uShip Blog : Featured Stories

Summer Moving Tips: Creating a Moving Checklist

community@uShip.com — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:07:00 GMT

If you know you’ll be moving this summer, you should prepare a checklist of everything you need to do for your move. Checklists are fantastic because they break a big unmanageable task – like moving all of your earthly belongings to a new home – into small, manageable tasks. Our uShip experts agree that two of the most satisfying activities in the world are crossing things off checklists, and destroying a checklist once you’re done with it. All in all, a checklist is a very good idea. Here are our suggestions for some things that should be on your checklist.

1. Make a checklist. Begin your checklist with “Write a checklist”. You must resist the urge to cross this off just yet, because you’re not quite done with it (though you’ve done an excellent job getting started).

2. Take a general inventory of your home. You can begin separating items into “stuff to move” or “Stuff to get rid of”. While you don’t need to categorize every little thing, getting a general idea of what you’re moving will allow moving companies to give you a much more accurate estimate.

3. Contact moving companies. The earlier in the moving process that you can arrange for shipping the better rates you will get, and the least stressful the entire process will be. Summer is a peak time for moving, and booking early can help you get the dates you want at a better price.

4. Acquire packing materials. Estimate the amount of materials you’re going to need, then double it. You’re going to need quite a few boxes, tape, markers, packing paper, extra cardboard to protect your furniture and plates, packing peanuts, etc. While it may seem like you have too much, you likely have a lot of little things to move that you won’t realize until you begin the packing process, and you don’t want the added stress as you get closer to moving day.

5. Hold a garage sale or donate unwanted ‘stuff’. When you move homes, especially if you’ve lived in the same one for a long time, you end up with a lot of stuff that you no longer want, need, or don’t want to move. A garage sale is a relatively painless way to get rid of all your unneeded items, and make some extra cash to cover your moving expenses.

6. Get packing! This is going to be the longest and most tedious part of the entire process: packing everything up. Make sure you start with things that you don’t need on a daily basis and give yourself plenty of time

7. Will you need a storage unit? Early on in the process you should be able to determine whether or not you will need a temporary storage unit during your move. These can also be booked in advance near your destination so that the moving company can drop off the boxes that will go in storage. Make sure they’re clearly marked when you pack them so that you don’t deliver them to the wrong spot.

8. Prepare your children for moving. Depending on the length of your move, you will want to put some time into preparing your kids for moving. You want to make them feel a part of the process and not just a bystander. Special considerations may also be needed if you’re moving with pets.

9. Set up transportation for yourself. While your stuff will be moved by the moving company, you’re going to have to get to your new home as well. Make sure that you prepare transportation for the big day, and get your cars ready for travel or transport.

10. Change your addresses. There will be a lot of other things to do as you get ready to move, from requesting that your mail be forwarded, to canceling or transferring utilities, changing newspaper, magazine, or rental subscriptions, and sending your new address to friends and family. Make a list of all of these and remember to start taking care of them as your moving day approaches.

Since most of these deserve more than a short paragraph, we will be expanding on each of these “checkpoints” in the coming weeks as part of our Summer Moving Series. Remember, the key to a stress free move is to be prepared and give yourself plenty of time.

If you have any suggestions for other topics we should cover, please feel free to let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to add it in. For more great articles on moving, check out uShip's articles on moving.

Have a great summer!

uShip's Summer Moving Series

community@uShip.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:26:00 GMT

Summer’s here and that can only mean three things: the beach, barbeque and…relocation. This year, one in 10 Americans will make a move, and let’s face it -- moving can be very stressful. So we here at uShip want to help ease your (back) pain with a “Summer Moving” series of blog posts help you have the smoothest move possible. Over the course of July, we’ll be posting various tips and tricks of the trade to help you be prepared and make the best of your summer move!

To start off we have a brief overview of the moving process in our brand new article Creating a Moving Checklist which will give you a good idea of what to prepare and expect for moving. Over the next few weeks we’ll be expanding on these points to give you as much information as possible for your move, so make sure you check back!

