How Does uShip Work? The Ultimate Guide to Shipping Large Items

Have you ever found yourself in need of shipping a large, bulky item like a car, furniture set, or appliance, but didn’t know where to begin? Moving oversized items can be a real hassle and often comes with a hefty price tag from traditional shipping companies. Luckily, there’s a convenient online solution that makes the process easy and affordable – uShip.

So how does uShip work? uShip is an online transportation marketplace that connects customers directly with carriers to ship large items at competitive rates. By allowing carriers to bid on your shipment, uShip provides an easy way to find reliable and affordable shipping services.

This guide explains how uShip works for shipping large items. It covers listing your shipment, finding carriers, tracking delivery, and ensuring safe transit. We’ll discuss uShip’s shipping options, costs, safety measures, customer reviews, and how it compares to other shipping brokers. By the end, you’ll know what you need to ship large items easily with uShip.

What is uShip?

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, uShip is an online marketplace that facilitates the shipment of oversized items by connecting customers directly with transportation service providers (carriers).

Unlike traditional shipping companies or brokers, uShip doesn’t move items itself. Instead, it provides a platform where customers can create listings for the items they need to be shipped, including pickup and delivery locations, dimensions, weight, and other specifications.

Carriers, such as truck drivers, movers, and freight companies, can then bid on these listings, offering their services and rates. This bidding system creates a competitive environment, often resulting in lower shipping costs for customers.

uShip serves all 50 U.S. states and offers international shipping as well. It has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and maintains a 4.35/5 customer rating on the BBB website.

How Does the uShip Shipping Process Work?

Using uShip to ship large items is a straightforward process that can be broken down into six main steps:

Step 1: List Your Shipment

The first step is to create a listing on uShip for the item(s) you need shipped. This involves providing details such as:

• Pickup and delivery locations (including specific addresses)
• Item dimensions and weight
• Type of item (vehicle, household goods, freight, etc.)
• Desired transit times and dates
• Any special handling requirements

It’s important to be as detailed and accurate as possible when creating your listing, as this will help carriers provide accurate quotes and ensure a smooth shipment.

You’ll also need to specify your shipping preferences, such as door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal delivery. Door-to-door shipping means the carrier will pick up and deliver the item directly at the provided addresses, while terminal-to-terminal requires you to drop off and pick up the item at a designated shipping terminal.

Step 2: Receive and Review Carrier Bids

Once your listing is live on uShip, carriers will start bidding on your shipment. You’ll receive quotes from various transportation service providers, including details such as:

• Proposed shipping rates
• Estimated transit times
• Carrier reviews and feedback scores
• Years of experience and other qualifications

At this stage, it’s crucial to thoroughly review each carrier’s profile, ratings, and reviews from previous customers. Don’t simply go with the lowest bid – take the time to vet carriers and ensure they have a solid reputation for safe and reliable service.

Step 3: Book Your Shipment

After carefully evaluating the bids and carrier profiles, you can select and book your preferred carrier directly through the uShip platform.

You’ll have two payment options:

1. uShip Payments: Pay the total cost of the shipment upfront through uShip’s secure payment system. The funds are held in escrow until you confirm delivery, at which point they’re released to the carrier.
2. Booking Deposits: Pay a deposit upfront to uShip, with the remaining balance due to the carrier upon delivery.

Once booked, you’ll need to coordinate the pickup date and any other final details with your chosen carrier.

Step 4: Prepare for Pickup

As the pickup date approaches, you’ll need to ensure your item is ready for transport. This may involve:

• Washing and inspecting a vehicle
• Removing personal belongings from the item
• Providing any special handling instructions to the carrier
• Meeting the carrier at the scheduled pickup time

Upon arrival, you and the carrier will inspect the item together, noting any pre-existing damage on the bill of lading (the contract of carriage). It’s also a good idea to take photos for your records.

Step 5: Track Your Shipment

Once your item is picked up, you can track its progress using the uShip website or mobile app. Some carriers may also offer GPS tracking, though this isn’t guaranteed with every shipment.

It’s a good idea to stay in contact with your carrier throughout the transit for any updates or issues that may arise.

Step 6: Receive Your Shipment

When your shipment arrives at its destination, you’ll need to meet the carrier, inspect the item again, and note any new damage that may have occurred during transit.

If you paid via uShip Payments, you’ll need to confirm the delivery condition and “release” the payment to the carrier. If you paid a booking deposit, you’ll settle the remaining balance with the carrier directly.

Should any issues arise, such as damage or loss, you’ll need to file a claim – either with the carrier’s insurance provider or, in some cases, through uShip’s supplemental insurance coverage.

uShip Shipping Options and Services

In addition to its core shipping marketplace, uShip offers a variety of specialized services to accommodate different types of shipments:

Vehicle Shipping

One of uShip’s most popular services is vehicle shipping for cars, motorcycles, RVs, and more. You can choose between:

• Door-to-door shipping: The carrier picks up and delivers your vehicle at the specified addresses.
• Terminal-to-terminal shipping: You drop off and pick up your vehicle at designated shipping terminals.

You’ll also have the option of open or enclosed carriers, with enclosed transport providing extra protection during transit (at a higher cost).

Some carriers may offer additional services like expedited shipping for an extra fee.

Household Moves

For those relocating to a new home, uShip can help facilitate your entire household move. Services include:

• Full-service moving teams to pack, load, transport, unload, and unpack your belongings
• Load and unload labor only (if you’re handling the transportation yourself)
• Moving supplies like boxes and packing materials

Whether you’re moving across town or the country, uShip aims to provide affordable moving solutions.

