Amazon Relay: Comprehensive Guide to Requirements, Benefits, and Optimization

Thinking about joining Amazon’s Relay program, but not sure if it’s worth it?

Good news, it can be a game-changer for your delivery business.

Amazon Logistics now handles nearly a quarter of deliveries, shipping more than 4.8 billion packages in the US alone, beating FedEx, which delivered 4.1 billion parcels. That means there’s massive potential for businesses like yours to partner up and grow.

The Amazon Relay program connects fleet owners with Amazon’s delivery network, giving access to thousands of loads every day and helping you earn more with fewer empty miles.

In this post, we’ll explain how Amazon Relay works, what you’ll need to get started, the benefits, and how using route scheduling software can take your profits to the next level.

What is Amazon Relay?

Amazon Relay is a logistics service by Amazon that connects trucking companies, fleet owners, and independent drivers with Amazon’s freight network. It enables partners to transport and deliver Amazon goods efficiently while accessing steady loads and reliable payouts.

One of the best parts about the Amazon Relay program is that it allows delivery and logistics businesses to grow alongside Amazon’s expanding network.

Companies with the vehicles and capacity to handle large shipment volumes can easily join the program. This partnership between Amazon and fleet operators has created a win-win ecosystem, opening new opportunities for revenue and long-term growth.

With the Amazon Relay app, carriers can manage loads from anywhere, whether they’re at a fuel stop, parking lot, or even a grocery checkout, as long as they have mobile network access.

How Does Amazon Relay Work?

Amazon Relay is a program that allows you to join the Amazon Load Board. This program connects owner operators with the Amazon freight network. It is a network of Amazon load postings available with all transparency, ensuring that relay drivers can easily access and book weeks’ worth of trucking schedules ahead of time.

The Relay Load Board is where the ‘work’ is posted. Instead of Amazon assigning loads or planning each route, it is posted on the Amazon Relay service that registered users, including box trucks and owner operators, can then view. This service is also absolutely free for any business to register.

Organizations with large volumes of deliverable load can also post them on the portal. Fleet owners and truck services can then easily select the ones that fall under their schedule and run these routes.

Amazon Relay ensures service owners’ consistency in load delivery work throughout the year. In addition, the important thing to understand is that Amazon alone cannot handle the billions of load fulfillment it receives. 

This is where service partners like fleet services play an important role. Amazon ensures the smooth and timely delivery of goods by partnering with local fleet services like yours.

Joining Amazon Relay

Amazon sets strict standards for its Relay partners. Carriers need to maintain a satisfactory safety record, hold the right insurance coverage, use recommended equipment, and follow all additional requirements set by Amazon.

Requirements for Fleet Owners

Let’s clearly understand all the requirements to join Amazon Relay in detail.

1. Fleet Owner Criteria

For owners who own small or large fleets, Amazon requires:

• Valid and active DOT identification number
• Valid MC number (Interstate Authority).
• HOS compliance to adhere to commercial driving hours.
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) safety rating is required. 
• Amazon demands an acceptable Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) safety rating of “Satisfactory”,  “None”, or “Not rated”.
• “Carrier” entity type Authorized for Property and Hire.

Documentation Needed

In addition to essential requirements like an active DOT number and a valid MC number from the interstate authority, Amazon also evaluates other factors such as vehicle maintenance, Hours of Service (HOS) compliance, and driver performance scores. To qualify for approval, carriers must maintain a minimum score of 60% or higher across these key metrics.

2. Insurance requirements

Besides the above documents, fleet service owners must also discuss Amazon Relay insurance requirements with an insurance company, as mentioned on the official Amazon website. 

Amazon Relay insurance requirements include: 

Minimum Coverage Levels

• Commercial General Liability of a minimum $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in aggregate is the primary insurance requirement of Amazon Relay. Commercial general liability covers typical bodily injury or property damage caused by your services, for instance. 
• Auto Liability includes $2,000,000 in the aggregate Auto Liability and not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence, with $50,000 trailer replacement coverage. This entails commercial vehicle insurance. All damages caused by vehicular accidents come under this insurance.
• Commercial Auto Insurance is applicable if you use a truck or van for commercial purposes. Commercial insurance coverage includes damages or injuries caused by accidents.
• Cargo coverage of a minimum of $100,000. This insurance deals with all damages to goods while in transit.
• Workers’ Compensation insurance covers all areas where your company operates. All employees under your company will have mandatory workers’ compensation insurance. 
• Employer Liability of a minimum of $100,000 per occurrence. Lastly, employer liability protects against employment issues ranging from discrimination to wrongful termination. 

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Compliance issues: Read and understand Amazon’s strict policy, including commercial general liability and auto liability insurance, so your policy doesn’t get rejected. 
• Incomplete documentation: Be precise when it comes to paperwork and ensure you don’t have any missing pages or outdated information, and submit them only after double-checking them.

3. Vehicle Specifications

Box truck requirements

Amazon Relay allows fleet operators to use trailers, dry van trailers, box trucks, day cabs, sleeper cabs, reefers, etc., with interior cargo dimensions of at least 26ft x 8ft x 8ft.

The size requirement for the Amazon Relay box truck is as follows:

• Tractor: Day cab, Sleeper cab, Box Truck.
• Trailer: Reefer, 53’ Dry van, 28’ Trailer.

