uShip Continues Global Expansion, Launches Seven Local Transport Sites in Mexico and South America

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 1, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Starting a shipping war just got easier for millions of people in Mexico and South America.

uShip.com, the first and largest online transport marketplace, has launched seven localized versions of its site:  Mexico, Argentina Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela and Peru.

People in those countries can now transact on uShip.com in their local language, currency, and measurements, making it easier to post car, boat, furniture and freight listings on the site where feedback-rated transporters jump into bidding wars to win business.  The Internet-based bidding drives down prices, helping customers save an average of 50 percent.
While thousands of shipping customers are matched with qualified carriers everyday on uShip, the same phenomenon is now playing out on A &E's "Shipping Wars," the real-life series that features uShip.  The program follows five independent truck drivers who competitively bid on uShip items, usually oversized, unusual loads generally thought to be unshippable. Items transported during Season 1 included a 4,000-lb. horse statue, military tanks, priceless Star Wars artifacts, and an extremely angry, spitting camel.

Last week A &E's Latin American subsidiary started airing Season 1 of Guerra de Envios ('Shipping War' in Spanish-speaking Latin America) and Guerra de Entregas (in Brazil) in 18 Latin American countries to over 34 million viewers.  In the U.S., Season 2 of Shipping Wars begins airing Aug 7 at 9 pm ET/PT on A &E.

"uShip's Mexico and South America expansion represents the largest single-day launch by the company, now putting us into 18 countries or regions in less than three years," said Shawn Bose, vice president and general manager, global business, uShip. "Just as we've seen in Europe, we anticipate uShip will be well received in these areas where there's a highly-fragmented road haulage market and enormous volume – two conditions perfectly suited to our marketplace model."

Mexico represents a $91B freight market, while Brazil's annual freight volume is $145B freight market.  In fact, 80 percent of Brazil's carriers are small, independent owner-operators who can now find new business on uShip.  These regions are also seeing a rapid expansion of ecommerce platforms for the exchange of large goods, items that consumers have had great success transporting on uShip worldwide.

About uShip

uShip.com is the world's largest and most trusted transportation marketplace primarily serving the freight, household goods and vehicle shipping markets. Consumers and businesses can compare and book upfront quotes, name their own price or receive auction style bids from nearly 300,000 customer-reviewed Transportation Service Providers, ranging from independent owner-operators to the largest freight carriers and brokers.  Launched in 2004, Austin, Texas-based uShip operates globally with localized sites in 18 countries and regions, including North America, Europe, South America, India and Australia.