How to Create an Amazon Relay Post Truck (PAT) Order

Stop staring at the load board all day. It is no fun, and you can miss a good load. What if the loads just came to you? 

Amazon Relay has a tool called "Post A Truck". It acts like your own helper, finding work that fits your schedule. 

This guide will show you how over 20,000 carriers have booked more than 1 million loads using PAT.

What is "Post A Truck" (PAT)

Think about the normal Load Board. It is a big list with thousands of jobs. You must watch the board all day and search for a good load.  

Post A Truck (PAT) works the other way. You post your truck's plan, and the work finds you.

This gives you More Control. You tell PAT your schedule, your equipment, and the payout you want. The system then finds a match. 

This is called Automatic Booking. When a load matches your post, Relay books it for you.  

It also gives you Flexibility. It saves your old searches and learns what you like to suggest future loads.

Best of all, PAT gives you "early access" to loads before they are on the regular load board.

3 Ways to Post A Truck

Posting a Truck is simple. Go to the "Loadboard" on your computer or in the Relay mobile app and click "Post A Truck".

You have three ways to start :  

• Start from scratch: Build a new post for your truck's needs.  

• Recommendations: Uses info from your past loads for a higher chance of matching.  

• Saved searches: Reuse a search template for a lane you run all the time.  

Easy 4-Step Guide to Creating Your First "Post A Truck" Order

Posting your truck is easy and is done in 4 easy steps. Let's walk through them:

Step 1: Choose Your Order Type 

This is the first section you fill out. It tells Amazon what kind of truck you have and the type of work you want.

• Order Type: Choose "Power only," "Box truck," or "Tractor & Trailer."

• Work: Pick "Blocks" (for local work) or "One-Way/Round Trip."

• Equipment: If you choose "Power only," you will then select your equipment from a list. This includes options like "53' Trailer," "20' Container," "40' Container," and many others.

• Driver: Select "Solo" or "Team."   

Step 2: Set Your Location 

This step is all about your route. You tell the system where you are and where you want to go.

• Origin: Put in your "Pick-up" location.

• Radius: Add a "Radius" (like "50 miles") to show how far you are willing to drive to the pick-up.

Remember that the "Radius" is in air miles, not road miles. This means 50 air miles might be a longer drive on the road.

Step 3: Set Your Schedule 

Now you tell the system when your truck is free. This is a very important step.

• First, you enter the "Start date" and "Start time". This is the earliest you can start.  

• Then, you enter the "End date" and "End time". This is the latest time you are available to work.  

• Block Length: Since you chose "Blocks" in Step 1, you will see "Block Length" here. You will pick the total time for your block, like "13 hr" or "1 day 13 hr".  

• Drivers: Finally, you can pick a specific "Driver" from your list. If you choose a driver, the job will be sent right to their Relay app after it is matched.

Look for the optional "Start Time Window". This new feature lets you set a smaller, preferred time to start. This is a great tool to help you avoid bad traffic.  

Step 4: Set Your Payout

This is the final and most crucial step, informing Amazon of your desired payment amount.

• Min payout: In this box, you will enter the lowest all-in price you are willing to take for the load.

Put a minimum payout for the base rate only. Do not include estimated accessorials costs.

This means you should only put the base rate, not extra costs like fuel or tolls.  

Review the "Match Outlook"

Once you have filled out all 4 steps, you must look at the "Match Outlook" box on the side of the screen.

It tells you if your chance of getting a match is "High, Medium, or Low" based on loads from the past 6 weeks. 

This is your key to knowing if your post will be successful.

The "Block Order" Feature

You saw the "Blocks" option back in Step 1. This is a great choice for local work, and here is why it is special.

The best part about a "Block" is that it is paid in full, even if Amazon does not have enough loads to fill your whole time. If you post a "13 hr" block, you are paid for 13 hours.  

This type of order is perfect for local jobs because the trips are designed to start and end at the same location.  

But Blocks have 3 special rules you must follow:

1. You Must Plan Ahead: You have to post a "Block" at least 54 hours before the start time. You cannot post one for the next day.  

2. You Must Be Available: Your driver and truck must be free for the entire block of time you posted.  

3. You Get Details Later: You will not see the exact trip details right away. Amazon sends you the "tour details" about 15 hours before your block starts.

Boost Your Matches with "Linked Orders"

You might see a box on the side of the page for "Linked Orders". This is a very smart tool.  

What if you are not sure which post will get a match?

Linked Orders lets you connect up to 3 different posts together for the same truck and driver.  

Here is the best part: You can link three posts, but only one of them can be booked. As soon as one of your posts gets a match, the other two are automatically cancelled.

This is the perfect way to prevent overbooking!  

You can use this to try different options at the same time:

• Try Different Prices: Post a trip to Atlanta at $3.60/mile and link it to a trip to Dallas at $3.90/mile.  

• Try Different Trip Types: Link a "Block" post and a "One-Way" post. The system will book whichever matches first.  

• Try Overlapping Times: Link a post for 6AM - 7PM with one for 10AM - 10PM to cover your schedule.

Let the Work Find You

Now you have all the steps and pro-tips to master "Post A Truck."

You do not have to watch the load board 24/7 anymore. Think of PAT as your free, automated dispatcher that works for you even when you are on the road. 

By using features like "Match Outlook," "Block Orders," and "Linked Orders," you can stop searching for work and let the work find you.  

FAQs

1. How do I pick a good "Radius" for my post? 

A good trick is to check the regular load board first. If you see many loads available within 25 miles of your origin, you can start by setting your radius to 25 miles.  

2. What is "Stem Time" and how do I choose it? 

"Stem time" is the minimum time you need to get from your current location to the first pick-up. You should choose it based on your radius, traffic, and any extra buffer time your driver needs.  

3. When is the best time to post my truck? 

You can post up to two weeks in advance, or you can post for right now. Posting early gives you the first chance to match a load at the price you want.  

4. What if my truck is no longer available? Can I cancel a post?

 

You can cancel a post as long as it is still "open." If the post has already been matched to a load, you must "reject" the work, which will result in performance penalties.  

5. How will I know if my post gets a match? 

You will get a "match notification email" sent to the email address you have on file.  

6. Why isn't my post getting any matches? 

There are two main reasons: demand and performance. First, there may not be a demand that fits your post.

Second, matches are based on performance grade. High-performing carriers get their orders matched first.

To improve your chances, post early, be flexible, and maintain a high performance grade.  

7. What if I get a load that is outside my posted criteria? 

If you are matched with a load that you believe is outside your criteria, you should reject the load immediately. After you reject it, file a dispute.