You can find the link for My Rates in the Tools section of My uShip for Service Providers or just click here: http://www.uship.com/my_rates.aspx.

The uShip Product Team

Questions but no bids

derrheim — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:35:45 GMT

Hi,

I was wondering if someone could enlighten me about the process of shipping providers asking questions but not submitting bids?

I had a request in to ship a vehicle and I had 5 bids....as well as two shippers who asked questions (both of whom I would have shipped with) but neither one of them submitted bids. Both gave me prices (but not bids) within my shipping limit and provided the service that I required but faded away into the netherworld.....I am perplexed!

Is there a reason for this? are they just fishing? or what? I ended up shipping with an off site shipper....a big company and being disappointed in that I wanted to use an owner operator of a small business that I could get more personalized service.

The interesting thing about all this is that both of these shippers had in their bio's that they were small and the only real difference that they could provide was caring personalized service!....duh!

Any help would be appreciated.

Bob

For some reason uship wont take my bids

reuwer — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:05:33 GMT

why wont my bid go through all the way i filled out all of my information but it wont go through it kicks me to a different age all together

Important Change to Your uShip Account

jay@uship.com — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:04:45 GMT

To all Service Providers,

This thread is for questions and comments on the following notice:

On March 1, 2007, uShip will improve the experience that both Service Providers and customers have by making an important change to the way payments are handled for uShip transactions. From March 1^st forward, uShip will begin collecting a Deposit equal to your match fees from all customers when they accept your bids on uShip. This Deposit will be credited to your uShip account and will offset your match fees due to uShip.

We have been testing this new system with a large group of Service Providers, and we’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both customers and Service Providers.

Here are some of the many benefits we have seen:

· Because customers who accept your bids are required to pay a deposit, you know they are serious and committed to completing the transaction. Our research shows that customers are 20% less likely to cancel on bids requiring a deposit.

· Customers are more comfortable paying a deposit through uShip than directly to Service Providers, so they are more likely to accept higher bids.

· uShip can accept credit cards, bank transfers and PayPal payments for deposit payments, so you don’t need a merchant account and pay no merchant fees on the deposit payment.

· Best of all, because customers are pre-paying a deposit equal to your uShip match fee, you don’t have to pay uShip a large lump sum each month. Your monthly invoice will be $0*.

· Since large monthly invoice payments are eliminated*, you will not be charged late fees, interest, or penalties.

How it Works

If you place a bid of $600, the customer pays a deposit of $47.40 (7.9%) when they accept the bid. This deposits shows up as a $47.40 credit on your uShip invoice. The customer then pays the balance of the shipping price, $552.60 ($600 - $47.40), directly to you.

A New Bidding Tool - “Amount to Me”

Many Service Providers choose to pass uShip fees to their customers in the form of higher bids. Our new “Amount to Me” bidding tool allows you to do just that. Simply enter the amount you want to earn on a particular job (ex. $1000) into the “Amount to Me” field and we will automatically add our fees to this amount and present the total bid to the customer. If your bid is accepted, you will then receive the full amount you entered ($1000) from your customer. This feature will be available March 1, 2007.

Remember, this program and the new bidding tool will go live to all uShip members on March 1, 2007.

Regards,

The uShip Team

* Some service providers may still be required to make payments on their invoice, such as for Book it Now matches, and accounts that are currently past due.

BROKERING!!!!

rafaelp — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:17:21 GMT

Uship is more like a transportation broker.... they have shippers post loads and brokers/carriers bid on the load.... when shipper gets the lowest price then uship gets 10% of the winning bid.... uship gets paid like the broker on the transaction.... do you think uship should be charging such a high fee if so brokers should not even bother bidding beyond what they can move the load for.... cause all brokers are doing is lowering the cost of freight and making the shippers get a general that it really is going to costs them that cheap to move their freight.... looking for any comments.... thank you for your time and God Bless!!!!

