FAQ

Ok - I've just opened an account. Now what?
Great, thanks for joining CitizenShipper! Ok, your first (and most important) task is to ADD ROUTES. We can't send you notification of any packages until you do this. CitizenShipper.com works by connecting you with packages and shipments in the areas you specify, so your first task is to input this into our system!

To add routes, look to the left of this page, and you'll see the button "Add Your Route". When you click on this you will see that you have TWO options for adding routes.

Option 1, at the top of the page, lets you add very specific areas of interest. The most important piece of information you need to provide us is the ZIP CODES of where you are willing to pick up and drop off packages. Next is the Start, and End radius, which tells us how far you are willing to drive from your specified zip codes. For example, lets say you regularly drive between Houston and Austin Texas, your start and end zip codes might be 77047, and 73301. Let's say you specified a Radius of 50 miles, then that would mean that you would receive notifications of ALL PACKAGES within 50 miles of zip code 77047 and 73301. Once you've input a route then don't forget to click the "Add Route" button just underneath.

Option 2 can be found by scrolling down the page. If you want to widen your search for packages you can select entire states to receive package notifications. Let's say, for example, that you want to service New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Connecticut, then you simply place a 'tick' in the box next to those states, and click the "ADD STATE" button at the bottom of the page. (*Note, adding a state is only possible for Level 3 Verified users)

Great - I've set up my routes, now what?
Once you have your routes set up you will receive email notifications whenever a job is posted that falls within your routes.

Can I set up a Profile?
YES! We strongly encourage all our members to set up a profile. Members with empty profiles almost never get picked for contracts.

Your profile is your 'store-front'. Whenever you make a bid on a contract a client will always click on your name, and he/she will be able to see if you are right for the job. Clients make this decision in seconds so make sure you have a good profile

Ok, how do I set up my Profile?
First you need to click on the yellow button at the top right of the page that says My Profile. Next, fill out the fields. The important field to fill out is the 'Experience' field. Tell people about any experience you have driving. If you are a professional driver then list your how long you've been driving, any special license etc. If you are a casual driver then let people know how long you've been driving, if you have a clean license, if you are punctual etc. You need to 'sell' yourself.

If you have you own company, you can also fill out the DBA (Doing Business As) field and provide your EIN number. This is not essential, and if you don't have a DBA or EIN then don't worry too much. Other things you can fill out are your Type of Vehicle and your Insurance Company. All this information adds credibility to you, and gives the client more confidence when selecting you.

Can I upload any pictures?
Yes, we strongly encourage that you do. Good pictures to upload include pictures of yourself and your vehicle. This helps give people an idea who to expect at the door, and provides confidence that your vehicle will do the job at hand.

To upload a picture, look for the text that says Upload Photos. Locate the file for on your computer by clicking the browse button, then click upload. Please keep pictures to less than 500KB. Pictures larger than this will not be uploaded. You can upload as many as five pictures.

I just receive my first email telling me about a shipment! Now what?
Excellent! The email will contain a link to the shipment so click on this link, log in to our site, and you will be taken to a page containing more details on the shipment. Take a look at the shipment and decide whether this shipment is for you or not. Will your vehicle be able to carry whatever needs shipping? Are you free on the days that the client needs the package picked up and delivered? If you are happy with the shipment, and you want the job then you need to make a BID. Most people are familiar with the idea of bidding from sites like eBay. Your bid tells the client how much you want paying to perform their shipment.

How much should I bid?
It's entirely up to you, but please factor in everything. The client will provide you with information on the pick-up and drop off locations so you need to figure out how much this will cost you in gas. Ask yourself questions like how much time it is likely to take? Will you need extra time for loading? Will you need to factor in anything extra? Will you need to hire an extra pair of hands? All these are examples of things you should ask yourself before placing a bid

Another thing to factor in is whether you have any feedback yet. We incorporate a feedback system so that clients and drivers can leave feedback on each other. If you have not received any feedback yet then you might want to bid a little low. Once you start getting feedback, and people start to see how trustworthy and dependable you are, you can increase your bids.

A typical courier rate can be anywhere between $1 and $2 per mile.

I want to make a bid but the client has not been very specific. What should I do?
You can contact the client directly, or leave a message on the message board for that contract. If you scroll to the bottom of the contract page you'll see the text "Got a question to ask the shipper? Ask a Question". Simply click on the 'Ask a Question' text and leave your question for the client.

Alternatively you can contact the client directly. You will see that in the top right of the contracts page we provide you with all the contact information the client has provided us. In all cases you will see their email, and in some (not all) the client includes their number. If anything is not clear in the contract then email or call the client, explain that you are interested in bidding but that you need some more information first.