Freight Shipping

From heavy machinery to oversized freight, uShip connects customers with specialized carriers and equipment for transporting large, bulky items. Options include:

• Flatbed trucks
• Step deck trailers
• Conestoga trailers (for tall freight)

uShip supports both commercial and residential freight shipments.

Costs and Payment Options on uShip

One of the major benefits of using uShip is the potential for cost savings through its competitive bidding system. However, there are some fees and factors to be aware of:

How uShip Pricing Works

Rather than set rates, uShip allows carriers to bid their prices for each shipment listing. This bidding process often results in lower overall shipping costs for customers.

However, uShip does charge a service fee of around 15-17% of the total shipping cost. This fee covers the cost of operating and maintaining the uShip marketplace.

Additionally, there may be other costs to consider, such as:

• Insurance coverage (more on this later)
• Fuel surcharges
• Additional fees for specialized services like expedited shipping

uShip Payment Methods

When booking a shipment on uShip, you’ll have two main payment options:

1. uShip Payments: For shipments under $5,000, you can pay the total cost upfront through uShip’s secure payment system. The funds are held in escrow until you confirm delivery, at which point they’re released to the carrier.
2. Booking Deposits: For shipments over $5,000, or in certain shipping categories, you’ll pay a deposit upfront to uShip, with the remaining balance due to the carrier upon delivery.

uShip advises against paying a carrier in full before delivery to avoid fraud or issues.

Factors Affecting Shipping Costs

Several key factors can impact the overall cost of shipping with uShip, including:

• Distance: Longer shipments typically cost more, though the per-mile rate decreases as distance increases.
• Vehicle/Item Size: Larger vehicles, furniture pieces, or freight will generally cost more to ship than smaller items.
• Shipping Option: Enclosed auto transport or specialized freight hauling (flatbeds, step decks, etc.) will be more expensive than open transport or standard trucks.
• Shipment Urgency: Expedited or rush shipping options come with premium pricing.
• Season/Demand: Rates tend to be higher during peak moving seasons (summer) and around holidays when demand is greater.
• Pickup/Delivery Locations: Rural or remote locations may incur additional fees if carriers have to go out of their way.
• Vehicle Operability: Inoperable vehicles require additional equipment and labor to load/unload, resulting in higher costs.

Given all these variables, it’s crucial to get quotes from multiple carriers on uShip to find the most affordable option for your specific shipment.

uShip Safety, Insurance, and Guarantees

While uShip provides a convenient platform, the company itself doesn’t handle or insure your shipments. However, there are some safety nets and protection options in place:

How Safe is uShip?

The main safety consideration with uShip is that the company only vets carriers for proper operating licenses and insurance – it doesn’t evaluate safety records, claims histories, or other credentials.

This means it’s up to you, the customer, to thoroughly research and vet any carriers you’re considering for your shipment. Be sure to:

• Read previous customer reviews and feedback
• Check for any major complaints or safety violations
• Use a credit card for payment protection in case of issues

Cargo Insurance Coverage

To provide extra protection, uShip offers optional cargo insurance through its partner Roanoke Insurance Group. This insurance covers damage or loss up to $75,000 for auto shipments.

Deductibles range from $500 for vehicles valued under $10,000 to $750 for those over $10,000 in value.

Ship With Confidence Guarantee

Regardless of whether you purchase the optional insurance, uShip does provide a “Ship With Confidence” guarantee. If you experience any damages or losses during transit and are unable to resolve the claim directly with the carrier, uShip will compensate you up to $500.

While not a full-coverage policy, this guarantee does offer some recourse in the event issues arise during your shipment.

uShip Reviews: What Customers Are Saying

With over a decade of facilitating shipments, uShip has amassed plenty of customer reviews and feedback – both positive and negative. Here’s a quick overview:

Positive uShip Reviews

Many satisfied customers praise uShip for:

• The easy listing and booking process
• Access to competitive pricing through the carrier bidding system
• The secure payment system that holds funds until delivery
• Good experience with tracking and customer support

In a survey by MarketWatch, 60% of respondents who used uShip were satisfied with the service, and nearly half said they would recommend it.

Negative uShip Reviews

On the other hand, some common complaints about uShip include:

• Final shipping prices ended up higher than the initial quotes
• Issues with carriers not meeting pickup or delivery timeframes
• Limited recourse if problems arise with a specific carrier’s service

About 7% of reviews on Trustpilot are negative, with similar complaints echoed on the Better Business Bureau website.

How uShip Compares to Shipping Brokers

As an online marketplace, uShip is often compared to traditional auto transport brokers like Montway Auto Transport and Sherpa Auto Transport.

The main differences lie in pricing structures, service guarantees, and claims processes:

• Brokers typically provide binding quotes, while uShip pricing can fluctuate based on carrier bids
• Top brokers offer guarantees like price locks, reimbursements for delays, and more
• Dealing directly with a broker can simplify the claims process if issues arise

uShip’s competitive model can help find lower rates if customers thoroughly research and vet carriers.

Conclusion

In summary, uShip provides a unique and potentially cost-effective solution for shipping large, bulky items by connecting customers directly with transportation service providers through an online bidding platform.

While convenient, using uShip does require extra due diligence on the customer’s part to thoroughly research and vet potential carriers before booking. There are also some limitations in terms of pricing transparency and recourse if issues occur during transit.

That said, for those willing to put in the effort, uShip can unlock access to affordable shipping options that may not be available through traditional brokers or shipping companies. By understanding how the uShip process works and taking advantage of features like cargo insurance and payment protection, you can navigate oversized shipments with confidence.