Ah, summertime. People usually think of swimming, baseball, and vacations during this time of year, but one important thing usually goes unmentioned: moving.

As we rapidly approach the busiest time of the year for families, students, individuals and businesses to move their household goods, it’s easy to get overwhelmed as temperatures rise. Don’t sweat it, though, we’ve got thousands of on-site service providers on our online shipping marketplace ready to jump in and transport your items.

There are several things to be mindful of when coming up with a game plan for your big move, but by far the most important is to compile a list of all the items you need moved, including their dimensions and weight. Going through your entire home, apartment, or office is a cumbersome, time-consuming task but trust us—you’ll be glad you did. Otherwise, you could accrue additional expenses or book with a service provider who can’t fit all your items on their truck if you leave several things off your booking itinerary.

Of course, we understand it’s difficult to account for every single item you own when listing your household move. You never realized you had so much stuff, did you? Nobody’s perfect, but it’s crucial to create a moving itinerary and get your list of items as accurate as possible for simplicity’s sake. Download our FREE Moving Checklist and Moving Inventory Templates to help you build your lists and stay organized. Establishing an accurate list of your items early on will make for a smoother, simpler shipping experience for all parties involved.

By following this one simple step and getting organized early on, you can make this process a whole lot easier. Whether it’s a few boxes or a couch, make sure your service provider knows what they need to move before they book your uShip listing—it could save you time, money, and unneeded stress!

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You’ve done it. You’re finally ready to make the move into your new home. You’ve thrown out all your unused junk and gotten everything boxed up and ready to go.

Now comes the easy part: finding an affordable rate through uShip’s online shipping marketplace, where shipping customers around the world find carriers to transport their items. Before you decide who you want to move your items, though, you need to first determine which service type fits your shipping needs.

Let’s clarify things a bit: moving service type is the level of care and assistance you would like to receive from your service provider during the course of a household move. This can range from asking your service provider to simply drive your items from point A to point B to unloading your goods anywhere you’d like on your premises. Although each service provider dictates the service types they offer, there are four different options available to shipping customers on uShip:

1) Mover, Self Service (customer packs/wraps, customer loads)

Self service moving asks shipping customers to pack, load, and unload their goods. Your service provider is only contracted to provide the moving truck and drive your items to the appropriate destination. This is typically the cheapest service type available.

2) Mover, Loading Service (customer packs/wraps, mover loads)

Loading service simply asks shipping customers to pack their items before their service provider arrives to load them onto a truck or van. Service providers will then move these goods to their final destination and assist with unloading, although they are not required to go to extreme lengths such as moving items inside or upstairs.

3) White Glove (full service)

This contracts your service provider to pack and wrap items before loading and unloading them onto their truck or van. Service providers also must move goods anywhere on the premises the customer desires, setup items if necessary, and remove all packing materials. White glove service is the highest level of care available. 

4) Other

If none of the standard service types fit your needs, there’s always the option to select ‘other’ as an alternative. This is the least detailed choice available, so be sure to specify exactly how you would like your items handled if you go with this one.

Remember, communication is key when you’re moving precious goods. Take a moment to review these service types to ensure your items are handled with the care and attention you expect by your uShip service provider!

For more in-depth information on the different types of moving services and what each might cost you, check out our Moving Cost Comparison guide.

TL;DR: Understanding Different Moving Service Types

• Self-Service Moving – You handle packing, loading, and unloading while a carrier provides transportation.
• Loading Service – You pack your items, and the carrier loads, transports, and unloads them.
• White Glove Service – A full-service option where the carrier packs, loads, transports, unloads, and places items in your new home.
• Customized Service – Tailored moving solutions for unique needs, such as specialty items or additional handling requirements.

The post The Different Moving Service Types appeared first on The uShip Blog.

It’s 5:15 PM on a Tuesday evening and Russell Oliver’s rounding out another long day of transporting. He should be tired, but he certainly doesn’t sound like it—in fact, he sounds surprisingly spry and excited after his day out on the English roads. And why shouldn’t he be? He’s living a dream he’s wanted ever since he first ride along with his father, who was a lorry driver for 40 years.

Oliver’s charm is striking from the minute we start talking. He’s got a strong cockney British accent that immediately reveals his London roots and the namesake of his moniker, the “Pukka Trucker,” on Shipping Wars UK. Now in its third series, the popular Channel 4 television programme profiles transporters traveling across the island nation in search of the next item to move. These transporters come in all shapes and sizes, but they all utilize uShip’s online shipping marketplace to book a variety of loads around the United Kingdom.

For Oliver, though, this isn’t about money—it’s about family and tradition. He learned this from him his father at an early age.

“I wanted to be a driver ever since I was a kid. I started offending my teachers on purpose so they’d suspend me,” he laughs. “My mum had to work so my parents’ only option was to let me travel with my dad on his work trips across Europe.”

It took his teachers over a year to realize what Russell was pulling on them.

