I found this video very helpful. I've been quiet because my truck has been a bit of a headache, and I wasn't in the mood for talk. On Halloween night, the truck's odometer turned over 666,666 miles. An hour later, I lost all oil pressure, the engine low oil shut down sequence started. I got it to the shoulder before auto shut down, and listened for about three seconds, and the engine sounded fine, temps were fine, I shut it off and towed it in with a loaded trailer.... expensive tow. Turned out to be the oil pump, in which a large gear wheel had split in half. $5300 later, including the tow, I was back on the road, nervous as to the condition of the engine, but it runs fine and after 3000 miles I notice no increased oil consumption. So looks like I got it turned off in time, but it is not a good feeling worrying about how much life I just scrubbed off the motor.... This last week it has been in the shop for a new clutch... work that I had scheduled before the oil pump incident... the clutch was still working but showing a lot of wear, and getting tricky to drive. I should get it back Monday, and will then head to Charlotte NC to start my Amazon experiment in hopes of staying South through the Winter. I know there is going to be a learning curve, and feel like a kid before a big test. This step by step relieves some of the anxiety... I'll watch it several times again. Thanks.
Man, I’m so sorry to hear that. I can tell from just what chats we’ve had on here that you really do care for your equipment and I have zero doubt in my mind you are more knowledgeable than me when it comes to maintaining your equipment. I am very sorry this has happened to you. I’m not the “misery moves company type” and in no way trying to “top” you story (I can’t), but I did get stuck in deep gravel and needed about a five foot tow. ABSOLUTE rookie mistake, 100% my fault, I let an emotional state override my common sense. Stayed mad at myself for a couple hours and then went into “what’s my next appropriate step” mode. It’s really all we can do. Excited to hear how it goes with Amazon! This video has been on my mind for a while, not the most exciting but I tried to be as thorough as I could. Wishing you nothing but success and a speedy recovery. Todd 👊🏻🍻
@@STATTrucking It's surprising how easy it is to get these things stuck. I've come close in just dry potholes, where one side of the axle is in the hole, and the other outside. Stay safe.
I’m glad you like them, I’m gonna keep turning them out. I’m excited for you, they haven’t always required 180 days and I really didn’t realize what a good thing it was when I started for them. Ironically, I almost didn’t work for them when I started because of all the negativity I saw about them when I started doing trucking. Fortunately, I’ve always had that “FAFO” mentality and I gave them a shot because I really have enjoyed my time with them. It’s not always perfect, but the good continues to outweigh the bad. 👊🏻🍻
I’m glad you liked it, thank you for letting me know. I do a series on here called Relay Rates and in the most recent installment, I show exactly which filters I believe to be the most important (8:35 of this video): th-cam.com/video/WYiOeclXVcg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=t15XTj5Fu771zW7Y After you get a feel for your area, you’ll want to dial down that search radius to fit your exact needs. I also believe the web-based platform is more efficient at doing this as opposed to using the load board on the Relay app. My justification on this: th-cam.com/users/shortsQaTGWr7YtPc?si=5VJLVPDejtzkiTJm Those search filters are your friends. Things like trip duration, max stops, max miles can all make your life much easier. I don’t have a specific video on it but I appreciate you giving me the idea, it’s actually a great video idea, thank you. 👊🏻🍻
He’s great, had a little stomach bug that kept him home from work for a few days, but he’s back to perfect. Just got home with me tonight after some late night trucking. 🐶
Thanks Todd! Does amazon make you push the tandems to the rear of the trailer at the dock or you just leave them pushed all the way up? Also, what electronic device would you recommend (tablet or.phone). Would a "normal" plan work or would you have an exclusive data plan for relay? Thanks!!
If you’re staying within the Amazon system, you’ll almost never have to slide tandems. We used to have DSD3 where you had to and it was common: th-cam.com/video/9FpHCAltPRM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=pyUZAXpZ-zbXflGy However that site closed about 8 months ago and was replaced with DSD4. Occasionally, 3P sites will ask, but it is very uncommon. The only time I’ve slid tandems (for Amazon) in the last six months was when I found a trailer in their yard where they were slid all the way to the back and since I was taking it onto the road, need to slide them up. Tablet is going to give you a more “global” view, but I’ve trained my eyes to look at a phone. Tablets show about 7-10 loads on screen whereas a phone will show about two, but with search filters you can make what you’re seeing be exactly what you’re looking for. Things like max stops, max miles, trip duration, price-per-distance-highest are all your friend(s). I run an iPhone with AT&T, nothing special, nothing unique. I just added a line to my existing personal plan and use it for business. A “normal plan” has served me well since I started this whole thing. 👊🏻🍻
I’m really not sure. I know AFP’s around here get somewhere between $25-$29/hr. I personally don’t hire drivers but if I did, I would probably pay quite low as a baseline but then reward the person for doing things that ultimately would help the business (I.e. keep the grade high). For example: $20/hr Arrive early $10 bonus Get a screenshot of arrival successfully detected $5 bonus Use app entire shift $30 bonus If I were to set it up for my company, I would be paying exceptionally well for exemplary service and if I had someone show up who just wanted to do the minimum, their pay would reflect that. I’ve heard of guys letting others lease on with their own trucks for a 10-15% cut, but again this is something I don’t do. 👊🏻🍻
hey brother love the info on this channel i just hit my 180 days on authority so hopefully pulling for amazon soon in phoenix. just a quick question on this topic. i noticed this was a third party shipper but do amazon to amazon hubs still use a physical bill of lading? & do they have to get signed?
