Amazon Relay has thousands of spot loads daily to help carriers fill their scheduling gaps, and our load board refreshes booking opportunities every thirty seconds. When combined with Relay contracts, spot freight can offer flexibility and financial freedom. Here’s how.
What is spot freight?
Spot freight is a load booked “on the spot.” It’s on-demand, rather than involving a long-term service agreement. That’s why carriers tend to think of spot loads as “fast freight” and contracts as “fixed freight.” Carriers can book spot freight loads and get moving if they have the equipment and availability to match.
On Amazon Relay, you book spot loads directly—no freight broker needed. You see the load, you book the load, you haul the load. This direct relationship means faster decisions, transparent rates, and no middleman fees.
What is spot freight vs. trucking contracts?
Trucking contracts cover predictable freight volume and lanes over a period of time. But when it comes to last-minute shipments, custom orders, or routes disrupted by natural disasters, shippers rely on spot freight.
Here’s why:
- Ownership: Spot trucking lets carriers cherry pick the loads they want and where they go. Some Relay spot loads even offer options for pick-up times.
- Flexibility: With spot loads, carriers aren’t locked in to one shipper. This independence allows them to supplement contracts, or haul with different shippers to meet their business’s needs.
- Load variety: With the ability to go between backhauls, one-ways, and everything in between, carriers can build more experience, whereas contracts tend to dabble in the same type and commodity of freight.
Amazon Relay’s load board also offers:
- Personalized load recommendations based on your past searches and booking history.
- Cancellation replacement suggestions to help avoid the last-minute scramble.
- Reload recommendations to find recommendations for return trips.
How do I find spot freight?
Amazon Relay’s load board has thousands of spot loads including drayage, reefer, box trucks, and more. Carriers can save their preferences for ideal loads based on:
- Trailer status
- Equipment type
- Load type
- Driver type
- Desired payout
- Maximum number of stops
- Trip length
But here’s where Relay goes beyond traditional load boards with Post A Truck. You can also post your truck’s availability, location, and preferences once—then Relay’s technology automatically books matching spot loads that fit your criteria.
Why carriers love Relay for spot freight
Your company doesn’t need to work across 10 load boards to find freight. Relay has spot loads for carriers with and without trailers, all with the reliability of a reputable partner. Whether you’re looking next adventure or want to make it back in time for dinner, here’s why Amazon Relay’s spot loads might be your best bet.
- Efficiency: Relay’s tech streamlines the booking and dispatch processes. With a one-stop shop for a steady stream of spot freight, you can focus on operations.
- Rate negotiations: On select spot loads, you can use Relay’s AI-powered chat tool to name your own price. You may receive a counteroffer.
- Driver safety: Peace of mind with truck-friendly navigation and weather alerts in the Relay mobile app.
- Less time waiting: Fast loading and unloading for box trucks, containers, and 53ft’ dry vans.
- Lower overhead costs: Less money spent on fuel and wear-and-tear with loads that average ~25K pounds.
- Fair compensation: Relay offers weekly payments and separate fuel surcharges that are updated as the market fluctuates.
- Deals and discounts: Exclusive pricing on fuel, tires, truck rentals, and more.
- Esteem: Hauling an Amazon smile behind your trucks means your business is the real deal.
What equipment do I need to haul spot loads for Amazon Relay?
Amazon has loads for the following equipment types:
- Tractor: Day cab, 26' box truck,* and sleeper cab
- Trailers: 48’ trailer, 53’ dry van, and reefer
*Box Truck: 26’ dock height box truck with tuck-under lift gate required. Interior cargo dimensions at least 26’x8’x8’ (LxWxH)
Sign up for Relay to book spot freight
There’s no shortage of spot loads on Relay’s load board. Ready to see what’s available? Sign up to get rolling. You can download the Relay app on iOS or Android to get started and track your application’s progress on the go.
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.