The lessons about honesty and happiness Russell’s father taught him during those trips still stick with him and have propelled him to heights he never imagined, both in the transport industry and in life. Transportation is ingrained in everything he does, from the way he’s raised his two teenage daughters, Farren (16) and Ashlee (13), to how he met his wife, who is also a transporter.

“We originally met at a truck festival. She worked in finance at the time and couldn’t imagine getting behind the wheel of a truck—or so I thought,” he smiles. A few weeks after they met, she surprised him with her trucking license, and has been at it ever since.

That was nearly five years ago, and they’ve never been closer. They even work for the same company. This bond has allowed Russell to pass on a piece of his dad to her, an opportunity he couldn’t be more thankful for. His father passed away a few years ago.

“My dad taught me to be what I am, I have passed on his wishes to my misses. I live, breath, and eat all things trucking, and view every day as an chance to see new things and meet new people,” says Oliver. “Memories keep me ticking over and remind me of who I am. He’s never gone. Everything I do is for him.”

As he looks to the future, Oliver sees opportunity rather than uncertainty. “New doors always open and new chances arise. I’m too in love with life and surprises to worry myself with what’s coming next,” he says. “My dad was the same way.”

His one wish for the future? That his daughters get their driver’s licenses. “It’s our family legacy, after all,” he laughs.

Something tells me his father is smiling somewhere thinking of his granddaughters behind the wheel.

TL;DR: Pukka Truckers Key Takeaways

• Family Legacy: Russell Oliver, known as the “Pukka Trucker” on Shipping Wars UK, was inspired by his father’s 40-year career as a lorry driver.​
• Early Start: Russell’s passion for trucking began as a child, accompanying his father on trips across Europe.​
• Trucking Family: Russell’s wife, whom he met at a truck festival, also became a transporter, and they now work together.​

The post Shipping Wars’ Pukka Trucker’s Father Inspired Lifetime of Trucking appeared first on The uShip Blog.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of service providers use uShip’s boat shipping marketplace to find loads around the world. Although the items transported through uShip vary from family cats and dogs to Hollywood throwbacks like the original Batmobile, boats are our bread and butter this time of year. Whether you’re in need of a backhaul or looking for a big money shipment, we’ve got you covered.

BOATLOADS OF MONEY

We’re proud to offer a service that puts money in the pockets of hard working service providers. Boat shipping is one of the best ways we do that. Last year alone, uShip service providers earned over $6.7 million from boat shipments, a figure likely impacted by the fact that 2015 was the hottest year in historical record. All in all, nearly 7,000 people were able to beat the heat and ship their boats through our online marketplace.

Last year may have been hotter, but we have a feeling 2016 is going to be an even bigger year for boat shipping. Waters are still rising after of strong El Niño rain showers, allowing cities across the United States to release their flood reservoirs for the first time in years. In fact, uShip’s home base of Austin, TX just opened its floodgates to the Mansfield Dam for the first time in 9 years.  You can bet people are itching to get their boats up and running so they can hit the water, which means we’re going to need a ton of service providers to ship their boats.  

NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT

If you’re a service provider who’s interested in boat shipping, you came to the right place at the right time—we’ve just kicked off our busiest boat months of the year! In fact, uShip service providers made a whopping $2.175 Million in 2015 between the months of June and August. These boats came in all shapes and sizes, from power boats and sail boats to personal watercrafts like canoes. Get in on this market regardless of the equipment you’re working with.

FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR BOAT TRANSPORTERS

We couldn’t be more excited to see our online shipping marketplace heat up this summer. And as temperatures rise, so will the number of boat shipments on uShip. So what are you waiting for? Get in on the action today!

The post Full Lakes Means Full Wallets For uShip Boat Transporters appeared first on The uShip Blog.

MAKING WAVES IN BOAT SHIPPING

Since 2011, uShip’s boat shipping marketplace has helped more than 36,626 people across 20 countries worldwide transport their boats.
This includes the near 33,000 boats that were shipped throughout the United States over the past five and a half years.

Let’s break this down a bit. Boat season can vary based on where you’re living, but the biggest months for boat shipping tend to span from April to September. Last year, uShip helped transport over 4,000 boats during that period in the United States. That’s over 160 boats a week, every week, for six months straight.

Convenience and efficiency is key to making this happen. Thanks to our online boat shipping index, customers can get an idea of what they’ll pay for shipping before they start the booking process.

Unsurprisingly, our most active month was June, in which we shipped a total of 794 boats. That’s over 25 boats a day.

ALL HANDS ON DECK

Every year, thousands of people ship their boats across the globe. This seasonal shipping rush can create a logjam in the transport industry and cause heavy delays, making it difficult for many people to find a timely and affordable way to transport their boats. That’s where uShip comes in. Ready to ship a boat? Get started here.

The post June is the Most Active Month for uShip Boat Shipping appeared first on The uShip Blog.

