Failure to investigate complaints

uShip.com is internet based company offering a forum for transportation service providers (TSP) and shipper matching. It functions similar to a reverse auction in that shippers may list a shipment needing transported for Transportation Service Providers to offer service and bid. The shipper can select TSPs from the offers received for their shipment. The transportation service provider is charged a fee for each booking of a shipment when the shipper accepts their bid and offer.

uShip's User Agreement clearly states that Transportation Service Providers must be legal and licensed to perform the service. It further states a disclaimer that uShip is a neutral venue and is not responsible for information provided by the TSP. It is the responsibility of the shipper to verify the information and credentials provided by the TSP offering service to the shipper.

In a recent shipment listing, I followed uShip's guidance and recommendations uShip provided to verify the TSP's credentials and to ascertain that each TSP was a legal motor carrier as required by the US DOT's FMCSA regulations and federal statutes. One particular TSP responded submitting a US DOT and Motor Carrier Authority (MC#) number as requested. (This authority was required to legally transport my shipment across state lines) Upon verification of the numbers in the FMCSA database, it revealed that the motor carrier authority presented by a TSP company listed on uShip as Boat Hauling inc., was assigned to a different company name. The FMCSA database provides address, phone numbers and other contact information for each legally registered motor carrier. Using the information obtained from the FMCSA database, I contacted the real owner of the motor carrier authority numbers that had been presented by the uShip listed company, Boat Haulers inc. The legal owner of the motor carrier authority was Apache Transport LLC. The owner of this company denied any affiliation with a company DBA Boat Hauling inc. and further stated that company was not authorized to use the motor carrier authority.

The motor carrier authority Boat Hauling inc. represented to be their own was obviously being illegally used and without the knowledge and consent of the true legal owner of that authority.

The legal motor carrier (Apache Transport LLC) contacted uShip and informed uShip of the illegal activity. (email documentation) He additionally requested uShip provide the identity and contact information of Boat Hauling inc so he could pursue legal action to stop further illegal use of his motor carrier authority and report the crime to the appropriate government authorities. (email documentation) uShip declined to provide the requested information stating uShip would only divulge that information to police or other government authorities. That is in accordance with uShip's policy. However, when presented evidence of a crime, would not the ethical action be to report it to the appropriate authorities and cooperate with the victims of the crime? I can find no indication uShip made a report to authorities or offered any cooperation to the legal motor carrier whose authority had been illegally and falsely presented.

At this point, uShip was, or should have been fully aware one of their TSP members had presented another motor carrier's authority and represented them as their own and subsequently falsely claimed to be an affiliate company. Despite that knowledge, uShip has to date, failed to take corrective action to remove Boat Hauling inc from their list of active TSP members available to provide transportation services. Further, they apparently continue to present obstacles to the legal motor carrier's investigation by not providing the information requested.

In a subsequent posting in the uShip forum titled Community, Trust & Safety, I posted the full details of the activity including the actual response from Boat Hauling inc where that company had submitted another legal motor carrier's authority falsely representing them as their own. Rather than take appropriate action, uShip deleted the post effectively hiding the facts from other uShip users.

The fact that uShip does not verify a TSP's credentials allows illegal transporters to participate without concern that uShip will disclose their illegal transporting and illegal use of other legal carrier's authority. This has made uShip a haven where illegal transporters have access to thousands of shipments.

I would suggest that any ethical company would immediately investigate the facts, which in this case are indisputable, and cooperate to assist in prosecution of the offender. However, rather than provide information to the legal motor carrier company, or even prohibit the company Boat Hauler inc from further participation, uShip deleted forum posts and effectively hid the facts.

You be the judge..............

Is uShip hiding the identity of illegal transporters?

Is uShip obstructing justice?

Is uShip completely void of ethics?

Comment On This

There are extremely good detailed articles and "comments" about Uship at the links below. Actually, they are good for any shipping that a person is considering having done, especially through the intenet.

I think that the 1st and last links are the most educational.

