At CitizenShipper, safety is one of our top priorities. We’re committed to building a trusted community for both customers and drivers, which is why the very first steps focus on security and verification.

In this lesson, we’ll guide you through:

• Step #1: Account activation - getting your profile up and running. 
• Step #2: Mandatory verifications - what every driver needs to complete before bidding. 
• Step #3: ID verification and best practices to make sure your documents are approved quickly. 
• Step #4: Security Check - confirming your phone number and passing required safety checks. 
• Step #5: Manual verification.

Step #1 Account activation

Creating your account is one part of the success formula, but to complete it, you have to confirm your account with CitizenShipper, as this will allow you not just to start bidding, but also get real-time notifications listed in your desired area. More on that in the next chapter, for now, follow these instructions on how to verify your account:

Before you start navigating through the marketplace and understand how it works, make sure to check your email inbox. You should have received an email letting you know how to activate your account. 

In the case that iPhone this email is not in your inbox within a couple of minutes after signing up, make sure to check your spam/promotions folder. To get all future emails sent from us to come to your inbox, please check out this article.

BONUS: Create a bookmark

Since CitizenShipper is currently available for use in a web browser, the best way for you to create an in-app like experience using our marketplace is to create a bookmark/icon on your phone. This is a very useful step because, if created properly, it will eliminate the need for you to log in to your account every time you want to use our website. To learn more about how to complete this process, check out our video tutorial available here.

Step #2 Mandatory verifications

Before you can submit your driver application and begin bidding on shipments, a few mandatory verifications must be completed. 

Every driver is required to pass the Identity Verification and the Security Check. These are essential for building a safe and trusted community. These steps are essential for building a safe and trusted community, and we’ll explain exactly how to complete them in Steps #3 and #4 of this course.

While other verifications, such as USDA registration, Insurance Verification, or USDOT verification, are optional, they can greatly strengthen your profile and increase trust with potential customers.

#3 Completing your ID verification

Trust is the foundation of the transportation business, and confirming your identity is the first step to building that trust with customers. 

You can find the ID Verification section in your account settings under “Verifications”. To get there, you can either follow this link: Settings - CitizenShipper, or log into your driver account and follow these steps:

1. Click on the wheel icon in the top-right corner of your screen
2. From the drop-down menu, select Settings 
3. Scroll down to the Verifications section 
4. View and complete the verifications
   
   
   

CitizenShipper partners with Stripe, a trusted technology company used by brands like Amazon, Google, and Zoom, to securely handle ID verification. Stripe will ask for your consent before collecting any information and will only use your data according to the permissions you grant and their Privacy Policy.

What you need before starting:

1. A valid government-issued photo ID (not expired, not a photocopy).
2. A device with a camera, preferably a mobile phone, for higher-quality photos.

For information on the best practices for a smooth verification, you can refer to our Help Center article: Identity Verification – CitizenShipper Help Center. Following those tips will greatly increase the chances of your verification being approved quickly.

Upon initiating the ID verification process, you will be redirected to Stripe Identity. Follow the prompts and as advised above, apply best practices when taking photos of your ID to ensure a smooth and easy verification process. If at any point it time it feels more convenient, you can switch and complete the verification process using your mobile phone in case you initiated it on a desktop:

#4 Completing your Security Check

Just like ID verification, your Security Check starts from the Verifications Tab in your profile settings. This process is required before you can place bids or message customers, as it includes a background check to help keep the community safe. For more details, you can always refer to our Background Screening article.

Important to know:

• Once you’ve submitted your background information, you’re allowed to start bidding and messaging right away, once you’ve passed the manual verification. 
• Your free background check will only be processed after you’ve won your first shipment.
• If you’d like to speed things up, you can expedite your background check for $10. This unlocks the Background Certified badge, which is a major factor in winning shipments.
• When you choose this option, your background check is sent for processing immediately, no need to wait until your first booking.
• To take advantage of this, simply email us with the subject line “Activate Background Screening.”
• Once submitted, our partner Checkr will run your background check right away, with results typically available in 1–3 days.

#5 Manual Verification

After you’ve completed all the required verifications, our Support Team will manually review your account. This review usually takes about one business day, and you’ll receive email updates as your application moves through the process.

In some cases, we may need additional information to complete the review. If that happens, you’ll have 5 days to provide the requested details. If we don’t hear back within that timeframe, your account will be closed and your subscription canceled.

That said, this isn’t the end of the road. If you contact us later with the requested information, we’ll gladly resume the review and reactivate your account.

Once your manual verification is complete and your account is fully approved, you’ll be ready to start bidding, messaging, and building your business with confidence.

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