low ball cutthoat

psltd1 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:15:26 GMT

As far as what Ihave seen on this bidding and how just about everyone on sites like these act . to just under bid all just to get a haul is plain out cut throat tactics, This has been proven as far as the economy goes not to work . common sense should tell a reasonable human being that when you cut prices down to far that most companies can not maintain an competitive cycle everybody fails, that is contrary to our entire economic system that is one of our biggest problems in this industry today, so when you make your next bid, consider what your doing to everyone around you and your industry because at that pace it will not be here much longer (its not just about you)

karthi

contacthds — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:19:39 GMT

welcome to testing

Book It NOW

haul4all — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:39:33 GMT

It is very disappointing that "Book It Now" means no more than regular bidding. Having used USHIP for over two years, my third book it now has become a cancellation. The shipper did not own the item, nor have the right to ship it! I am surprised that this is allowed. Once an item is listed at a "Book It Now" price and accepted, there exists a legally binding contract, just like selling a house or any other product. Uship had accepted the cancellation from the shipper with total disregard for the service provider, me, who is willing and able to ship the product at anytime or skedule the shipper desires. The system needs to address this before possible legal problems arise!!!! (haul4all).

How do local moves work

4WeHelp — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:52:16 GMT

We have avoided local moves because the bidding process makes no sense. We have looked all over for a detailed explanation and never found one.

1) How does the time for a local move get estimated?

2) How does UShip calculate their commision?

3) What if the job costs less than the UShip estimate?

4) If it cost less does UShip refund some of their fee?

5) If it goes over, do we collect more from the customer?

cancellation

worldexpressinc — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:28:55 GMT

Dear Uship,

I recently posted a bid;however, after checking for the response on the bid I had placed, I realized that I had placed the bid for the wrong shipment. I have cancelled that bid. Will I get a flag? Thanks.

Best Regards

uship fees

ricky4040 — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:36:53 GMT

Who pays the uship fees? It show my match fee then what the shipper payed. So at the end of the month if they all match up do I still owe or does what they pay cover it. Thanks

Bid Options

community@uShip.com — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:24:30 GMT

Use this topic to discuss the new Bid Options tool. Discuss the current options that are available and suggest new ones that you would like to offer to your customers.

International shipments

billzimmer — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:32:54 GMT

I believe that trucking companies who cannot offer full delivery to overseas destinations should not bid on these jobs as the rate they quote is artificially low and can scare off potential serious bidders

Bidding process

tonymaj — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:49:07 GMT

One shipper wants to know where the camper is, but on the side bar of the bidding page says do not give out contact information. Does this also apply to address of camper location?

No credit card, how do I get uship to verify who I am

laurentlanglois — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:34:47 GMT

I have tried to bid on a load, then the credit card info comes up saying they want to verify who I am. I do not have any credit cards, how am I suppose to get this done? Can anyone suggest something. Please Help! I am new to this, so any information would help.

Discrepency between accepted bid terms and contract from provider.

landtechmontana — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:05:55 GMT

I accepted a bid that stated pick would take place within 5 days of booking, and delivery within 5 days of pick up. When the contract arrived from the provider, it stated that it may up to 10 business days for the load to be delivered. As far as I'm concerned, every day is a business day. When I paid my deposit, there was no mention of business days, just calendar days. I feel like there was a bait and switch pulled here, and 10 calendar days later I'm still waiting for my goods to even be loaded.
So- if there can be no direct contact between shipper and provider until booking is completed, then the bid information had better be accurate and detailed and consistent!

Any input from anyone out there on how to handle this situation? Any way you look at it, pick up is late and this shipment will be late.

Thanks.

White Glove service???

tecasl — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:53:34 GMT

The following was in the additional terms box of a recent bid - "ALL ITEMS OR SHIPPMENT MUST BE PACKED,SECURED AND READY TO MOVE OR ADDITIONAL FEES WILL APPLY."
So if it is advertised as White glove service that means that "The Service Provider will carefully disassemble, prepare, package and wrap the items, load them on the truck, then transport, unload, unwrap, un-box, assemble and set up the items inside the new location."
Does that mean that I can be charged for more? I am at the delivery location not the pick up location.

"Average Price for this shipment is $XX.xxxx" Does the shipper see this info?

ffakefake45 — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:16:33 GMT

I have a vehicle shipment listed from Ohio to South Florida. When I listed the Jeep, uship tells me "The average price for this shipment is $601.00"

FASTFORWARD to all the bids I am receiving. ALL the bids are coming in at $600, $610, $590, etc.