Additional Specifications

Service operators must use the Amazon Relay app. This app assists truck drivers by providing key details like delivery schedules, gate access information, and other essential updates to help them reach their destinations efficiently.

Ensure that your iPhone operates with iOS 11 and that your Android devices are at least version of Android 7 or higher.

These are just device requirements to ensure that the mobile app runs smoothly.

Why Should You Join Amazon Relay?

Joining the Amazon Relay program is a great way to boost the profit of your trucking company and the trucking industry in general, offering credibility like never before.

Partnering with Amazon is a fantastic step towards significant business growth, connecting you to a vast network of potential customers and a constant flow of accessible loads on the Load Board.

From a business standpoint, the Amazon Relay program is a wonderful strategy to reach more customers and find new prospects that turn into loyal and long-term customers. This program gives access to Amazon’s extensive Load Boards, offering you the chance to effectively book loads and expand your business.

Key advantages for trucking businesses

• Amazon Relay ensures a steady stream of loads, minimizing downtime for carriers.​
• Fast, hassle-free payments, typically processed weekly and directly to your account.​
• Flexible short-term contracts and advanced booking features suit different business needs.​
• The driver app is modern, simple, and provides essential updates and navigation.​
• Advanced technology and tools help boost efficiency and grow your trucking business.

Optimizing Your Amazon Relay Operations

Using Route Optimization Software

Deploying route optimization software can help you plan and optimize routes based on multiple constraints, including traffic, vehicle capacity specifics, drivers’ availability, customers’ preferences, and delivery windows. 

Moreover, you can make changes to your routes based on real-time situations, such as emergencies or accidents, and redistribute stops among drivers so deliveries don’t get impacted. 

Strategic Route Planning

Amazon Relay’s mobile app can help you plan truck routes for commercial drivers, including truck-friendly routes that avoid load-restricted roads, low bridges, or residential areas. It also provides real-time notifications and alerts, which help drivers navigate routes efficiently. 

You can also use the “Post a Truck” feature to indicate your truck’s availability. Amazon’s automated system will then match your trucks with appropriate loads, which will reduce your idle time and enhance overall efficiency. 

Maintaining high-performance metrics

Amazon Relay uses a performance scoring system to evaluate carriers, which shows how capable a carrier is and whether it can carry desired loads. This score depends on four key metrics, including on-time delivery percentage, acceptance rate, app usage, and disruption-free delivery. 

Tips for Maintaining Scorecards

• Prioritize on-time arrivals at all types of locations, including pickups and deliveries.
• Use the app properly and log your activities so your timestamps are recorded accurately. 
• Be selective when accepting loads to ensure a high acceptance rate. This is because load rejection just before the pickup time can affect your carrier’s performance score. 
• Ensure your drivers don’t shut the app while on their trip to provide continuous location availability. 

Leverage Upper Solo for Success

If you’re ready to join the Amazon Relay program, the next step is ensuring your operations run as efficiently as possible.

That’s where Upper Solo comes in.

A smart, all-in-one route optimization app designed for independent delivery drivers and small fleet owners. It helps Amazon Relay partners complete more deliveries in less time while reducing planning stress and fuel costs.

Features of Upper Solo

1. Optimized Route Planning

Upper Solo uses advanced algorithms to plan the fastest, most efficient delivery routes. It automatically considers real-time traffic, weather conditions, driver breaks, and delivery priorities to help you stay on schedule and avoid unnecessary detours, ensuring smoother, on-time deliveries every day.

2. Stops Uploading and Optimization

Say goodbye to manual route planning. Upload your stops via CSV or Excel, and Upper Solo instantly optimizes the sequence for the least travel time. You can also make on-the-go edits, re-optimize in seconds, and save your preferred routes for repeat schedules.

3. Seamless Integration

Connect your Amazon Relay workflow directly with Upper Solo for a seamless delivery experience:

• Select your assigned load in the Amazon Relay app.
• Generate the optimized route instantly in Upper Solo.
• Dispatch or follow the route directly from your phone with turn-by-turn navigation.
• Track route progress, mark completed stops, and stay synced with Relay’s load board for real-time visibility.

4. Driver Analytics & Performance Insights

Upper Solo also gives you detailed delivery stats, including route completion time, distance traveled, and missed stops, helping you identify performance trends and improve future routes.

5. Proof of Delivery (POD)

Collect digital proof of every completed stop, including photos, e-signatures, and delivery notes, right from the app. This ensures complete transparency and helps you resolve disputes quickly.

With these tools, you’ll be equipped to handle twice as many Amazon deliveries as before, streamlining operations and boosting profitability

Conclusion

Getting a fleet service off the ground is no small task. Fortunately, today’s technology makes managing operations far easier, even in challenging times.

Amazon Relay is one such platform that helps fleet owners expand their reach and tap into a larger customer base.

However, planning multiple multi-stop routes can quickly become overwhelming for trucking companies, often resulting in scheduling errors, miscommunication, and unsatisfied customers.

That’s why using a dedicated route planning and optimization tool like Upper is essential. It streamlines planning, minimizes confusion, and ensures your deliveries run smoothly from start to finish.

You can easily sign up for a 3 days free trial with Upper to improve delivery efficiency and increase profits.