In 2022, Albert Jacobson transitioned from a background in corporate financial analytics to run his own trucking business, A&A Logistics. For Albert, who is celebrating 30 years of US immigration, “entrepreneurship represents more than just a career path—it’s a way to achieve financial and personal freedom and create lasting stability for my family.”
We talked to Albert about the major transitions in his life, and how they prepared him for finding and booking work with Amazon Relay.
Tell us how immigrating to the United States influenced your ambition.
My mom and I immigrated from the former Soviet Union when I was only 13 years old. She wanted stability, safety, and opportunities for us both. But life as an immigrant was not easy at all – leaving everything you have ever known behind.
She was 35. I don’t know if I could have done that when I was the same age. She embraced everything, the successes and failures. Throughout that time, I witnessed the incredible sacrifices my mother made to give me a better life. Her strength and perseverance are what fuel my relentless drive to succeed.
How did your mom feel about you leaving corporate life?
She’s a Jewish mom, so of course, she worries. [laughs] She never really wanted me to go into business for myself. Having run her own companies, she understood the stress and uncertainty that come with entrepreneurship, especially compared to the stability of a 9-to-5. For her, security was everything, and if it were up to her, I’d stay in the corporate world until retirement.
But over time, she saw I needed something more, a new challenge, something I could truly build and call my own. When I finally launched my business, she noticed the shift in me right away. It wasn’t about the money or even the freedom, it was about purpose. Being my own boss brought a sense of peace and joy that I hadn’t felt in years.
What inspired such a significant career change?
I always wanted to be an entrepreneur but could never figure out exactly what I wanted to do. When Covid hit, a close friend of mine in the banking industry was laid off from his job. He had clients that owned a trucking company, and they inspired him to get his CDL and purchase his own truck.
A few years into it, he was telling me about being an owner-operator. I said, ‘Let me take a look at financials and maybe we can go into business together.’ I thought we’d build it up, and if all went well, I’d quit my corporate job and do it full time. We purchased a new truck, and I agreed to do all financial operating behind the scenes, while he’d be more hands-on with personnel, like training drivers.
Tell us about those early days.
About four months into it, my partner and I had to part ways, and I got laid off. So, I suddenly found myself out of a corporate job and had just started a brand-new company in an industry I knew nothing about.
But my take on life is: if you do something, be the best at it. You have to submerge yourself 200%. Long story short, I went to CDL school. My very first run was across the country, Pennsylvania to California, so I had to learn as much as possible in a short amount of time – how weigh stations work, how to fuel up a truck, how to use the Relay app. I went from not knowing how to open the hood of truck to doing my own oil change.
How did you learn the industry so fast?
I was lucky that my business partner had already been in trucking three years and knew a lot of local companies that he introduced me to. In the early months, I spent all my free time in their offices, their shops, talking to people and learning everything I could.
There was no such thing as “bad” information. Which truck is better to buy, which broker is better to work with, how to take care of issues on the road, what services to sign up for to get a better deal, which supplier to buy tires from.
“Your chances of initial survival in this business increase by 99% as long as you have a network that can provide guidance.”
Coming from a corporate environment, how did that structure compare to your expectations for the unpredictable nature of the trucking industry?
You have to embrace things as they come and learn from every experience. I remember the very first time my truck broke down on the road in the middle of Georgia. I didn’t have any road service contracts, I couldn’t really explain what was wrong with the truck. But every problem has a solution. I had many corporate fires that prepared me for things to come.
It took some time, but I was able to find road service that went above and beyond finding parts after midnight and fixing my truck. I didn’t go to sleep until 4am that night. The worry, excitement, and accomplishment were feelings very similar to when I graduated college. I’d thrown myself into a pit and didn’t know how to get out of it but was able to make it happen. Failure was not an option!
What advice would you give to other professionals considering a career shift into trucking?
In corporate life, I knew every other Friday I’d have a paycheck. In trucking, there were plenty of months I took a $0 salary because there was so little to take. But careful and smart planning is key to success. My first year was a roller coaster of constant unknown. But corporate or not, I believe in always being prepared. I learned from my mother to take logical steps to resolve issues and not act on emotions.
What do you love most about the independence of trucking?
This country cannot survive without trucking. It’s nice to know that your decisions, your contribution, help someone every day. I get to act on my ideas for how to make things better. With my own business, I have 90% control of my life, my fate, my future. It gives me the drive to move forward. It’s all about enjoying the process. I’m on call 24/7, but at least If I’m up at 3am, or spending weekends at the shop, I know why.
“I want to have freedom of movement. That’s what the trucking industry can offer, and Amazon Relay makes it easy to accomplish.”
What do you love about Relay?
Trust, security, and stability! On other load boards, you’re working with hundreds of brokers. Every time I find load I’m interested in, I have to register and do paperwork, which can take an hour, so the load might be gone. But with Amazon, I’m already approved as a Relay carrier. I just book the load directly. Amazon can provide enough workload year-round for companies that don’t have their own trailers.
What’s convenient about Relay?
If I have an internet connection, I can continue business. Looking for loads, assigning loads – I’ve done it all while traveling. I just need a phone or tablet.
I don’t need to talk to brokers or a factoring company to make sure I get paid. I know Amazon’s secure. Relay pays carriers every week, which eliminates the need for us to sign up with a factoring company. On average, these companies charge you 1-2%, which adds up.
What are your goals for growing your business?
My mom gave me everything without ever asking for anything in return. Now, I want to give back. I want her to enjoy life on her terms and have the retirement she truly deserves.
My goal is to grow this business to a fleet of 30 to 50 trucks and use it as a launching pad for bigger ventures, like opening CDL training schools and developing commercial lots with truck shops. The direction will ultimately depend on market conditions, but that’s what excites me. This industry is constantly evolving. And as my own boss, I have the freedom to adapt and grow in any direction I choose.
Want in on the growth?
The trucking industry rewards those willing to learn and adapt, especially when given the right opportunities and support. Amazon Relay offers 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.