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/d...online-movers/

http://www.examiner.com/x-5187-Movin...e-safe--Part-I

http://www.examiner.com/x-5187-Movin...-safe--Part-II

http://www.examiner.com/x-5187-Movin...safe--Part-III

http://www.examiner.com/x-5187-Movin...t-IV?#comments

http://reloroundtable.com/blog/?p=3426

Uship's Top 100 transporters for 2008

http://www.stopillegaltrucking.com/f...php?f=31&t=688

Look at what the state of California has to say about UShip and the cautions that need to be exercised.

http://www.asianweek.com/2009/09/18/move-it-dont-lose-it/

Find out the real story behind UShip and not simply what they want to convince you of.

Google the phrase below:

Uship feedback negative rating

After initial results appear, scroll down to where is says:

Show more results from www.UShip.Com and click on that.

Then scroll down to where it says:

Show all results from www.UShip.Com and click on that.

Comment On This

I used a company from uship to have equipment shipped from North Wilkesboro NC. to Alaska. My John Deere tractor disappeared! The rest was abandoned at an Inn in North Charleston SC.

That was 7 months ago - the local Police depts & the FBI have been unable to locate my $15,000 tractor!

Tractor serial number; LV4400S244691

If anyone knows anything about this case - PLEASE - contact me.

Stay away from USHIP (USCAM) they are worthless! They will not assist, in fact hinder, any and all attemps to find anything. They have deleted every attempt I have made to find my equipment that I have posted in differant forums on their site!

Comment On This

There are 100's of illegally operating carriers from UShip listed on http://StopIllegalTrucking.Com

They are listed by the state in which they reside in. More are being added all the time.

I understand that the members will help anyone research their respective carriers PRIOR to actually selecting one.

It's 100% free without any catches, gimmicks etc....

I'm told that they provide this service in support of their efforts to educate the public.

Comment On This

also when you try an inform people they delete it or suspend you an they keep letting people join with no regards to the laws set by the Federal Gov.or their own rules as long as they make money it's ok an they keep adding more charges on.

Comment On This

This web site has HUNDREDS of so called Carriers on there STEALING PEOPLES MONEY & ITEMS. You can read about it everyday in the message board area. That is until USHIP DELETES IT so no one will see just how much of a SCAM WEB SITE IT REALLY IS. I seen one person get well over $50,000.00 dollars from people shipping there items and uship did NOTHING. One poor guy I remember couldnt find his MINIVAN for over two months. It was found in a long term parking lot @ the St. Louis Airport, the guy had it shipped from Maine to Washington State but the ILLEGAL CARRIER DROPPED it off @ the airport and never told anyone. He then moved on to his next PRAY and did this for over a month until he was stopped by the MAINE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. Only to have the NEXT SCAMMER FILL HIS SHOES. STAY AWAY FROM THIS SITE YOU WILL BE SORRY and dont believe what you read. Uship PAYS PEOPLE to make a FAVORABLE POST ABOUT THERE SERVICE. They are low life SCUM to let this happen

Comment On This

Here's another of the dozens if not 100's of similar situations on that site. http://www.uship.com/profile/EliteKustomz/

Carrier's profile reads:

• Company: M&M Transport--Worldwide Freight

• Entity Type: Carrier & Shipper

• Business Type: Trucking Company

• Carrier Operation: Interstate

• Number of Trucks: 2

• Number of Drivers: 1

• DOT Number: 1182224

• Other Authority: WORLDWIDE FREIGHT

The DOT number actually belongs to:

Carrier Name WORLDWIDE FREIGHT CARRIER LLC DBA

Address 5838 W BRICK RD SUITE 101

SOUTH BEND, IN 46628-8420 Mailing Address 5838 W BRICK RD SUITE 101

SOUTH BEND, IN 46628-8420

Telephone/Fax (800) 810-2528/(574) 271-9261

Comment On This

this is not new with this site peoples money an goods disappear,they are sent carriers profiles that are non complaint as per their own rules,an nothing is done about it.