Everybody and their mama is talking about Amazon Relay like it’s the golden ticket But truth is… most new carriers get denied or get starved out because they didn’t know what Amazon actually expects.

Here’s what you need before you even think about applying and what to do once you’re in if you wanna keep those loads flowing.

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1. Insurance Requirements (Non-negotiable) Amazon don’t play when it comes to coverage. Here’s what they require just to approve your application:

→ $1 MILLION in auto liability

→ $100,000 cargo insurance

→ $50,000 trailer interchange (in case you use their trailers)

→ Workers Comp if you have drivers (some states require it even if you don’t)

→ General Liability (at least $1M / $2M recommended)

Hot tip…Your COI has to list Amazon as a certificate holder AND show 24/7 coverage. No gaps. No handwritten edits. Don’t submit a janky doc or you’ll be instantly denied.

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2. Authority Age (Yes, they check it)

→ Amazon usually wants your MC to be at least 180 days old

→ BUT they’ve approved younger authorities in slower markets or if you have clean documents + strong insurance

If you’re under 30 days old, don’t expect much unless you’ve got a leased-on history or killer setup.

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3. Equipment Requirements

→ 26’ box truck (dock high, liftgate preferred for certain loads)

→ Or a full semi setup with a 53’ dry van

→ Amazon won’t approve pickups or smaller rigs for Relay….period.

Keep your rig clean, legal, and branded if you can …Amazon watches everything from DOT violations to on-time performance.

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4. Load Tips (How to actually get loads once you’re in)

→ Start in slower markets—big cities = crazy competition

→ Run on-time, every time—Amazon tracks late arrivals HARD

→ Accept what you can at first..even if the rate’s mid …to build your performance score → Try night runs, weekends, and solo lanes to stand out

Pro tip….Once you build a high score, you’ll get early access to better-paying blocks. Screw up a few times, and you’ll get ghosted from the board.

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5. Payment Terms

→ They pay weekly—no factoring needed

→ Set up your Relay account with bank info, and you’re good to go

→ You can track payouts in the app after each load is marked delivered

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Should you run Amazon Relay?…..

If you’re brand new with a clean setup and no direct shippers yet…it’s a great way to get moving. But if your rates are high and you’ve got other freight lined up? You might outgrow Relay fast.

For anyone who has applied and been declined from relay, can you apply again?