I’m glad you like the content and appreciate you for letting me know, thank you. A third party site is about the only place you have to worry about getting a physical BOL signed. If you are staying within the Amazon system (no 3P sites), an electronic BOL will appear on screen that you can screenshot for your records. If you were to accidentally bypass the BOL screen, you can always retrieve it from your trips tab under “history”. I’ve been doing Amazon for almost three years and this was maybe the 4-5th hard copy BOL I’ve dealt with, they’re exceptionally rare. I’m excited for you!! Be sure and start on a Sunday and screenshot everything, better to have it and not need it than the other way. 👊🏻🍻
@@STATTruckingHey again bro i got approved to run 💪 i have another question how often do you have to deal with trailer seals and whats the protocol on that with amazon?
Congrats 🎉🍾🎊 Trailer seals are only used in two scenarios: 1. If the trailer has inventory (merchandise) or non-inventory (empty carts) inside of it. 2. If an empty trailer is being taken over state lines (I believe this is a DOT requirement) Empty trailers being taken from location to location in the same state do not require seals. Typically, any loaded trailer you’re picking up from a dock door will have a sealed either taped to the inside wall of the trailer or sitting on the floor. They’re usually pretty easy to find. A loaded trailer from a parking slip should always be sealed, but if it’s not, open the doors and 9/10 times the seal is either taped to the wall or on the floor. Rarely, will there not be a seal anywhere to be found and in that scenario, just stop by the guard shack at the exit and ask for one. In the handful of times that has happened to me, they always give me one because they won’t let you leave without it. Empties are a piece of cake, just shut the doors and go. 👊🏻🍻
When I first started working with Amazon Relay, I tried PAT, but I never had an order be matched. I’d do the load board where I could strategically put together a night of >$5/mi loads and try to come close to it with PAT orders. It always told me my probability of a match was super low, so I’d go back to the load board. This cycle happened a few times before I gave up on PAT. Long story short, I have zero experience with PAT, sorry. 👊🏻🍻
I found this video very helpful. I've been quiet because my truck has been a bit of a headache, and I wasn't in the mood for talk. On Halloween night, the truck's odometer turned over 666,666 miles. An hour later, I lost all oil pressure, the engine low oil shut down sequence started. I got it to the shoulder before auto shut down, and listened for about three seconds, and the engine sounded fine, temps were fine, I shut it off and towed it in with a loaded trailer.... expensive tow. Turned out to be the oil pump, in which a large gear wheel had split in half. $5300 later, including the tow, I was back on the road, nervous as to the condition of the engine, but it runs fine and after 3000 miles I notice no increased oil consumption. So looks like I got it turned off in time, but it is not a good feeling worrying about how much life I just scrubbed off the motor.... This last week it has been in the shop for a new clutch... work that I had scheduled before the oil pump incident... the clutch was still working but showing a lot of wear, and getting tricky to drive. I should get it back Monday, and will then head to Charlotte NC to start my Amazon experiment in hopes of staying South through the Winter. I know there is going to be a learning curve, and feel like a kid before a big test. This step by step relieves some of the anxiety... I'll watch it several times again. Thanks.
Man, I’m so sorry to hear that. I can tell from just what chats we’ve had on here that you really do care for your equipment and I have zero doubt in my mind you are more knowledgeable than me when it comes to maintaining your equipment. I am very sorry this has happened to you.
I’m not the “misery moves company type” and in no way trying to “top” you story (I can’t), but I did get stuck in deep gravel and needed about a five foot tow. ABSOLUTE rookie mistake, 100% my fault, I let an emotional state override my common sense. Stayed mad at myself for a couple hours and then went into “what’s my next appropriate step” mode. It’s really all we can do.
Excited to hear how it goes with Amazon! This video has been on my mind for a while, not the most exciting but I tried to be as thorough as I could.
Wishing you nothing but success and a speedy recovery.
Todd
👊🏻🍻
@@STATTrucking It's surprising how easy it is to get these things stuck. I've come close in just dry potholes, where one side of the axle is in the hole, and the other outside. Stay safe.
Love these videos can’t wait till my 180 days are up so I can apply for Amazon 🙏🙏🙏
I’m glad you like them, I’m gonna keep turning them out. I’m excited for you, they haven’t always required 180 days and I really didn’t realize what a good thing it was when I started for them. Ironically, I almost didn’t work for them when I started because of all the negativity I saw about them when I started doing trucking. Fortunately, I’ve always had that “FAFO” mentality and I gave them a shot because I really have enjoyed my time with them. It’s not always perfect, but the good continues to outweigh the bad.
👊🏻🍻
Thanks for creating this video. It’s very informative. Do you have one on how you find and book loads?