NEWSFLASH: Uship TELLS THE SHIPPERS the average price also!!! This is B.S. Let the shipping market dictate what they are willing to ship my vehicle for!!!!! If the shippers were reviewing shipments, and did NOT know the average price, it would be a little more fair for people like me. It would ALSO encourage some competitiveness, since shippers would not know what OTHER shippers are bidding.

PLEASE Uship, quit screwing us. Please hide the average price from the haulers.

Uship have problem with service descriptions.

maxonmove — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:38:20 GMT

We start noticing changes in service descriptions
whats strange even if we place bid before its starts loading service description was changed to full service automatically
which totally different from loading.Now customers get more confused ,before its was simple Self service,Loading service and Full service.
Now most of the listings have only Full service,Self service and Other?Also Wight Glove?
I thing this site trying to make it easy but now its look more complected then before.
We asking for going back to simple Self service ,Loading Service and Full service.

Good job on the MC & USDOT #s...BUT!!!

Specialized — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:18:06 GMT

I think Uship did a good service when they decided to link the FMCSA and uship together, but I think UShip needs to go one tiny step further and make it mandatory for all service providers and/or brokers to list their authority numbers in their profiles, if they dont then they cant create a profile!. To many times when bidding or looking at shipments I look at the bids that are competing with mine and find no numbers, so I go to the official site and run the names of the buisness and cannot find the buisness names listed either. I have no problems competing with service providers that I know are legal, but to compete with those that you dont know or aren't is a different story...
I know there are legal providers on here that dont like to post their numbers because they think someone will steal them and use them, But you drive down the road with your numbers plastered on the side of your vehicles, they can be stolen from there as well. Company names at least so they can be verified! Some providers use other names besides their company name on their profiles, to me that raises a flag that something is wrong here! (Even if the provider is legal) My 2 cents worth!

The mover arrived and asserted that I should pay them $500 extra to pack kitchenware

mtankersley1614 — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:29:38 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?

Date Expires/no response from shipper

tranzall — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:50:30 GMT

How well do we know if the shipper is still in need to have thier shipment moved? Seems to me that we might be wasting time bidding on shipmens that are not in need anymore and the shipper didn't take the time to take it off of uShip. Service providers need answers timely and not held up in limbo.

How do I cancel a bid that I won

ActionMovers — Sun, 03 May 2009 22:20:43 GMT

I recently won a bid to move a vehicle aprox 300 miles... in my bid I enclosed a note stating I intended to drive and not haul vehicle, customer did not notice this and accepted bid, then she disclosed she didnt want it driven and therfore I cannot do this job, I am new at uShip and wondering what I do now?

Book it now

rampower — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:10:42 GMT

what happens on a book it now if the people never call you back and you cant get ahold of them
can I get my money back from u ship or how does that work??

cancelling a bid, not working

dizenexxus — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:24:44 GMT

i recently bid on moving a couple cars, i had no idea about the ghost fee, because apparently no one's allowed to talk about it or else their questions, answers, or bids get cancelled...etc...
well, you can't just NOT mention a fee that has to be included in the cost of the actual shipment, and expect everyone to be on the same page. i put up a bid, was astounded at how much i WASN"T going to get out of that bid, and hence would like to cancel the bid. but guess what....there's no Bids button on my left navigation bar like the FAQ says there is, thus i can't cancel the bid that ISN"T QUITE what i thought i was going to get (for some mysterious reason).
10% deduction in profit is QUITE significant to a small timer like myself, enough to the point where it MAY OR MAY NOT BE worth it to even do business here. guy said he'd pay 1200, i said ok great, then later realized i was only getting 1080? lolllllllllll@sales tax on merchandise the website isn't even selling....lol
anyways, i want my bid cancelled, and i'm posting this thread to make it public that i want it cancelled, and also stating that the bid has not been accepted at the time i expressed interest in cancelling the bid and was unable to due to website error, thus relieving me of being liable for any match charges accumulated after the fact.
i might continue to try to do a tiny bit of business here but i guess i'm going to just have to factor in ALL overhead costs, instead of just MY overhead costs. as is with anything involving logistics, the buck always gets passed to the consumer. it's a shame that they're being charged so much in this instance. k i guess i'm done venting. just want the problem fixed so i can move on with bidding more "accurately"

Bid notification emails

CarolinaLogistics — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:37:59 GMT

I receive a bid notification email on each bid, this is clogging up my inbox. Is there a way to turn this off?

