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Question

Can a site like uship.com be integrated with text messaging?

Feb 13, 2013 5:29PM PST

I'm live in a developing country and the road freight transportation is backwards because people use word of mouth to source for loads. I would like to use the uship.com concept but since most transporters do not have Internet access, how can I utilize text messaging alerts to notify drivers where the closest load is?
All drivers have cell phones (not smartphones). Can text messaging be used and integrated with a logistics site and have drivers bid or make offers for available loads?
Thanks

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: text messaging
Feb 13, 2013 5:45PM PST

It's certainly possible to receive SMS-messages on a computer. Think of "vote for a candidate" with SMS in a TV-show. It's all done fully automatic.

Why not ask uship.com to change their site so they can work with SMS also? They migth find it a good business opportinity to invest in.

Kees

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Answer
Uship.com
Feb 16, 2013 7:48AM PST

I recommend that you stay away from Uship. It appears the vast majority of transporters bidding on shipment on that website are not licensed and do not have cargo insurance. Always ask any transporter for their DOT and MC (motor carrier) numbers, most Uship transporters don't have these numbers and are operating illegally if they transport goods for hire across state lines. Google Uship Pissed Consumer and read page after page of unhappy former Uship customers complaints. I called Uship about a company that is not DOT compliant that I know for a fact had items stolen out of their truck, changed their phone numbers, did not compensate their customers for their loss (worth tens of thousands of dollars) and are still bidding on shipments on Uship. The Uship rep said it's not their job to make sure transporters are DOT compliant and did nothing to remove this illegal transporter from their site or protect other Uship customers from this illegal transporter. This is not an isolated incident, this is Uship's standard operating procedure. Uship makes lots of money off these unlicensed transporters and are not about to forbid them from bidding on shipments on their site. Uship knows that most transporters on their site are not DOT compliant but does nothing about it. Additionally, Uship is acting as a broker by taking a fee on every booked shipment even though they claim to be a Neutral Venue. Uship is not DOT licensed and not bonded. Once again, I highly recommend you seek out a legitimate, licensed and insured transporter to handle your shipping needs and always verify a transporters DOT and MC numbers.
Source:
http://uship.pissedconsumer.com/