Tamera King went from getting her CDL in 2019 to launching an owner-operator business by 2020. Now based out of Columbia, South Carolina, she’s added two more trucks and drivers to her operations since then. We talked to Tamera about the role Amazon Relay has played in helping the expansion of 3 Kings Transportation, LLC, and how her success has helped fulfill her dream of a life full of adventure.
Tell us – how did you get into trucking?
It was almost poetic. I worked as a retail manager, climbing the corporate ladder for 20 years, and then I lost my job on Independence Day. If you’d asked me a year before that happened, I would have said I was going to retire with my employer. I picked up the pieces and started brainstorming about what I could do to avoid being in that position again. How could I see the world, meet people, and make money?
I wanted to keep having the same interactions I did in stores, so I could take everything I’ve learned – being friendly, kind, and helping people – and do that in my travels. A friend of mine asked if I’d thought about driving.
What was your perception of trucking before entering the industry?
I said, “No, that’s a man’s job.” I was thinking I’d have to get on back of a truck and move freight, which was an absolute no. And then I found a Facebook group called “Women in Trucking.” It had 40k members, so I joined it. Not only were there a lot of female drivers – I saw videos of them with their hair and nails done and still looking pretty. So, I thought, “Maybe I can do it.”
What was your experience as a woman coming into the industry?
I was one of three women in my CDL class, which they said was the first time there’d been more than one. My first few trainers were men. They weren’t teaching, they were yelling, which is not my style. I was told, “Well, this is not a woman’s job. You’re gonna learn the way a man would.” I just wanted to be spoken to like a human being. I was deterred by the industry, but once I got a taste of waking up in Pennsylvania and going to sleep in Missouri, or waking up Oklahoma and sleeping in California – I was sold on trucking.
So, I called in to the training center and they got me a female trainer. It was a match made in heaven. From there, I hauled team loads so I could have an experienced partner to coach me while I learned everything. I wanted to feel safe and set up for success, and I made it happen.
What encouraged your shift from driver to entrepreneur?
By 2020, I felt ready to drive on my own. I just stayed on the road since no one was doing anything or seeing each other during the pandemic. By the end of that year, I bought my first truck with all the money I saved up. It was a birthday present to myself.
I’d stayed in touch with my CDL trainer and she showed me the type of loads I could run and money I could make as an owner-operator – I hadn’t even heard that term. It offered way more independence and freedom, and I learned the nuances about what would work best for my financial goals.
Why did you apply to haul with Amazon Relay?
I liked that I didn’t have to go through brokers as long as I had my own authority – I could take loads straight out of the gate. It was peak season, coming into Black Friday. High rates, lots of loads available. So just booked off Relay’s load board. It was super easy.
What keeps you moving freight through Amazon Relay?
I like that everything I do in a week is paid by the end of it. Within the trucking industry, you typically have to go through a factoring company and submit BOLs or pay lumper fees to make sure you get paid. Some brokers are no good, so you also have to do a credit check. Those are types of things I don’t have to experience with Amazon because it’s a trusted resource.
How does Amazon Relay help streamline your day-to-day operations?
I get up, get online, check my drivers’ routes, see if there’s anything funky. But we only work out of one domicile – Colombia, South Carolina – so by now, they’re familiar with the day-to-day of Amazon’s facilities. And with Relay’s driver app, it was easy for them to become self-sufficient. If the load involves a third-party site we’ve never been to before, I’ll set a reminder around the time they’re supposed to be there. Other than that, it’s cut and dry.
What type of work do you book on Relay?
Rates and overhead in the trucking industry can be volatile, so I book contracts with Relay. That way I can predict the duration, base rate, and average fuel surcharge. I’m able to better forecast how much I’ll make. You book blocks of time, which drivers start and end in the same domicile. They’re paid for the full roundtrips. Even if a leg in the trip is canceled, I can always find away to get the driver back home, so they’re not stranded, and I know I’ll get paid the amount I booked.
What advice would you give carriers about your experience with Amazon Relay?
Relay can be a quick and easy way to build your business, but Amazon has high performance standards. Because I come from a corporate background, I’m used to time management, but for others, it can take some getting used to. Late arrivals affect your Relay performance score, which determines the type of loads you can book, when, and how many. So, I’d suggest starting slowly – book a few loads at first and see how it works.
What are your future business plans, and how might Relay fit into them?
I’m in the process of trying to open up a CDL school. I want to start an extended program to close the safety gaps in the transportation industry, and teach drivers the frequent obstacles to avoid that create incidents.
Once I build up enough revenue, I’d also like to hire an operations manager so I can get back on the road. Trucking is not really a job for me, it’s an opportunity to see and do things I never have before. I’m originally from Brooklyn, New York. All I grew up knowing were skyscrapers and high-rise buildings. When started driving, I realized there’s so much more to life. Even if my business failed, I’d go back to being a driver. You can’t put a price on that freedom.
Want in on the growth?
Like Tamera, you can grow your business and find new opportunities on Amazon Relay. We offer the steady work, quick payments, and flexibility you need to achieve your goals. Start your application on your desktop or in our app on iOS or Android. But first, check out Relay’s carrier requirements to make sure Amazon is the right fit for your business.
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.
