Amazon Relay: load board & trucking contracts for carriers
Amazon Relay is a free web portal and mobile app where approved trucking companies find, book, and manage verified loads, with no freight broker and no minimum fleet size. Carriers book spot freight on the load board, match loads automatically with Post A Truck, bid on lanes in auctions, or secure round-trip contracts.
From roundtables in every region to office hours online, carrier feedback directly shapes how Relay’s booking options are designed and improved. With Relay’s mobile app, you can even book and manage trips on the go. Here’s how to find loads.
| Option | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Load board | One-off spot freight loads. Amazon has facilities in every state, and most loads are lightweight drop-and-hook | Filling gaps and staying flexible |
| Post A Truck | Post your minimum rate along with when and where you want to go, for a chance to automatically book loads that match your criteria | Hands-off matching |
| Auctions | Single or bulk bid on lanes, with full transparency into each auction’s remaining time and leading bid. Most auctions are one-way | Backhauls and naming your price |
| Round-trip contracts | Secure full schedules and steady revenue in advance with single or multi-week contracts | Stable revenue |
| Equipment marketplace | Rent your company’s unused trailers to Amazon to reduce idle time | Idle trailers |
Thousands of loads drop on Amazon Relay all day long. Find your city below (for example, “Ontario, CA”) for a snapshot of loads available in your area right now.
To join Amazon’s freight network, carriers must meet these minimum requirements. Apply even if your DOT authority has not been active for 180 days, and Relay will keep you updated on key program news while you wait. See our requirements.
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| DOT and MC numbers | DOT number with interstate authority, active for at least 180 days, and a valid MC number |
| Entity type | “Carrier,” authorized for property and for hire |
| FMCSA safety rating | Satisfactory, None or Not Rated |
| BASIC scores | Unsafe Driving below 60%, HOS Compliance below 60%, Vehicle Maintenance below 75%, Controlled Substances/Alcohol below 75%, Driver Fitness below 75% |
| Violation rates | Driver violation rate at or below 35%, vehicle violation rate at or below 50% |
| Commercial general liability | At least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate |
| Auto liability | At least $1,000,000 per occurrence, including trailer replacement coverage of $50,000 |
| Cargo coverage | At least $100,000 |
| Workers’ compensation | In all jurisdictions where your company operates |
| Employer liability | At least $100,000 per occurrence |
Drivers: a carrier invites its drivers to create a profile in the Relay app. Drivers complete identity verification with a selfie and a photo of their driver’s license, and provide details for a background check before hauling Amazon Relay loads.
| Category | Accepted equipment |
|---|---|
| Tractors | Day cab and sleeper cab |
| Box trucks | 26' and 16' box trucks, each with a functional tuck-under lift gate |
| Trailers | 48' trailer, 53' dry van, 53' reefer, and 20', 40' and 45' high cube containers (UIIA compliant) |
Carriers tell us their drivers like Relay’s commercial navigation and fast check-ins. See how truckers use the Amazon Relay mobile app and the app’s safety features.
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Route schedule and notifications | Drivers see assigned loads and get real-time alerts for changes |
| Quick check-ins | Automated facility check-in and check-out and electronic in-yard instructions reduce driver dwell time at the gate and in the yards |
| Commercial navigation | Truck-specific navigation guides drivers to yard entry gates while accounting for low bridges, weight limits and other restrictions |
| Search along route | Drivers can add stops such as fuel, food and parking when planning trip |
What is Amazon Relay?
Amazon Relay is a free web portal and mobile app where approved trucking companies find, book and manage Amazon freight. Carriers book spot loads, contracts and auctions directly, with no freight broker and no minimum fleet size.
Is Amazon Relay free to use?
Yes. Amazon Relay is free for approved carriers, who book loads directly with Amazon and not through a freight broker.
What are the carrier requirements to haul loads with Amazon?
In order to join Amazon’s freight network, you must meet the following minimum requirements:
- A DOT number, with interstate authority and that has been active for a minimum of 180 days, and a valid MC number. Apply even if your DOT authority hasn’t been active for 180 days and we’ll keep you updated on key program news while you wait to join our network.
- A “Carrier” entity type that is Authorized for Property and for Hire
- A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Safety Rating of “Satisfactory,” “None,” or “Not Rated”
- Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASIC) scores:
- Unsafe Driving below 60%
- HOS Compliance below 60%
- Vehicle Maintenance below 75%
- Controlled Substances/Alcohol below 75%
- Driver Fitness below 75%
-
- Driver violation rate at or below 35%
- Vehicle violation rate at or below 50%
- All required insurance policies including:
- Commercial General Liability not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate
- Auto Liability not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence, including a trailer replacement coverage of $50,000
- Cargo coverage of at least $100,000
- Workers’ compensation insurance in all jurisdictions where your company operates
- Employer liability not less than $100,000 per occurrence
When can I start moving loads?
Once we receive your company’s completed application, the application will be approved or rejected within 1-3 weeks. Delays, if any, will be due to validation of insurance information. Amazon urges you to have all data ready prior to applying and reach out to your insurance provider in the event of any delays. Once your application is approved and you complete a few digital courses in Relay’s Learning Center, you’ll immediately be able to book loads from our load board. You will also be able to access Amazon Relay Portal FAQs and operating guides for existing carriers that will provide useful information on how to operate successfully within our network.
When will I get paid for completed loads?
Payment cycle runs weekly from Sunday-Saturday. Everything completed before 23:59 Saturday will be paid out the following week on Friday.
What types of loads can I book on Amazon Relay?
Carriers can book one-off spot loads on the load board, match loads automatically with Post A Truck, bid on lanes in auctions, or secure single or multi-week round-trip contracts. Relay also has an equipment marketplace where carriers can rent unused trailers to Amazon.
Does Amazon tender loads through any third-party load boards?
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.
Can shippers book trucks through Amazon Relay?
No. Amazon Relay is for trucking companies that haul Amazon freight. It is not a service for booking a truck for your own shipment. You’re looking for Amazon Freight.
What are the service level expectations?
Amazon requires that carriers ensure the highest level of safety and performance, including:
- Compliance with safety, DOT and insurance requirements.
- On-time delivery to delight our customer promise.
- Consistent tender acceptance.
- Execute loads using Amazon Relay technology.
You can view our complete performance expectations in the Amazon Relay Carrier Terms of Service when you onboard.
