Overdrive’s June Trucker of the Month, Greg Labosky, credited Amazon Relay on his road to success. In his podcast interview, he discussed how Relay’s auctions, contracts, and load board supported him as a driver, and later, owner-operator.
Here’s the recap of how Labosky’s trucking business became an early success through Amazon Relay. All quotes are from Overdrive editor Todd Dills’ talk with Labosky, which you can hear for yourself via this link.
How it started vs. how it’s going
Labosky hit the road with a CDL license in the mid-90s before his “20-year hauling hiatus” led him to a detour in retail. He returned to driving full-time in 2018 with a rented truck, doing Relay contract work for a small carrier.
“The nickel and diming in the rental industry just started to get very old and cost more than it should have. The market for used trucks was on the tight side and the prices were inflated. I had a set idea of what type of specs I was looking for – I made the decision to purchase a freight liner.”
Labosky took his hands-on experience hauling Amazon loads and – along with a behind-the-scenes look at his employer’s business decisions – began the process of becoming a Relay carrier for himself. Now the owner of GDL Enterprise, he runs a single truck out of New Haven, Connecticut.
Amazon Relay load board
Labosky is big fan of the load board’s transparency into scheduling and payout for efficiency. And as a high performer on Amazon Relay, his early access to loads keeps him busy. When spot work fits his filter preferences for equipment and distance, he can simply hit “book” to get going.
“My work is about 98% off the Relay load board. I maintain a high performance rating, so I get an early bird peek. I can see what the rates are before everyone starts grabbing. Right when it opens up, I jump on the ones I’m looking at first to try to maximize my higher-paying loads. You’ve got a set idea of, ‘Here’s your starting point, here’s your delivery locations, here’s the date start, and date end.’ Versus taking [a contract] blind ahead of time.”
Amazon Relay contracts
And for stability? Labosky keeps his truck rolling with Relay’s short-term contracts. Relay allows carriers to book roundtrip work at a fixed rate or bid on one-way lanes in open auctions.
“I take the contracts that are usually a good 3-5 weeks in advance. I roughly have an idea of my [original] start date and when the end of that contract period is going to be. So, I have a general idea as far as how many loads are going to be given per week, waiting ‘til Friday for the true assignments to be shown.”
Labsoky also touched on “blocks” – chunks of time that can be reserved for available trucks and drivers. Carriers receive payout even if Amazon doesn’t book the full duration of the contract.
“The block system has a general rate per week. From there, we get the additional compensation for fuel surcharge and toll reimbursement. Block rates rise a little bit as far as a couple hundred dollars up and down, and then the fuel surcharge is the national standard.”
The combination of contract opportunities allows carriers to plan full schedules, offering peace of mind.
Amazon Relay performance score
Labsoky mentions early bird load access as one of his favorite Amazon Relay perks. But he reminds carriers that it’s a matter of performance score. This metric measures a Relay carrier’s engagement with Amazon loads, making sure each delivery is safe and on time. We want to work with reliable carriers that prioritize a job well done – carriers that go above and beyond that standard get access to contracts, priority matching on Post A Truck, and a first look at spot loads.
“You want to be on top of your game as far as your appointment windows, being able to get there on time, and not refusing work. And making sure that your yard time, end time, and your overall use of [Relay’s] system is on the up-and-up. Make sure all your e-bills are filed properly [so] that your documentation is correct.”
Amazon Relay rates
While rates depend on the trucking market, Labosky has been able to build and sustain profitability with Amazon Relay.
“I do seem to be making more overall [with Relay]. It’s been roughly $15-20,000 [more] versus as a company driver. But obviously, being new in the system, [I’m] still learning how to optimize everything to get the most overall net profit into my pocket.”
Get growing with Amazon Relay
Greg Labosky’s journey as an Amazon carrier helped him become Overdrive’s June Trucker of the Month. Where will your application take you? Sign up today on your browser or on the Relay mobile app (iOS and Android).
Disclaimer: Amazon does not tender loads through any third-party load boards. Any Amazon loads posted on third-party load boards will only be tendered directly to approved and onboarded carriers via the Relay web portal or Relay mobile app. If you are interested in hauling loads for Amazon, sign up and book directly on relay.amazon.com.