Amazon Relay for box trucks

Amazon Relay is Amazon's load board and booking platform for freight carriers. For box truck owners it is one of the few places where a large shipper posts freight directly, without a broker in the middle. It also has some of the strictest entry rules in box truck work. Here is what Amazon's own Relay pages say about box trucks, the requirements, how loads and pay work, the honest pros and cons, and how to mix Relay with broker freight.

Every requirement below comes from Amazon's public Relay pages, checked on October 21, 2026. Amazon changes these rules, so confirm in your Relay account.

Can box trucks run Amazon Relay?

Yes. Amazon's Relay FAQ lists two box truck types it accepts:

• a 26 ft box truck with a functional tuck-under liftgate
• a 16 ft box truck with a functional tuck-under liftgate

Relay's box truck page says there are more loads for 26 ft trucks. Drivers must arrive with a pallet jack and load straps.

Note the liftgate type: Relay asks for a tuck-under gate. If your truck has a rail lift or a cantilever gate, check with Relay before applying. The difference between gate types is in box truck with liftgate.

Amazon Flex is a different program from Relay, with its own rules. Relay is the program for freight carriers with their own authority.

Amazon Relay box truck requirements

Requirement	What Amazon's Relay pages say
Authority	DOT number with interstate authority, active for a minimum of 180 days, and a valid MC number
Applying early	Allowed; Relay typically requires the 180 days before onboarding is completed
Safety rating	FMCSA rating of Satisfactory, None or Not Rated
BASIC scores	Unsafe Driving and HOS Compliance under 60%; Vehicle Maintenance, Controlled Substances/Alcohol and Driver Fitness under 75%
Auto liability	$1,000,000 per occurrence
Cargo	$100,000
General liability	$1,000,000 per occurrence, $2,000,000 aggregate
Workers' comp	Meeting state guidelines, if you have W-2 employees, plus $100,000 employer's liability
Equipment	26 ft or 16 ft box truck with a functional tuck-under liftgate
On-site	Pallet jack and load straps

Two things stand out for new box truck carriers. The 180-day authority rule means most new MCs start with broker freight and join Relay later. And the general liability requirement is something many small carriers don't carry; add it to your insurance quote before you count on Relay. Our guide to box truck insurance covers what each line is.

ELD and hours-of-service rules come from FMCSA, not Amazon, and apply to Relay loads the same as any other freight.

How Relay loads and pay work

Finding box truck loads

Amazon's box truck page lists three free ways to find work:

1. The Relay load board, where you search and book loads
2. Post A Truck, where you post your truck's availability
3. Box truck contracts, recurring work offered inside Relay

Rates are shown at the time of booking. Amazon says the rates and volume it displays are based on recent averages and may vary.

How you get paid

Relay's FAQ says the payment cycle runs weekly from Sunday to Saturday, and work completed before 23:59 Saturday is paid the following Friday. That is faster than many brokers, which helps cash flow for a new box truck business.

What Amazon Relay box truck loads look like

Relay box truck freight is mostly Amazon network freight: moves between Amazon facilities and delivery stations, often with set appointment times, sometimes multi-stop. Expect strict check-in procedures, scheduled windows and performance tracking on every load.

Pros and cons for box truck owners

Pros

• Freight directly from a large shipper, no broker
• Rates shown up front at booking
• Weekly payment cycle
• Contract opportunities for carriers that perform well
• Free to use

Cons

• 180-day authority wait for new MCs
• Strict equipment rule (tuck-under liftgate)
• Higher insurance requirements, including general liability
• Performance and safety scoring that can limit access
• Appointment-heavy freight with little room for delays
• One customer: if your Relay access changes, that freight is gone

Mixing Relay with other freight

Most box truck carriers who do well with Relay don't rely on it alone. Relay loads end at Amazon facilities, and the next good Relay load isn't always where you are. Broker freight out of the same area fills the gap, and some weeks pays better.

A practical setup:

• Use Relay for the loads that fit your lanes and schedule.
• Keep broker relationships active so you always have a reload option.
• Track your real pay per mile on both, including deadhead, and lean toward whichever is paying better that month.

For daily route-style delivery work beyond Relay, see final mile and delivery work for box trucks and box truck contracts. For every other source of freight, see box truck loads.

You book Relay loads in your own Relay account. Our box truck dispatch service has no connection to Amazon; we work the broker side for 26 ft box trucks, planning broker loads around the Relay work you choose to keep.