CitizenShipper is an online transportation platform that specializes in pet relocation services. It was founded in 2008 by physicist Richard Obousy. Since its inception, drivers using CitizenShipper have logged over 100 million miles delivering over 135,000 shipments around the United States, earning them a glowing rating on TrustPilot.
CitizenShipper’s primary emphasis is on pet transport, although the platform offers the ability to ship boats, cars, motorcycles and more. Most of the transporters using the site offer ground service, but there are many air nannies which can assist pet owners with air travel.
How CitizenShipper Works
The two-way marketplace offers a different approach to domestic pet transportation. Instead of requesting quotes from individual transporters, they get notified whenever a customer lists their request and provide their offers for you.
To start the process, simply fill out the form to create a listing on the platform, with details about your pet, the drop-off and pick-up dates and locations, and other information.
Then, in a reverse-auction format, several transporters reach out with bids. The average wait time to get a first quote is less than 2 minutes. And most listings will receive over 15 offers from drivers using the platform. Once you’ve booked a driver you’re able to exchange contact information and communicate using the method that’s most convenient for you.
To help you make a best educated decision on your preferred transporter, the platform offers the following tools and features:
- You can communicate with the driver using an internal chat system to discuss pickup and dropoff dates and times, the cost of the transport, any special needs your pet has, and any other details about the trip.
- Every driver has a profile page where they can list their experience, special offerings and training, the types of vehicles they use, what equipment they provide, and more.
- The profile page also includes a robust review section with ratings from previous customers as well as the photo gallery.
- All drivers bidding and completing shipments are subjected to mandatory ID verifications and background checks, and CitizenShipper additionally verifies their insurance and industry relevant submitted documentation.
The site doesn’t take a cut of the driver’s bid. Instead, it charges the shipper a booking fee based on the mileage of the transport — typically about 15% of the total expense.
Why do pet owners use CitizenShipper?
After reading the company reviews online, there’s definitely a visible pattern of feedback as to why so many pet owners decided to ship their pets with CitizenShipper. A few that stood out were:
You get to Choose the Driver you love
Unlike most shipping services that assign a company based on availability and cost savings, CitizenShipper lets you choose your driver, giving you control and flexibility over the entire process.
And while there’s a chance of selecting a driver that might not be the best fit, CitizenShipper minimizes this risk by allowing you to communicate with the driver before booking. You can read reviews from previous customers and review the driver’s track record, including the number of pet transport jobs they’ve completed. Additionally, they offer a concierge rebooking service that allows you to make an unlimited number of switches between service providers to ensure that you feel comfortable with the choice you made, at no extra cost.
You Handle the Details
With traditional shipping brokers, you can lose control over timing and even delivery locations. That’s not the case with CitizenShipper. Since you communicate directly with the driver, you can coordinate the exact pickup time and receive real-time updates on your pet’s progress.
If any delays occur, you’ll be the first to know, allowing you to adjust plans as needed. The absence of a middleman makes the entire experience much smoother and more efficient.
Real-Time Updates Throughout the Journey
Many CitizenShipper drivers provide live updates during the trip, including photos, videos, and even GPS tracking so you can monitor your pet’s location in real-time.
Since you’re in direct contact with the driver, you can easily discuss how frequently you’d like to receive these updates, ensuring you stay informed at every step.
How Much Does CitizenShipper Cost?
Because there are thousands of drivers on CitizenShipper with varying levels of experience, it’s hard to give an exact cost per mile. More experienced drivers tend to charge higher rates.
Based on the history of transports available, pricing starts at $.54/mile for shared pet transport. Recently, CitizenShipper announced that they started offering pay over time using Affirm as well as accepting Google and Apple Pay as payment methods.
However, since the platform does not collect the driver fee, some transporters may require partial payments upfront to be sent to them directly. The platform help center advises the use of only reversible and refundable payment methods when submitting payments to drivers, as they are not employees of CitizenShipper and operate independently.
Conclusion
Whether you are in need of a last minute assistance due to a household move, or you just bought a new fur baby and don’t know how to get her to your home, CitizenShipper checks all the marks when it comes to offering a trusted, safe, reliable and affordable pet transportation service.
For more information, visit CitizenShipper’s website.