Upcoming Articles:

Creating a Moving Checklist

Organizing for a Move

Finding Packing Materials

Packing Tips

Preparing Kids for a Move

Finding a Great Moving Company

Tips for Planning a Garage Sale

Going Green for Your Move

Finalizing Your Move

Austin Children’s Shelter Visits uShip

community@uShip.com — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:57:00 GMT

At uShip, we know that having fun together is one of the keys to building an effective team. In fact, the only thing that makes our group activities more rewarding is when we have the opportunity reach out and incorporate the community. This June, we had the chance to work with the Austin Children’s Shelter to share a fun-filled day of learning and bowling with fifteen great kids.

Upon arriving at the Ship, the kids were involved in an interactive presentation to introduce them to cool career options centered on art, writing and computers. Lead by team members from several departments, the career day focused on how the kids’ current interests could be channeled into careers in graphic design, web development, media relations and beyond. A very attentive and interested group made this rewarding and fun for all.

After showing the kids around the office they showed off their chops on the bowling lanes. While no one rolled a 300, there were plenty of smiles, strikes and celebration as everyone cut loose. When we parted ways with our new friends it was clear that both groups had learned a lot and had a blast. uShip would like to thank the ACS once again for giving us an opportunity to share a special day with some great young people.

Truck Driver Awarded Posthumous Medal of Bravery

community@uShip.com — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:12:00 GMT

A Canadian truck driver who gave his life to avoid crashing into oncoming traffic was awarded the Canadian Medal of Bravery last week in Ontario.

David Virgoe was driving on Highway 400 in Canada when a street racer crashed into his rig, sending him through the guardrail, and into oncoming traffic. As he struggled to regain control, he had only a split second to evaluate his situation. Less than 150 feet in front of him, a man and his daughter were driving straight for him. Mr. Virgoe, who had a perfect safety record for 26 years, crashed back through the guardrail to prevent further accidents. That’s when he lost control and headed straight for the ditch on the right side of the road where he was crushed and killed.

Many of those who knew him were inspired by David, and set up a scholarship endowment and safe driving campaign. He has already been a finalist for the 2008 Highway Hero Award, and received a posthumous citation of bravery, and now he has also been awarded the Medal of Bravery, a decoration awarded to Canadians who perform “acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.”

uShip's Hottest Cars

community@uShip.com — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:11:00 GMT

At uShip we have coordinated the transport of thousands of vehicles over the last five years, and while we take pride in every success story, it is particularly exciting to see our efforts validated by shippers who trust the marketplace with extremely rare and/or valuable vehicles. Anything but normal, the following cars are the hottest, coolest and sweetest ever to grace the uShip’s listings.

Regarded as the first affordable automobile, Henry Ford’s Model T was manufactured between 1908 and 1927. Junkinjeff’s beautiful, red carriage will be around for years to come after its successful trip from Munford to Ft. Mitchell.

With top a top speed of 198 mph, the twin-turbo W12 engine Bentley Continental GT can get places fast. What’s more, this luxurious king of the automotive jungle turns heads with its looks as much as performance. As of press time lipemedeiros was in the process of negotiating a delivery for his two Bentley’s [check current status of listing].

Explosive acceleration catapults the Ferrari F430 from 0-60 in a face-flattening 3.6 seconds. Inspired by the Italian racetrack, these slick machines demand an estimated $175k in the states and pauldipaolo shipped his over 500 miles for $1100, zoom zoom.

Faster than a speeding Mustang, the Saleen Cobra is a rare and pricy version of Ford’s classic sports car. Manufactured by Saleen, Incorporated of Troy, Michigan, very low production numbers make this a car collector’s dream.

