GOCARGO.COM REPORTS 6,000 USERS

GOCARGO.COM REPORTS 6,000 USERS

   GoCargo.com, the New York-based Internet-based shipping auction site provider, said that it has now attracted 6,000 industry users to its online marketplace.

   These consist of approximately 5,000 shippers and about 1,000 service providers such as carriers and intermediaries, the company said.

   “GoCargo.com has hosted several thousand active auctions in the six months since the site was launched,” the company said.

   GoCargo.com provides a 24-hour,    five-days-a-week online auction marketplace. The system enables users to bid on and book shipments online “with the personal assistance of GoCargo.com account managers,” the company said. GoCargo.com said that it employs 20 “international traders” who facilitate online bidding online. “A shipper who was intimidated about using the Internet now feels comfortable working with an account manager in a personal transaction while taking advantage of our fully automated Web site,” the company said.

   “Our account managers continuously interview shippers to ascertain their commitment levels and determine how ‘real and ready’ their shipments are,” a spokesman for the company said.

   GoCargo.com said that the trading floor structure supporting the online auction activity is an important distinction of its auction site.

   GoCargo.com, founded in July 1999 by chairman and chief executive officer Eyall Goldwerger, launched its Web site last November and closed a second round of financing in February 2000 led by Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

   GoCargo.com is one of many Internet-based shipping marketplaces that have been introduced over the past year. Other online operators include Tradiant.com, Celarix.com, e-transport.com and shipping-auction.com.