Thinking about hauling with Relay? While accessing Amazon Relay is free—there are no subscription fees or costs to join—you’ll need to meet specific insurance requirements to book and execute loads.
Here’s what coverage typically costs, why these standards exist, and how to manage your premiums.
What do Amazon Relay’s insurance requirements typically cost?
Carriers ultimately decide who they get their coverage from. Newer carriers typically pay between $12,000 and $18,000 annually for the required coverage (your MC must be active for at least 180 days before you haul with Relay). Experienced carriers with clean records often pay $8,000 to $14,000. Fleet operations vary based on size and safety history.
Amazon Relay requires several types of trucking insurance. You’ll need:
- $100,000 in cargo coverage
- $1,000,000 in auto liability per occurrence - standard across major freight brokers
- $1,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 aggregate in general liability
If you’re running a semi, you’ll also need $50,000 in trailer interchange coverage. Companies with W-2 employees need Workers’ Compensation meeting state guidelines and $100,000 in Employers Liability per occurrence.
What affects my trucking insurance costs?
Your premium isn’t just about meeting minimum requirements. Insurance companies use several factors determine what you’ll actually pay.
- Your driving history and experience: Carriers with clean records and years of experience generally pay less than new operators (Relay requires your MC number to be active for at least 180 days).
- Type and age of your equipment: Newer, well-maintained vehicles often qualify for better rates.
- Your operating radius: Regional operations typically cost less to insure than long-haul routes.
- Your claims history: Even one claim can increase your premiums for years. Your credit score also influences rates, as insurers use it to assess risk.
- Safety protocols and technology: Carriers who invest in driver training, vehicle maintenance, and safety technology often see lower premiums.
As your business grows or your operations change, your insurance needs might evolve. Adding vehicles, hiring drivers, or expanding your operating radius can all affect what coverage you need and what you pay for it.
How can I reduce my trucking insurance costs?
As part of our deals and discounts for onboarded Relay carriers, we offer the opportunity to recieve competitive quotes through McGriff Insurance on coverage that meets Amazon’s requirements.
Here are some extra tips to decrease what you pay your insurance company.
- Invest in driver training. Regular safety meetings, defensive driving courses, and Hours of Service compliance training all demonstrate your commitment to safety. Insurers often reward this with lower premiums. Document everything—completion certificates and training records help when you’re negotiating rates with insurers. Relay’s Learning Center offers free, optional courses on safety, maintenance, and compliance that you can bulk assign to drivers.
- Keep up with vehicle maintenance. Detailed records of all repairs and inspections matter. Create pre-trip inspection protocols and stick to preventive maintenance schedules. Well-maintained equipment breaks down less often and causes fewer accidents, which insurers notice.
- Use technology to your advantage. ELD compliance is required by the FMCSA, but adding dash cameras, GPS tracking, and telematics may lower your rates. These tools help you monitor driver behavior, prove fault in accidents, and demonstrate safe operations. Many insurers offer discounts for carriers who use them. Relay also offers cash bonuses for collision-free miles while using approved dash cams (another cost reduction strategy).
- Build a clean safety record. This takes time, but it’s the most effective way to reduce insurance costs. Every year without a claim improves your rates. Every positive roadside inspection helps (Relay monitors inspection violation rates). Focus on staying compliant with FMCSA regulations and maintaining your DOT safety rating—Relay provides a Safety Scorecard for carriers to monitor their safety records.
Keeping safety top of mind is also Amazon’s priority. Relay’s thresholds for BASIC scores are 5% lower than federal standards, meaning our safety demands are stricter for hauling loads.
How does Relay track trucking insurance compliance?
You submit your current insurance certificates when you apply to Relay. Before your policy expires, you’ll add your updated certificate of insurance through the Insurance tab in your company’s Relay account. We recommend doing this at least 5 days before your policy ends to give Amazon enough time for verification.
Plan to renew at least two to three weeks before your expiration date. This gives RMIS time to update their records and helps you avoid any service interruptions. If your insurance coverage lapses, your company won’t be able to book or haul Relay loads until it’s reinstated.
Ready to apply?
Once you’ve got your trucking insurance in place and meet Relay’s other carrier requirements, you can apply to join Amazon’s freight network. Start your Relay application on your desktop or in our app on iOS or Android.
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.