By producing only 500 McLaren SLR’s a year Mercedes Benz has made the model one of the expensive and rarest vehicles on the road today. For about $500,000 you’ll rocket 0-60 in 3.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 208 mph. We’re talking muscle.

blitzforce’s 1965 Shelby Cobra brings bling to a whole new level. Chromed out to max, the customized roadster is one of the cooler cars you will ever see. He recently trusted it to uShip and was rewarded with a 1700 mile shipment for under $2,500

Like its cousin Shelby, the AC Cobra is a British roadster originally intended for the track. Designed as a “corvette beater,” the light weight auto is so fast that it is rumored to have contributed to the implementation of national speed limits in the U.K. While no laws were broken during the transport of BajaBoys’ 1967 gem from Riverside, CA to Sumas, WA, you can bet federaltowingltd was putting the pedal to the metal.

antiqu8ed’s 1932 Ford Street Rod is straight out of a mobster film, but cooler. The black and aqua exterior make this hot-rod an eye catcher, and the antique body style harkens back to the heyday of American automobile manufacturing.

lherndo shipped his immaculate 2007 Corvette ZO6 from Warrington, PA to Lexington, SC for under $500. That’s just over a dollar for every horse this luxurious sports car kicks out. In addition to 405 horsepower, the ZO6 zooms 0-60 in under four seconds and blasts through the quarter mile in under 12.

Written by Ben Leffler, who has yet to drive anything as cool as these cars but aspires to one day do so.

How Much Meat Can You Eat?

community@uShip.com — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:33:00 GMT

Today on Ship Happens we have a guest post by Pam Whitfield MS, RD from www.roadcookin.com.

The Roadcookin’ Gang can be heard on Sirius 147/XM 171 on the Evan Lockridge Show the first Monday of every month talking about nutrition, health and in-cab cooking. Ms Whitfield along with Don Jacobson is the author of Roadcookin’: A long haul driver’s guide to healthy eating.

You know that 16-ounce steak you were planning to have for dinner? Choose another meal. A pound of meat is more than you need to eat. It will ultimately impact your weight and your overall health in a negative way. Now before you get all hot and bothered, I know what you're going to say. After all, we at Roadcookin have been going strong for almost five years now, and I don't think there's a food topic that gets drivers more upset than being told the dinner they've been thinking about for the past 500 miles is unhealthy.

The bottom line is that most of us will do just fine on 3-4 ounces of animal protein per meal, be it beef, chicken, fish or pork. That’s PER MEAL. This means at each of three meals each day. You do not get to add them together into one massive outing at the end of the day. We also get some protein from the rest of the plate in grains, vegetables and starches, so the chance of getting too little protein in our diets is laughably small.

Ever wonder how much protein your body needs in a day?

There is a formula for protein needs. Don’t need that right here, right now. Here’s an example: if you weigh 200 pounds and are generally healthy, the most protein you'd need each day would be 91 grams. At 250 pounds, you might require up to 114 grams, maybe less. Even athletes get plenty of protein if they eat moderately-sized meals with a variety of foods. Nope, there's rarely a need for protein supplements (really!)

Metric translation into the real world coming up!

Every ounce of meat has 7 grams of protein. So, four ounces of meat three times a day will provide 84 grams off the top. Add a couple of 8-ounce glasses of non-fat milk (16 grams total), five to seven servings of grains (bread, cereal, starchy veggies like potatoes), and you're home free without even counting your other vegetables. (carrots, green beans and broccoli, I hope.) Keep track of what you eat in a day, and I bet you are eating a lot more protein than you realize.

What's the harm in a few more ounces when it's time to chow down? While all of those animal choices share 7 grams protein/ounce, their calories vary widely. A lean protein like fish has only 35 calories/ounce, while a fatter meat like spare ribs has 100 calories/ounce. Eating an extra 4 ounces per meal could be up to an extra 400 calories. With 3,500 calories adding one pound to your waistline, it's easy to see how you can pile on the inches effortlessly.