For anyone new to the program, Shipping Wars UK follows a group of service providers across Great Britain as they navigate an unpredictable shipping industry and the country’s winding roads and tight corners. Equipped with a distinct business savvy and wild personalities to match, they heavily rely on online delivery marketplaces like uShip to win business and maximise their profit-per-mile. Thanks to competitive quoting and a wide variety of items in need of shipping, nothing’s ever quite on the cards for these transporters.

A Wrestler’s Next Career Move

Perhaps the biggest story heading into this series is the show’s cast shakeup. Most notably, its addition of “Flying” Phil Powers, known best for his days as professional wrestler during the 1990s and early 2000s. Powers comes onto the scene after transporting his very own wrestling ring in an episode last series. With a powerful frame and a booming laugh, expect Powers to challenge previous fan-favourites this year in his quest to master a cutthroat industry for the second time.

The Loader and the Loafer

Jenny and Dave are two new competitors on the hit show. They have taken to the marketplace system like a duck to water. They’ve already had good success on the show successfully moving some expensive window pieces.

The Lone Loader

Jemma Howdle has gone from the rookie to a pro in one series. She started out last series with a partner and now has gone out solo. She is certainly capable with the loads she is delivering. By the way, on uShip, 13% of transporters are female.

The Other Queen of England

“The Queen of the Load,” Laurie, is truly the Queen on the road for SWUK. She is a returning character and a crowd favourite with the show. She comes from a transporting family who has taught her all the tips and tricks of how to handle the biggest and hardest of loads. Laurie is the belle of the TV show.

Mr. Nice Guy

Nice guys don’t always finish last. Just ask Shipping Wars’ very own Mr. Nice. As a true transporter, Shabaz is constantly moving and updating where he is even when he isn’t in filming series. There is never a problem that Mr. Nice can’t fix and he is always willing to go the extra mile to get a good rating from his customers.

A Family Affair

The Wheeler Dealers – these two Scottish father/son duo are like the modern day Trotters. Always looking for a way to win a side load to try to win the converted price per mile specially created of the SWUK show. Raymond and Grant are returning to the show from last series and they are easily the most comical of the show. There isn’t much these two wouldn’t do for an extra quid.     

The Pukka Trucker

Last but not least, London’s own Pukka Trucker. Russell knows everything about transportation. He can tell how to move with the equipment necessary just from sheer size of the listed item. Russell is one of the last remaining Knights of the road and gives service providers a great name.

Bev and Graham

‘The Big Riggers’ New to the show, the big riggers are sure to a fan favourite this series with there love for life, trucking and food all coming out.

The post Meet the Team for Shipping Wars UK Series 2 appeared first on The uShip Blog.

Here at uShip, this mantra has fueled our ability to reduce unused truck capacity for millions of people worldwide in an industry often critiqued for its negative environmental impact. It hasn’t always been easy, but we’ve continued to push for our belief in doing more with less.

However, our founder’s implicitly green business model was not enough for us. Our desire to innovate and improve led to our partnership with TerraPass in 2006 to provide funding for green energy sources. Hundreds of thousands of shipment later, we’re proud to announce this partnership is now celebrating its ten year anniversary!

GREEN SHIPPING BY THE NUMBERS

Since 2006, over 124,000 TerraPass certified shipments have been booked through uShip, offsetting 5,200 tons of CO2 emissions. That’s over 10.4 billion pounds of greenhouse gases for those of you counting at home. How is this possible, you ask? uShip made it happen thanks to the hard work of nearly 8,000 TerraPass certified transporters and the 140 billion miles they’ve offset transporting green shipments. To put it another way, their dedication to sustainable shipping practices could have driven them around the earth 5,600 times.

LOOKING AHEAD

While we’re thrilled about the TerraPass program’s success over the past decade, we’re far more excited about what’s to come. As uShip’s platform has garnered a larger chunk of the worldwide transportation market share, our ability to reduce unused truck capacity has vastly increased. In fact, nearly 1.3 tons of CO2 emissions and 32 billion miles of driving were offset in 2015 alone thanks to 27,000 TerraPass certified shipments. That’s a quarter of our entire 10-year totals, folks. This leads us to believe we’re in a position to offset even more carbon emissions in the years to come.

MULTI-PRONGED STRATEGY

Environmental issues aren’t simple, so neither is the solution. That’s why uShip’s German office has partnered with C02 Neutral to combat the greenhouse gases emitted by its servers and grid. This is all part of our belief that

GREEN PRACTICES AROUND THE OFFICE

An environmentally-conscious business plan is one thing, but taking care of our planet starts with day-to-day tasks. That’s why our office utilizes sustainable and renewable practices like reusable kitchenware and in-office recycling bins. We also provide organic lunches to all employees to eliminate wasteful commutes to restaurants and offer carpooling and public transit subsidies.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Many thanks are due to the countless drivers and shipping customers who have worked with us to make such a significant impact on the shipping world’s carbon emissions. Your efforts and dedication to clean shipping have paved the way for many more future TerraPass users. With a decade of green shipments in the books, one thing is clear: we’re proud of our planet, and we’re just getting started.

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