I’m glad you liked it, thank you for letting me know. I do a series on here called Relay Rates and in the most recent installment, I show exactly which filters I believe to be the most important (8:35 of this video):
th-cam.com/video/WYiOeclXVcg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=t15XTj5Fu771zW7Y
After you get a feel for your area, you’ll want to dial down that search radius to fit your exact needs. I also believe the web-based platform is more efficient at doing this as opposed to using the load board on the Relay app. My justification on this:
th-cam.com/users/shortsQaTGWr7YtPc?si=5VJLVPDejtzkiTJm
Those search filters are your friends. Things like trip duration, max stops, max miles can all make your life much easier. I don’t have a specific video on it but I appreciate you giving me the idea, it’s actually a great video idea, thank you.
👊🏻🍻
How is your dog doing? 😊
He’s great, had a little stomach bug that kept him home from work for a few days, but he’s back to perfect. Just got home with me tonight after some late night trucking.
🐶
@STATTrucking that's great
Thanks Todd! Does amazon make you push the tandems to the rear of the trailer at the dock or you just leave them pushed all the way up? Also, what electronic device would you recommend (tablet or.phone). Would a "normal" plan work or would you have an exclusive data plan for relay? Thanks!!
If you’re staying within the Amazon system, you’ll almost never have to slide tandems. We used to have DSD3 where you had to and it was common:
th-cam.com/video/9FpHCAltPRM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=pyUZAXpZ-zbXflGy
However that site closed about 8 months ago and was replaced with DSD4. Occasionally, 3P sites will ask, but it is very uncommon. The only time I’ve slid tandems (for Amazon) in the last six months was when I found a trailer in their yard where they were slid all the way to the back and since I was taking it onto the road, need to slide them up.
Tablet is going to give you a more “global” view, but I’ve trained my eyes to look at a phone. Tablets show about 7-10 loads on screen whereas a phone will show about two, but with search filters you can make what you’re seeing be exactly what you’re looking for. Things like max stops, max miles, trip duration, price-per-distance-highest are all your friend(s).
I run an iPhone with AT&T, nothing special, nothing unique. I just added a line to my existing personal plan and use it for business. A “normal plan” has served me well since I started this whole thing.
👊🏻🍻
How much do drivers working for owner usually get paid
I’m really not sure. I know AFP’s around here get somewhere between $25-$29/hr.
I personally don’t hire drivers but if I did, I would probably pay quite low as a baseline but then reward the person for doing things that ultimately would help the business (I.e. keep the grade high).
For example:
$20/hr
Arrive early $10 bonus
Get a screenshot of arrival successfully detected $5 bonus
Use app entire shift $30 bonus
If I were to set it up for my company, I would be paying exceptionally well for exemplary service and if I had someone show up who just wanted to do the minimum, their pay would reflect that.
I’ve heard of guys letting others lease on with their own trucks for a 10-15% cut, but again this is something I don’t do.
👊🏻🍻
hey brother love the info on this channel i just hit my 180 days on authority so hopefully pulling for amazon soon in phoenix. just a quick question on this topic. i noticed this was a third party shipper but do amazon to amazon hubs still use a physical bill of lading? & do they have to get signed?
I’m glad you like the content and appreciate you for letting me know, thank you.
A third party site is about the only place you have to worry about getting a physical BOL signed. If you are staying within the Amazon system (no 3P sites), an electronic BOL will appear on screen that you can screenshot for your records. If you were to accidentally bypass the BOL screen, you can always retrieve it from your trips tab under “history”.
I’ve been doing Amazon for almost three years and this was maybe the 4-5th hard copy BOL I’ve dealt with, they’re exceptionally rare.
I’m excited for you!!
Be sure and start on a Sunday and screenshot everything, better to have it and not need it than the other way.
👊🏻🍻
@@STATTruckingHey again bro i got approved to run 💪 i have another question how often do you have to deal with trailer seals and whats the protocol on that with amazon?
Congrats 🎉🍾🎊
Trailer seals are only used in two scenarios:
1. If the trailer has inventory (merchandise) or non-inventory (empty carts) inside of it.
2. If an empty trailer is being taken over state lines (I believe this is a DOT requirement)
Empty trailers being taken from location to location in the same state do not require seals.
Typically, any loaded trailer you’re picking up from a dock door will have a sealed either taped to the inside wall of the trailer or sitting on the floor. They’re usually pretty easy to find.
A loaded trailer from a parking slip should always be sealed, but if it’s not, open the doors and 9/10 times the seal is either taped to the wall or on the floor.
Rarely, will there not be a seal anywhere to be found and in that scenario, just stop by the guard shack at the exit and ask for one. In the handful of times that has happened to me, they always give me one because they won’t let you leave without it.
Empties are a piece of cake, just shut the doors and go.
👊🏻🍻
How can you post a truck ?
When I first started working with Amazon Relay, I tried PAT, but I never had an order be matched. I’d do the load board where I could strategically put together a night of >$5/mi loads and try to come close to it with PAT orders. It always told me my probability of a match was super low, so I’d go back to the load board. This cycle happened a few times before I gave up on PAT.
Long story short, I have zero experience with PAT, sorry.
👊🏻🍻