Extra poundage is only one potential problem. A recent study found that the risk of dying from cancer or heart disease was increased in people eating more red meat or processed meats. The study followed over 500,000 people all around the country over a ten-year period. The recommendation from the American Institute for Cancer Research was to eat no more than 18 ounces of red meat each week. That averages out to 2.5 ounces/day.

The easiest way to take charge of your protein life is to make some small changes.

If you like the occasional burger, make it from meat that is over 90% lean.

Are you a friend of fowl? Eat the chicken, but lose the skin.

And consider fish. Maybe you've heard about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.

Watch how you cook your food. Go with baking, broiling, or grilling. Lose the deep-fried. And remember to trim the fat.

The name of the game in protein is go lean. And portion control. An easy eyeball measure is this: a deck of cards is about the right size for a protein serving at a given meal. And, no Vegas six-deck shoes, please!

Want to learn more? Visit their website at www.roadcookin.com. You'll find a lot of nutrition information designed with drivers in mind. You can also order their book Roadcookin: A Long Haul Driver's Guide to Healthy Eating, from www.roadcookin.com. Visit in the month of April and use promo code USHIP for $2.00 off your order.

Tax Season for Truckers

community@uShip.com — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:33:00 GMT

With March’s midpoint come and gone, tax season has officially reached crunch time; let the madness begin. For many Americans, doing taxes is as simple as copying numbers from a W-2 to a 1040 and waiting for a check. However, for the rest of the country this time of year can be very stressful, and maximizing write-offs and tax-breaks can be the difference between make and break. This is especially true for small business owners and independent truckers in particular. While it may be easier to head to the local H&R Block to take care of the confusing elements of filing, we thought that a brief introduction to the process could spare some out there from the hefty preparation fees. If you are a tax payer in America, your filing status can be classified in one of three ways: you are employed by a company, by yourself or both. This article concerns those who fall into the latter two categories.

For truckers filing as self-employed, LLC or otherwise, you must use a 1040 rather than the 1040EZ. With the 1040 you should also file a Schedule C or a Schedule CEZ, which are used to report the results of your business to the IRS. You are only eligible to use the Schedule CEZ if your business meets the requirements listed at the top of the schedule. Since most truckers are claiming depreciation on their truck, you are likely not eligible for Schedule CEZ.

You must then use the standard Schedule C. The Schedule C is divided into five sections, with Part 1 being income and Part 2 deductions. The income section can be completed by simply entering your total receipts on line 1, as long as you don’t have any inventory.

A major step toward winning on the tax return is to identify everything that can be written off as a business expense, and Part 2 of the Schedule C is where this comes into play. Everything from vehicle costs, travel, advertising, insurance and meals can be tax deductible. There is even an “other expenses” category for any other business-related expense that’s not listed on lines 8-27 of the Schedule C. Keeping documentation of these expenses and deducting them on the tax return is essential. The list of deductions with the corresponding Schedule C line number are below:

8-Advertising
9-Car and truck expenses
10-Commissions and fees
11-Contract labor
12-Depletion
13-Depreciation and Section 179 deduction
14-Employee benefit programs
15-Insurance
16-Interest
17-Legal and professional services
18-Office expense
19-Pension and profit-sharing plans
20-Rent or lease
21-Repairs and maintenance
22-Supplies
23-Taxes and licenses
24a-Travel
24b-Meals and entertainment
25-Utilities
26-Wages (if you have employees)
27-Other expenses
30-Home Office Deduction

There are certain deductions that can get a bit tricky, which we have underlined, so it is very important to be especially careful when dealing with them.

If you plan on taking a deduction for vehicle depreciation you must also file a form 4562 and be sure to read the instructions carefully.
Lodging and transportation can only be deducted if the trip was 100% for business travel.
You can deduct 80% of your eligible business meals and entertainment.
The home office deduction is also dangerous, so be sure to do adequate research before completing your return.

Because of the numerous opportunities for write-offs, being self-employed has many tax advantages. The problem is that, because of these advantages, self-employed tax-payers are much more likely to be carefully scrutinized by Uncle Sam when it’s time to pay the piper. For this reason it is essential to know what can be deducted and have the documentation to back it up.

