John Hartland, Director of North America Surface Transportation, presented these announcements in a keynote at RelayCon 2026.
Last year, Amazon’s network delivered 13 billion items same or next day around the world. 8 billion in the U.S. alone.
That kind of growth doesn’t happen without building for it. Here’s what’s going up, what’s getting smarter, and what it means for the carriers who move this freight.
Facilities designed to move faster than ever
Relay sits on top of one of the densest logistics network in North America. More than 80,000 Amazon trailers. Fulfillment centers, sort centers, delivery stations, air hubs, all connected by lanes running 24/7, 365. That density means shorter deadheads, more reloads, and consistent freight regardless of what the spot market does on any given Tuesday.
This year, Amazon is opening two mega sort facilities in Texas and California.
- At 1.6 million square feet each, they’re 6 times the size of standard sort centers.
- They’re built for speed: nearly 2 million packages a day, hundreds of trailers loaded across 470 dock doors.
- The majority of the work is drop-and-hook, so there’s less time waiting and more time hauling.
Two more of these facilities are planned by 2028.
Amazon trailer safety improvements
We’re investing just as heavily in the trailers you haul.
- Maintenance sensors: Today, over 96% of Amazon’s trailers have tire pressure and anti-lock braking system sensors that send us real-time maintenance signals. Our goal is to get that to 100%.
- On-site repairs: We’ve expanded on-site repair capabilities and positioned parts where they’re needed, so vendors can fix issues and get trailers back on the road faster. Over the next year, we’re enhancing preventative maintenance inspections to catch problems earlier.
- Maintenance camera pilot: This year, we’ll test cameras that scan trailers for mud flaps the second they enter a yard.
More ways to run your routes
Whether you want to go deeper in your current lanes, or expand into new ones, here’s where Amazon is developing thousands of new load opportunities:
- Temperature-controlled freight: Amazon’s grocery business is growing fast. That means reefer loads on Relay are, too. 40+ new sites are launching, and same-day grocery delivery is increasing from 1,000 to 2,300 locations, with primary hubs in California, the Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic.
- Less-than-truckload: We’re adding 42 terminals this year, up from 31. 11 new metro areas are coming online.
- Expanded load options: Box truck loads, multi-stop milk runs, long haul team and solo routes—all growing. The same ability to choose how you run, with even more diversity and flexibility in route options.
Join Relay for the opportunity ahead
Amazon’s freight network is scaling. 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 requirements to make sure hauling for 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. For more about our efforts against fraud and cargo theft, see our trustworthy transportation page.
