CitizenShipper
 | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. (March 2024) |
| Type of business | Private |
|---|---|
Type of site | Online auction |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Tyler, Texas |
| Area served | United States |
| Industry | Transportation, Internet |
| URL | citizenshipper |
| Launched | July 2008 |
CitizenShipper is an American online auction-based peer-to-peer shipping marketplace that aims to connect shipping customers with couriers and transport providers. The company matches "citizen shippers" to couriers and drivers who bid on shipments in a reverse auction format. CitizenShipper drivers ship many items including vehicles and boats, but the strongest focus is on pet transportation.
History[edit]
Physicist Richard Obousy founded CitizenShipper in 2008, citing both high gas prices and U.S. Department of Transportation figures suggesting empty trucks account for 29% of single-unit truck traffic.[1][2][3]
As a graduate student at Baylor University, Obousy wondered how he could make a little extra money for gas each month by transporting items for people with the spare capacity in his vehicle.[1]
He imagined there were other drivers doing the same type of repetitive routes who would be interested in making extra cash. Based on this premise, he launched a very basic version of CitizenShipper in 2008 on a budget of $2,000. The earliest version of the website simply connected shippers with drivers. There were no added features such as integrated messaging, driver profiles, or background checks.
The company's website is designed to match people who need items shipped economically to certain locations with people already traveling in those directions, thus reducing overall carbon emissions.[1][2] Obousy believes clients "can make a significant impact on reducing the country's carbon footprint."[4] CitizenShipper is available nationally and now has drivers in all 50 U.S. states.[5][1][4]
In the news[edit]
CitizenShipper has been mentioned in online articles that feature "side hustles" and flexible job opportunities, including the Los Angeles Times and Entrepreneur.[6][7][8][9][10] The New York Times suggested CitizenShipper as an alternative option to flying pets in airplanes.[11] Baseline has named driving on CitizenShipper as a niche business option. "[CitizenShipper] is a good example of a niche business set to thrive ... As the number one pet transport marketplace in the US, its Uber-like ability to move beloved animals safely from point A to point B is a popular service."[12]
ReadWrite has praised CitizenShipper's community and how it has helped shape the brand and said the transactions have "a very human touch".[13] In a study of how to differentiate companies, Inc. said CitizenShipper "built on its core platform by adding proven, value-rich features over time" instead of trying to invent completely new services.[14]
Reviews[edit]
According to Courier Magazine, CitizenShipper claimed to have had zero complaints of lost or damaged shipments or of unpaid drivers during its first three years of operation. Obousy attributed this to staff listening to "every suggestion and request from every member." Significant cost savings over FedEx and UPS have been reported.[2][3][15]
Mother Earth News stated that shipping "could be both environmentally-friendly and easier on your pocketbook .... The green shipping service is free and offered worldwide to reduce the need for inefficient delivery vehicles."[4] Clean technology blog CleanTechnica said, "Shipping ... in a vehicle that is being underutilized helps greatly to reduce greenhouse gases .... [CitizenShipper] looks like it would get you the cheapest and one of the greenest deals out there."[3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Danigelis, Alyssa (23 Feb 2010). "Package Delivery Gains Citizen Shippers". Tech and Gadgets News. Discovery News. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- ^ a b c "Escrow.com Adds Security to Moving and Shipping Transactions: Payment option protects consumers and shippers from fraud". Yahoo! News. 26 Feb 2013. Archived from the original on 26 Feb 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^ a b c Shahan, Zachary (1 May 2010). "Cheap and Green Shipping Service — CitizenShipper". Transport. CleanTechnica. Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^ a b c Rosner, Sean (Oct 2009). "CitizenShipper: Green Shipping". Mother Earth News. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
An old idea is new again with a green shipping twist: the CitizenShipper website connects people who need items shipped somewhere with people who are already traveling in that direction, potentially lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
- ^ O'Donnell, Mike (11 Apr 2013). "With CitizenShipper, everyone is a potential courier service". Opinion & Analysis. BusinessDay.
- ^ "Dirty jobs can rake in good money". Los Angeles Times. 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
- ^ "Where to find a holiday job". Los Angeles Times. 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
- ^ "From Pet Nanny to Metaverse Real Estate Agent, These Side Hustles Scream '2022'". Crossroads Today. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
- ^ "Side jobs for people who are strong or athletic-minded". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
- ^ Daisyme, Peter (January 20, 2023). "8 Easy Side Hustles in 2023".
- ^ Weed, Julie (2022-09-15). "How to Take Your Pet Along for the Ride (or Flight)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
- ^ Jones, Howie (2023-05-24). "3 Niche Businesses That Can Ride Out a Recession". Information Technology Planning, Implementation and IT Solutions for Business - News & Reviews - BaselineMag.com. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
- ^ "How CitizenShipper Uses Community to Catapult Their Company Forward". ReadWrite. 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ Comm, Joel (January 19, 2023). "3 Ways to Effectively Differentiate Your Company".
- ^ "How Does It Work?". CitizenShipper. Retrieved 26 May 2014.