We at uShip are not tax professionals, and in writing this we hope only to provide a brief introduction to the filing process for those who are filing as self-employed for the first time. It is your responsibility to make sure your return is completed correctly, so please consult a professional if you are confused.

Used Tires Find a Second Life

community@uShip.com — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:37:00 GMT

The recent emphasis on “going green” has increased the focus on recycling and using discarded products in new ways. Although such innovations have traditionally been led by the scientific community, the applied “hipness” of the green movement has many artists contributing to this campaign as well. By combining their efforts for the common good, these two groups are converting heaps of trash into beautiful and useful products. One item that is being recycled at an increasing rate is used tires. The abundance, versatility and toughness of used tires make them ideal for reuse and they are being utilized in numerous ways for both manufacturing and consumer items.

A famous tire fire in Winchester, VA burned for nine months and consumed seven million tires.

Used tires are infamous for their ability to burn for extended periods of time, but until recently no steps had been taken to harness this potential source of energy. In contrast to the old trend, concrete manufacturers have started using whole tires as fuel for the massive kilns used in the drying process, and glass and steel mills are shredding and incinerating tires to supplement other fuel sources. While there is still concern regarding the chemicals emitted by burning rubber, the same can be said about most fuel sources that they have been replacing. Additionally, scientists are currently working on ways to efficiently recapture the two gallons of oil and carbon trapped in each old tire, a feat that would quickly eliminate one of the major landfill contributors for good.

Recycled tires are also being used by engineers and designers in numerous everyday products. For example, used tires are being shredded and spread as mulch around playgrounds to soften the area and reduce injuries. Another initiative combines used tires with several other composites to create a substitute product for sidewalk construction. The material is safer for trees and easier on the joints than traditional concrete and more than 60 cities across North America have begun installing it. FieldTurf, an artificial playing surface made from recycled tires, has gained popularity because of its natural grass-like feel and durability. Since 1997, the surface has been installed in more than 3000 stadiums worldwide and currently teams in the NFL, MLB, NCAA and FIFA regularly compete on FieldTurf.

The University of Texas Longhorns will be competing on FieldTurf in 2009.

The fashion industry has entered the mix too, creating many items from discarded tires. In addition to being durable, the products are popular with young, environmentally conscious consumers who identify with the idea of reuse. Sculptures, furniture, sandals, mats and jewelry are only the tip of the iceberg, and as independent designers continue the push the envelope of creativity, the stable of available products made from tires will continue to grow. In perhaps the most bizarre manifestation of this trend, artist John T. Unger has created a line of naughty paddles made from the scraps leftover during tire production. Though not recycled in the traditional sense, his products do prevent excess rubber from being dumped in landfills.

Moving forward, responsible use of resources will likely remain an area of focus in many circles of thought. As oil reserves diminish and available dump space shrinks, the ability to convert trash into treasure will effectively kill two birds with one stone and move us towards a point of efficiency where nothing is ever wasted.

Which would you rather look at?

Highway Heroes Brave Danger to Help Others

community@uShip.com — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:48:00 GMT

Goodyear tire company recently honored the nominees of its 26th Annual Highway Hero award at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY. The Highway Hero award honors those who go out of their way in harrowing circumstances to help others.The finalists are:

Roy Hacket of Nashville TN, who stopped to pull a man out of a burning vehicle, dragging him 50 yards to safety as flames consumed the car.

Nicolay Zashev and Tihomir Tanev of Illinois, who saved the bleeding and unconscious driver of a van that hit their rig and caught fire.

Jorge Orozco Sanchez saved the lives of two young girls after their mother lost control of her vehicle and hit him head on, removing them from the vehicle before a ruptured fuel tank set it ablaze.