Thanks,
Tyler

Bidding in the Q&A section but never placing a formal bid

cttvp — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:32:51 GMT

Why is it some carrier's will price a job in the Q&A section but never place a formal bid. This creates a problem for the others wanting the job. Example: I bid a job for 750 and the rest of the bids are in the same range then a carrier in the Q&A section says he can do it for 500 but there is never a 500 formal bid, Then I get a notice that the shipper has accepted another bid, but when you go back and check everybodies bids say that. Kinda makes you think there may be a problem here. I think if you want the job PLACE A BID and leave the Q&A for what it is intended for. " QUESTIONS"

Contact information

pamapama — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 06:36:18 GMT

I have two questions regarding the contact information of the buyer and service provider:

1. Is it true that the contact information is only exchanged when a bid has been selected and the fees have been paid?

2. How is the contact information exchanged?

Thanks in advance.

i need to better understand the bidding rules

hughdawrecker — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:15:42 GMT

i just had a bid kicked out by uship. the deal was that i told the client i was not able to hit there target price, but i could do target price plus uship fee. they agreed this was fair and would book with me on monday. so i placed a bid of 785, which would be 700 to me, 700 was the target. how would this be a violation if my formal bid was for 700 to me, but total bid of 785. uship would still be getting all there money, and i would be getting what i wanted. even the client was gonna be happy, giving me the job over other lower bids. why was this bid kicked out?

Sub-accounts {edited}

DURATRANS — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:50:27 GMT

[content removed – outside of the uShip forum policies]

Bid high or Bid low?

JTrack — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:19:51 GMT

I have a question for the other haulers on these boards. What have you found to be the best strategy when bidding? Make a fairly high bid and then lower it if your first one is outbid? Or is it better to make only one "best offer" bid and let the chips fall where they may? Your wisdom and insight is appreciated. Thank You.

Place Bid VS Low Bid

GoldwingShipping — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:34:16 GMT

My other Quarters asks what is the differance of the two (Place Bid - Low Bid) can you tell me in a way the other quarter can understand? Or is there a help me understand button that I can point out to him here on the Site? My Quarters Under stands good enough after all I was full deck play with no less....

TSP profiles

AnnesLimo — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:04:58 GMT

What happenned to the "Payment methods accepted" area in my profile?

Feedback response

AnnesLimo — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:47:51 GMT

I see we changed the profile page layout but now all the response to feedbacks left is gone? Is this a permenant change? I sort of liked this feature...

Cancelled bids

AnnesLimo — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:45:32 GMT

Is it reasonable to think a TSP should give a reason why a bid is canceled? If the TSP has multiple bids in for a particular route and the bids auto cancel when one is accepted shouldn't the shipper be advised of such circumstance? Should the TSP be required to explain the cancelation reason?

Can U Trust These People??

CRowe1424 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:12:17 GMT

Hi guys... im having my puppy Zoey shipped down to me from IL to FL.. is there any reason I should not trust people who are doing thing for me? How do I ensure they wont steal my dog lol
(srsly)

~Sandy

Over excessive bids

erikmac — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:42:27 GMT

Good morning. I placed a uship request on recently due to my company relocating me to Indiana. I received a bid from a provider that i felt was too high. I declined the bid. He promptly came back with a bid of $99,000.00. I emailed him and advised that this was ridiculous. I asked him not to bid anymore. He then sent me a bid of $42,000.00. This is crazy. What can I do?

How to send another reply to a Service Provider if I already answered the question

jmmcbride1 — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:00:19 GMT

Hello Mickey,

I sent a message to UShip help, but haven't gotten a reply. The Interns must be burned out . So, a Service Provider sent me a question about my posting for a move, and I replied to his question. However, I've been thinking, and I think he can still help me with my move. How do I sent him a reply/questions??

Terrapass?

Chadharper — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 02:05:00 GMT

Fees, you sign up but they dont tell you the fee's after the first 30 days? Whats the cost of this program and is it worth it?

Shipping and PROTECTING Yourself

VeteransTransport — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:14:57 GMT

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