CitizenShipper
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Logistics, Transportation, Online marketplace |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Richard Obousy |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Nationwide (United States) |
| Products | Peer-to-peer shipping marketplace, pet transportation services |
| Website | citizenshipper |
CitizenShipper is a privately held American firm established in 2008 by physicist Richard Obousy. It operates an online peer-to-peer shipping marketplace using an auction-style format that connects customers with couriers and transport providers. Utilizing a reverse auction system, drivers competitively bid to deliver items such as vehicles and boats, with a particular emphasis on pet transportation services.
History
Founded in 2008 during his graduate studies at Baylor University, Obousy created CitizenShipper in response to rising fuel costs and data indicating that empty trucks represent 29% of single-unit truck traffic. He recognized a chance for drivers with unused vehicle capacity to generate supplementary income by transporting goods along their existing routes.
With an initial investment of $2,000, the first version of the website simply linked shippers and drivers without incorporating features like messaging, user profiles, or background verification. The company's business approach focuses on affordable shipping by pairing shipments with drivers already headed in the shipment’s direction, which also contributes to lowering carbon emissions and providing an eco-friendly shipping option.
Today, CitizenShipper serves customers nationwide with drivers operating in all 50 states, catering to those seeking cost-effective and environmentally responsible shipping solutions.
In the news
CitizenShipper has been highlighted in various publications for offering flexible employment opportunities and side gigs, including coverage by the Los Angeles Times and Entrepreneur. The New York Times recommended it as a viable alternative to air travel for transporting pets. Baseline identified the company as a specialized business with significant growth potential, recognizing it as the foremost pet transport marketplace in the United States employing an Uber-style model for safely relocating animals.
ReadWrite commended CitizenShipper for its strong community involvement, noting the platform’s distinctly "personalized approach" to transactions. Inc. underscored the company’s strategic focus on enhancing its existing platform with reliable, value-added features instead of branching into entirely new services, thereby strengthening its competitive positioning and market presence.
Recognition
Since 2018, CitizenShipper has upheld an A rating from the Better Business Bureau, demonstrating its dedication to customer satisfaction and service excellence.
External links
- 2008 establishments in Colorado
- 2008 establishments in Texas
- Ridesharing companies of the United States
- Online marketplaces of the United States
- Logistics companies of the United States
- Transportation companies based in Texas
- American companies established in 2008
- Transport companies established in 2008
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment