Shipping Wars
A&E premiered Shipping Wars on January 10th, 2012 as a reality show. Following six independent carriers who have discovered that hauling products that standard carriers cannot or would not tote may earn them riches, the show tracks their adventures. An online auction shop for independent truckers named uShip is featured prominently in the show. Marc Springer, Roy Garber, Jennifer Brennan, Jarrett Joyce, and Suzanne and Scott Bawcom are the featured carriers for Season 1. Christopher Hanna and Robbie Welsh replace the Bawcoms as of Season 2. Season 3 began airing on December 12th, 2012 on Syfy. Season 4 introduces new shippers, including Johnny Chavez and the duo of Chelsea Grant and Courtney Aguilera. Carrier bids on two tasks advertised on uShip in a reverse auction method in a typical episode. Customers have the option of going with the lowest bidder or a higher bidder who has received positive feedback from other customers in the past. There are no ties when it comes to customer satisfaction. Loading and delivering cargo on time is the primary goal of winners. As the loads are delivered, the client ratings are presented. Net profits and losses are totaled on-screen at the end of each show, and expenditures are removed from bid amounts to calculate overall profit or loss. In some cases, a carrier will arrange to haul multiple loads on the same trip, with the additional money being factored into his/her tally for the trip.