Basic Amazon Relay Load Board Filtering Techniques
- Michael Carter
- Nov 4
- 5 min read
The Amazon Relay load board is a powerful tool, but with thousands of loads, just scrolling is a waste of your time.
The difference between a break-even week and a highly profitable one isn't luck; it's strategy.
This simple guide breaks down the essential filters. Learn to stop searching and start hauling the profitable freight you actually want
Your Starting Amazon Relay Filters
Before you can find the perfect load, you have to clear away the noise. These four filters are the non-negotiable first steps for every single search on the load board.
Origin, Destination, and Pickup Radius
This is your basic "where and when." Tell Amazon Relay where your truck is (Origin) and where you want to go (Destination).
The Pickup Radius is your first defense against unpaid miles. It controls how far you're willing to drive from your origin to get to the pickup. A tight radius keeps your deadhead low.
Equipment Type
This is the most important filter. Don't waste a single click looking at loads you can't legally or physically haul.
The Equipment Type filter lets you see only the freight that matches your truck.
Power-only: Select this if you are only providing the tractor (the "power unit"). This is the classic Amazon drop-and-hook model where Amazon provides the trailer, which is often pre-loaded and ready to go. This is built for speed, just hook up and roll. You can then specify which of Amazon's trailers you can pull (e.g., 53' Trailer, 53' Reefer, various containers).
26' Box Truck: Select this for a 16' or 26' straight truck. Pay close attention to the requirement listed right on the filter: "Dock height and lift gate required." These loads are often for "middle-mile" runs, like moving freight from an Amazon sort center to a post office.
Tractor & Trailer: Select this if you are bringing both your own tractor and your own trailer (like your own 53' Dry Van or Reefer). As the filter notes, this is typically for "live loads," where you may have to wait to be loaded or unloaded, unlike the power-only model.
Load Type Filter
Directly related to your equipment choice, this filter defines how you'll be loaded and unloaded.
Live: This means you will wait at the facility to be loaded or unloaded. This is common if you selected "Tractor & Trailer."
Drop and hook: This is the "fast" option. You'll drop your empty trailer (if you have one) and hook up to a pre-loaded one. This is the standard for most "Power only" work and is key to maximizing your efficiency.
Price / Payout (min) Filter
This is your first and most important profitability check. Don't waste time looking at cheap freight. You can set your minimums before you even see a load.
Price/mile (min): Sets the lowest rate per mile you're willing to accept.
Payout (min): Sets the lowest total dollar amount you'll take for a load, regardless of the per-mile rate.
Amazon Relay Filters for Your Schedule and Strategy
Once you've told Relay what truck you have, it's time to find loads that fit your business plan.
These filters are where you build your strategy and tell Amazon Relay how you want to work.
Work Type (The Strategy Filter)
One of the most powerful filters is its ability to control the "shape" of your trip.
One-Way/Round Trip: This is your most common filter for over-the-road freight.
One-Way: A standard A-to-B load. It's perfect for building your own routes, but you'll need to find your own load home.
Round-trip: A carrier's best friend. This books a complete trip that starts and ends in the same city area, guaranteeing you a paid return leg and getting your driver home.
Block: This is for consistent, local work. Instead of a single load, you reserve a "block" of time (like 13 hours) for Amazon. They then assign you a series of local tours that start and end in the same place.
Hostler/Shuttle: This is different from a standard load. This work typically involves moving trailers within an Amazon facility yard (a "yard hostler") or shuttling them between very close facilities.
Driver Type Filters
This filter ensures the load matches your driver's availability and Hours of Service (HOS) requirements.
Solo: Filters for loads designed for a single driver's Hours of Service.
Team: Shows loads that require two drivers to keep the truck moving on long-haul or high-urgency routes.
Scheduling Filters
You’ve told Relay what you're driving. Now, use these scheduling filters to control how and when you work.
Trip Length: Lets you filter by the total time of the trip, not just miles. This is perfect for finding a quick load to fill a gap in your schedule.
Maximum Number of Stops: Want to keep it simple? Use this to show only loads with one or two stops and filter out complex multi-stop routes.
Desired Layout / Shift Length: This is a powerful scheduling tool. You can filter for specific, pre-defined work shifts, like a "13-hour shift," to perfectly match your driver's available hours.
Using the Exclude Filter
To help you clean up your search results, the load board provides an Exclude filter.
You can use this to add up to three specific cities you want to avoid. Any load that has a stop in one of those cities will be hidden, allowing you to focus only on the routes you want.
The "Certifications" Filter
This is an important filter if you have specialized access or qualifications. These loads often have less competition.
If you are certified to enter specific types of facilities, this filter is your key to unlocking that freight.
What it is: This filter shows you loads that require special certifications to pick up or deliver.
How to use it:
Railroad: If your business is certified for intermodal work, you can select specific rail yards like BNSF, CSX, NS, or UP to find drayage loads.
Others: This section can include certifications for other specialized work, such as hauling for Ocean carriers or using specific Chassis providers for port loads.
The "Set It and Forget It" Alternative: 'Post A Truck'
If you are tired of refreshing the load board, use the Post A Truck feature.
Instead of searching for loads, you tell Amazon Relay when and where your truck is available and your minimum payout.
Amazon's system then automatically books a matching load for you, often before it even hits the public board.
One Critical Warning: The booking is automatic and instant. Only post availability for a truck you know is free, or you risk getting double-booked and penalized.
Filters Are Your Key to Profitability
Mastering the Amazon Relay filters is the first step to building a profitable business. It's how you stop scrolling and start seeing only the loads that matter to you.
But finding the right load is only half the battle; booking it, managing it, and ensuring perfect, on-time performance is a full-time job.
Stop Searching. Start Driving.
Tired of staring at the load board? Let our expert dispatchers handle the hunt for you.
We utilize strategies to secure high-paying loads that align with your schedule.
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