Willie Wilson, who stopped to investigate a fire off the side of the freeway and discovered to be a car that had rolled over and burst into flames with the driver still inside. Mr. Wilson pulled the driver to safety and called for help.

Reporters from the trucking industry will vote on the finalists in order to determine this year’s recipient of the award, which comes with a $10,000 U.S. savings bond and ring. The other finalists will receive a $5000 bond and plaque to honor their nomination.

Recently ABC News recently ran a short segment on George Lantzy, a truck driver driving through West Virginia. Mr. Lantzy saw that a woman was swerving on the road and was hunched over the steering wheel. Rather than drive past, he decided to use his rig to stop her. A local policeman caught the event on his dashcam. The woman was on the way to a doctor’s appointment when she suffered a heart attack. Click the picture to watch the amazing video

For 26 years Goodyear has recognized professional truck drivers whose life-saving efforts and roadside assistance may have gone unnoticed. uShip is impressed with these drivers and grateful that we have people like them to help keep our roads safe.

Trucking Companies Face New Problem: Too Many Drivers

community@uShip.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Trucking companies have always had a hard time keeping drivers. Life on the road is not for everyone. Long hours away from home, cramped quarters, and tight deadlines led to turnover rates of 100% to 150% a year. Trucking companies spent millions of dollars a year in advertising just to fill empty trucks. But the recession changed all of that.

With the recession worsening every day, trucking companies have faced a new problem: too many qualified applicants. Before the recession Con-way would spend half a million dollars a month on advertising for new drivers alone. Now they spend half as much - and they get three to four times as many applicants.

The trucking industry has already shrunk by 7% in 2008, with over 3600 companies out of business and more than 130,000 trucks off the roads. These drivers along with new interest by former industrial and construction workers has given companies long lists of qualified applicants seeking a place on their rosters.

The turnover rate has nearly halved, from 130% in 2005 to 65% now. People who would snub the industry before, look to the industry as they seek stability over comfort.

What is good for the company may not necessarily be good for the drivers. The pressure to recruit and keep drivers meant that the drivers were offered more pay, benefits, and were given more leeway on the road. A company may have looked the other way when a driver idled for too long, or took an extra day off at home, now they can afford to be a lot less tolerant. The large pool of applicants allows them to more thoroughly critique resumes, and discourage “churning”, where drivers frequently switch companies for hiring bonuses.

With all the changes, many drivers have been looking for extra ways to earn income. Owner-operators are turning to uShip.com to find jobs that they might not have had access to before, allowing them to not only survive, but thrive in a tough market.

Highway to Hell: The Most Dangerous Roads in the World

community@uShip.com — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:17:00 GMT

Highway driving can be a relaxing …cruising the open road in a convertible, hair blowing in the wind… these images are often evoked at the mention of the “American Dream.” What this motif takes for granted is that the road beneath the tires is safe; free of potholes, sharp curves, slick spots and vertical drops. While you may hate the monotony of your daily commute, exchanging it for a drive on any of the following highways may be ill-advised. The cliffs, crazy traffic and other assorted dangers may be exciting, but taking a joyride there could quickly turn your Dream into a nightmare. Fortunately, none of these highways to hell are stateside.

The Guoliang Tunnel – China

Carved right out of the Taihang Mountains by a group of 13 unskilled farmers, the road is as picturesque as it is dangerous. Short and tight, the tunnel is less than a mile (1,200 meters) long, 15 feet high and 12 feet wide. The most spectacular aspect is the 30 windows where the enclosure opens up, revealing the cliff and valley below. While the windows were engineered in order to discard debris and let light in, they also function as doorways to doom for distracted motorists.

The Grand Trunk Road – From India to Afghanistan

Built by Sher Shah Suri in the 16th century, the Grand Trunk Road presently stretches over 2,500 km from Sonargaon, Bangladesh to Peshawar, Afghanistan. Serving as the principal trade route between the Eastern and Western regions of Northern India, Grand Trunk has maintained a constant stream of animals, pedestrians and carts for over 400 years. The addition of bicycles, motorcycles, cars and buses in recent years has magnified the congestion and made parts of the road nearly impossible to navigate.

