Based out of Fresno, California, Harpreet “Happy” Singh built his trucking business Pristine Transport with his father. We sat down to talk about how they’re able to continue their family legacy of “hard work, discipline, and dignity” with the help of Amazon Relay’s trucking opportunities.
How long has your family been in trucking?
It started with my grandfather. He bought his first truck back in ‘96 in India. He had his own factory, retreading used tires. He wanted to have his own supply chain, getting all the materials on his own trucks to save some costs.
He laid the foundation for our family with a small fleet, treated his drivers like family. He took great pride in his work and kept his trucks flawless, neat and clean.
“Trucking was our past, and then it became our future. And it will be until we leave this world. We didn’t choose trucking. It’s in the blood.”
What led you to the business you have now?
Once my grandfather passed away, my dad migrated to the U.S. in ‘98. He only had $10 and used to walk miles just to find a job, wearing a black industrial-style garbage bag as a makeshift coat when it rained.
He worked at a store, construction, driving taxis. When I was 13, I started helping, bringing my blanket out to his taxi to take dispatch calls, working at five in the morning so he could get some extra rest. With three siblings, we had a big family. Driving for someone else didn’t cut it in Fresno.
So, I got my CDL in 2015 and my father and I began trucking together in America. We started Pristine Transport back in 2020 during Covid.
“I can, as the owner of Pristine, still drive and manage a big fleet on the go. And I’ve been doing that for about six years.”
What changed when you started hauling with Amazon Relay?
Money started flowing in and all the doors started opening. Before Relay, I used to wake up at 4:30 in the morning, calling brokers and negotiating rates. You spend all that time trying to book a load, and next thing you know, the broker gives it to someone else. But with Relay, we can access a steadier flow of loads. And it’s all done by a small device we all already have: a cell phone.
With the help of Relay’s opportunities, I was able to buy a house for my family. Seeing my father finally enter a home that belonged to our family was incredibly emotional. The happiness and pride on his face said everything. He never allowed the bad days to break him into tiny pieces. For me, it was the ultimate American dream—that his son could build on everything he’d worked so hard for from 1998-2019.
There’s small houses, there’s big houses. But if you can have a house with every single member living comfortably, that’s the biggest dream anyone can dream of. That’s what I worked for.
“Trucking with Amazon is very different. Everything is so well planned and organized, and that makes the whole experience incredibly rewarding.”
How do your drivers feel about Amazon Relay?
Everyone works for money. But if you let the money part go and focus on the other part: stress, frustration, the waking up at different times every day. All that versus the stability I can provide my drivers through the loads on Relay. Depending on the schedule, drivers can get home more often and spend time with family. With all the options available on Amazon Relay, the drivers know there’s freight to haul. All our drivers have been with us for years.
What tips do you have for driver retention?
Treat them like you want to be treated. Simple as that. My drivers work with us because of the way we are, the way my dad has always been—humble and respectful.
The hardest thing for me is carrying the pressure that so many people right now depend on me to make ends meet. It’s not about keeping trucks moving. My drivers have families and financial responsibilities. Money matters, of course. But loyalty is rare, and I see that loyalty in my drivers every single day.
“Trucking with Relay is like a luxury on wheels. No one has the same system that Relay does.”
What does Amazon Relay mean to you?
For my family, it means stability. They get to see me home at the end of the day with peace of mind and smile on my face. For my drivers, it means they have consistent hauls and knowing that I’ll support them if something goes wrong.
With the spare time that I create by using Relay, I focus on my safety, maintenance, driver support, and keeping our performance where it needs to be for long term growth. Without Amazon Relay, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing right now.
Join Relay
Start your Relay application on desktop or our app on iOS or Android to join Amazon’s freight network. But first, check out Relay’s carrier requirementsto make sure hauling for Amazon is the right fit for your business. Here’s a snapshot of what the load board has to offer approved carriers.
Rates and volume shown are based on recent averages and may vary. Live rates are provided at the time of booking.
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. For more about our efforts against fraud and cargo theft, see our trustworthy transportation page.
