Amazon Relay empowers carriers to find freight that fit their business, whether it’s spot loads on our load board or dedicated contracts. Trucking businesses of any size are eligible to sign up with Relay if they meet our safety, insurance, and other qualifications.
Here’s what you need to know about becoming a Relay carrier, including how to apply for Relay, so your business can start hauling Amazon loads.
What is a Relay carrier?
Relay carriers are trucking businesses that have been fully approved to book and haul Amazon loads. Relay carriers haul loads from facility to facility, helping packages get one step closer to home (or wherever their destination may be). Whether they like long-haul adventures or prefer to get home every night, all Relay carriers must meet our requirements in order to become, and stay, part of the Relay program.
What are the minimum insurance requirements?
Before you begin your application, make sure your company’s insurance is up-to-date and meets these requirements:
- Commercial general liability not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 maximum
- Auto liability not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence, including trailer replacement coverage of $50,000
- Cargo coverage of at least $100,000
- Workers’ compensation insurance in all areas where your company operates
- Employer liability not less than $100,000 per occurrence
What are the BASIC score requirements?
Amazon takes safety seriously, so we use BASIC scores and roadside inspection violation data as our standards for keeping our network safe and secure. Here’s what we require:
Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs):
- 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%
What else do I need to apply?
- DOT number with interstate authority active for a minimum of 180 days
- Valid MC number
- “Carrier” entity type authorized for property and for hire
- FMCSA Safety Rating of “Satisfactory,” “None,” or “Not Rated”
If you’ve got your documentation ready, start applying. You can use your existing Amazon shopping account to begin, or create a new account with a different email address.
How do I fill out an application?
You can submit all application materials in as little as 20 minutes on relay.amazon.com or the Relay app (iOS or Android). Make sure to match your application details to the FMCSA database, down to the last dash. We’ll confirm your information instantly so you can continue with the rest of your application. The whole process looks like this:
- DOT number
- Company details
- One-time password verification
- Equipment inventory
- Payment information
What should I expect after I apply?
Amazon generally reviews completed applications within three weeks. If you’re approved, you can start taking Relay’s digital onboarding courses and begin booking loads. Your company may also get access to more types of booking as your company’s performance score and tenure grows.
What type of equipment do I need?
There are thousands of loads up for grabs for Relay carriers that can be hauled with lots of different trucking equipment, including:
- 53’ dry van
- 53’ refrigerated trailers
- 26’ standard and refrigerated box trucks
- 28’ trailers
We offer both trailer-provided and trailer-required loads. There are no fleet size requirements to apply to be a carrier with Amazon, but you can always update your equipment inventory after approval.
Why do Relay carriers like Relay?
Amazon has local and long-haul trucking loads available across the US, all of which are posted and booked on Relay’s carrier portal and app. With transparent pricing and one-click booking, approved carriers can find the freight that will keep trucks moving.
- Payment: See the all-in rate right on Relay’s free load board and contracts, and get paid weekly for your completed hauls. Relay also offers opportunities to name your own price.
- Flexibility: Relay carriers can choose to book loads that starts in a few hours or book weeks to months of routes in advance. With the size of the Amazon freight network, free time is a choice, but we don’t have minimum load requirements to stay in Relay’s program, either.
- Discounts: Relay carriers may also be eligible for trucking industry discounts – including special deals on fuel, truck rentals, insurance, tires, preventative maintenance, toll management, and more.
Sign up for Amazon Relay
If you have what we need, start your Relay carrier application. You can also download the Relay app on iOS or Android to get started and track your application’s progress on the go. For more information on how to become a carrier with Amazon Relay or what to expect, visit our FAQ page.
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.