Luxor-al-Hurghada Road – Egypt

The Luxor-al-Hurghada is one of the few roads where leaving your lights off at night actually improves your chances for survival. While head-on collisions are a constant threat, the alternative is decidedly worse. The area is overrun by marauding thieves, and local terrorists who target the highway traffic prefer to attack after sundown. The roadside crime was actually much worse prior to 1997, when the murder of 62 German tourists in Luxor prompted an increased police presence, but to this day many drivers feel safer testing their night vision than making their cars moving targets.

The Russian-Georgian Military Mountain Roads

Built as a passage through the Caucasus Mountains for the Russian military, this series of roads is constantly mired in snow in the winter and mud in the summer. While never intended for civilian vehicles, many locals utilize the 220 km stretch on a regular basis. As if the switchbacks, extreme weather and obstructions aren’t enough, ongoing tensions between Russia and Georgia have made the road increasingly dangerous.

The Road of Death – Bolivia

Formally known as the North Yungas Road, this unsealed (no barriers) trail snakes through Bolivia’s Andes Mountains at heights ranging from 15,500 feet at the top to 3,700 feet at its destination in the jungle town of Coroico. The 64km stretch of highway is restricted by a mountain facade on one side and a cliff on the other, and veering just slightly off course will send a vehicle plummeting nearly 1000 meters into the jungle below. To make matters worse, traffic is a constant and the presence of road dust and fog make limit visibility. On average 26 vehicles and 100 lives are lost here annually, but in 1983, the bloodiest year to date, 320 people plunged over the edge.

Written by Ben Leffler, world traveler and automatic-transmission driver extraordinaire, for Ship Happens.

Enjoy this post? You might also like Zombies, Cows and...Pigeons? The Strangest Dangers on the Road or Valentine's Day Chocolates Could Save the Environment.

Valentine’s Day Chocolates Could Save the Environment

community@uShip.com — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:21:00 GMT

While most people are planning a romantic dinner with their significant other, some of us here at uShip.com are engaging in another Valentine’s Day tradition--making people with dates feel guilty.

Did you know? Those chocolates you just bought for your date could help fight global warming and further our energy independence. The Biotruck, a UK experimental project in alternative energy, drove 4500 miles from London to Timbuktu using mostly homemade biodiesel created from chocolate waste “rejects” from local chocolatiers. Some quick math by the uShip math wizards (read: interns) shows that the Biotruck conversion process would take 16 pounds of chocolate to create one gallon of usable diesel fuel.

Chocolate Biodiesel has fewer emissions than fossil fuels, can be generated for about 20% of the cost and would make the world over smell like the Wonka Factory. With the more than 2.8 million tons of chocolate consumed each year, we could create 360 million gallons of diesel. While that’s barely a drop in the bucket in terms of consumption, it’s still a more noble use of chocolate than a cocoa bath.

Clearly every chocolate heart and edible teddy bear gifted to sweethearts and lovers on Valentine’s Day should be confiscated and used for powering our cars – not our stomachs. This would be a small step towards helping to clean up our air, not to mention the elimination of the thousands of tons of trash created by hideous candy boxes. By turning our chocolate into delicious diesel fuel, we could fight obesity, heart disease and chocolate-covered vegetables.

Those of us who have no reason to celebrate Valentine’s Day now have yet another argument to back up our sour grapes “Valentine’s-sucks-anyway” argument. For the rest, you now have the perfect excuse if you forget to buy a Valentine’s Day gift. Just tell your significant other: “You know what’s better than chocolate? Saving the planet. ”

If that doesn’t work, you can just pretend that sleeping on the couch is good for the environment, too.

Ricardo Gonzalez is an intern and writer for Ship Happens! All of the opinions herein are his own, and should probably be ignored as he hasn’t had a Valentine’s date in years.