Communication really is the key to being successful on CitizenShipper. Know what the client needs, and be 100% sure that you can provide it.

The client is not offering much money for a long trip! Why is that?
Everyone is out to save a buck these days! The client may not know what his or her job is actually worth so they'll make up a figure. It's human nature to start low rather than high. Don't worry too much about this, just place your bid and the client will quickly realize that your bid is a fair price.

How do I know if I've won the job?
If the client likes your bid he/she will select you for the job. Once this happens you will receive an email notification from us with the clients contact number and the full address of the contract. We encourage you to call the client and iron out any details and let them know that you are looking forward to working with them. This is both courteous and professional and will give the client additional confidence that he/she has picked the right driver for the job!

How do I get paid?
CitizenShipper acts as the connection agent, but we do not mediate the transaction. Once you have agreed a price with the client you can either ask for a % up front, or use the shipment itself as collateral. In the shipping industry the shipment is traditionally used as collateral and a fee upfront is not the norm.

The client will want to pay you with either cash, check, credit card or paypal.

Help, I don't know how to accept credit cards!
If a client wants to pay by credit card then you have two options. You can make a friendly request that they pay using alternative methods. On the other hand, it's quick and easy to accept credit cards these days. To do this you simply set up a Paypal account by visiting www.paypal.com. You only need a standard checking account to start a Paypal account, and this will give you the opportunity to allow a client to pay you by credit card if he/she wishes.

Paypal is quick and easy to set up, and gives you much more freedom when working with clients.

What % commission do you take on the shipment.
Nothing, zero, 0%, zip! CitizenShipper connects you with the client commission free.

How do I search for contracts and navigate your site?
Scroll up to the top of the page and take a look to the right of this screen and you'll see the main navigation panel. You'll see the following:

*My Routes
*Add Your Routes
*Contracts Available
*Contracts I've Won

If you click on the My Routes button, you can see a list of all the routes you've input into our system. You can delete, or modify your routes on this page.

In the Add Your Routes you can add more routes into our system.

In the Contracts Available section you can see a list of all recent contracts that match up with your routes. You'll see the name of the contract, what category it falls under, when the pickup and delivery date is, how much the client has offered, what the lowest bid made by any other driver is, whether the contract is live or expired, and finally you'll see a green 'Bid Now' button. To see more details on the contract you can either click on the contracts name, or on the 'Bid Now' button.

In the Contracts I've Won section you can see a list of all the contracts you have won. This helps you separate your contracts from any that are still available for bidding on.

Instead of putting in routes, can I just search for shipments?
Yes, if you scroll all the way to the bottom of the page, look for the link Recent Contracts. Clicking on this link will bring up a list of recent contracts that you can search and bid on.

What are the other buttons in the navigation tab for?
You will see three more buttons:

*Add New Shipment
*My Shipment
*My Bids

These buttons are for members of CitizenShipper.com who want to send packages. If you are not interested in sending packages or shipments then you can ignore these buttons.

How much does it cost to join CitizenShipper as a driver?
CitizenShipper is only $24 per quarter (3 months of membership). This small membership fee helps us maintain the site, and bring new shipments to the site via marketing efforts.

What do I get when I join?
Here are the benefits to joining:

You get immediate access to our shipping marketplace with hundreds of shipments posted weekely.

You get to place quotes on shipments that you want to deliver.

You get access to the email and phone number (if provided) of all clients, allowing you to contact them.

You get your own unique profile page, where you can upload pictures of you and your vehicle, and also yourself. This becomes your 'storefront' where you can market your self on our site.

You get a 'trust logo' on your profile page meaning that we have performed a name and address verification check, which tells clients that your a safe member to work with.

You can specify exactly which regions, states or exact routes you want to receive delivery notifications from.

You get email notifications every time a new shipment is listed which matches your chosen routes (you can turn these off if you prefer)

You get access to our exclusive email support, and advice from our shipping experts.

You get exclusive CitizenShipper payment protection, meaning that a client must pay you by law once you perform the shipping job.

What if I join, then later I decide that I want to cancel?
We offer a no questions asked cancellation policy that you can perform automatically. You won't have to sent an email and wait for a reply, or sit on the phone hoping to speak to someone, it's at the click of a button and 100% automatic. To cancel your subscription click on the yellow "My Profile" link. Next, click on the 'Cancel Membership' link. Cancellation will be automatic and immediate.

Got a question for us, but don't see it listed here? Email us at support@citizenshipper.com with your question and we'll answer you personally, and add it to the FAQ here on this page!