Amazon Relay Review 2026

Pros Explained

Completely Free Platform Access. In an industry where every dollar matters and margins keep getting squeezed, paying nothing for load board access is significant. DAT and Truckstop will quote you hundreds per month. Relay will not quote you anything because there is nothing to quote. The savings are real and they compound every month you operate. That $1,788 you would spend annually on DAT Pro stays in your pocket.

Highest-Rated Trucking App in the Industry. Relay holds a 4.7 out of 5 on iOS based on over 82,000 ratings [^3] and a 4.6 out of 5 on Android from more than 36,000 ratings [^4]. Those numbers make it the best-rated trucking app available. Carriers consistently praise the stability, the ease of use, and the intuitive interface. The commercial navigation feature gets particular acclaim for routing drivers efficiently to facility doors while avoiding truck-unfriendly obstacles. When an app works well, everything else gets easier.

Carrier Discounts That Generate Real Savings. This is not a marketing gimmick. The fuel savings alone through Comdata have put $4.4 million back in carrier pockets. Amazon's purchasing power negotiates deals that individual owner-operators could never get on their own. Up to $0.64 off per gallon on fuel adds up fast when you are burning through hundreds of gallons per week. Insurance savings up to 50% through McGriff can mean thousands per year depending on your coverage levels. Equipment discounts, tire deals, maintenance savings, toll reductions, free ELD hardware. Run the numbers on what you actually spend in these categories and calculate what Amazon's programs would save you. For many carriers, the discount value exceeds what they would pay for premium load board subscriptions elsewhere.

Payment Reliability You Can Count On. Amazon is not going to bounce your payment. They are not going to restructure and disappear. They are not going to claim a billing error and drag out resolution for months. You complete the load, you get paid according to the stated terms. That certainty has value, especially for carriers who have been burned by brokers or shippers with financial problems. Working directly with Amazon removes a layer of credit risk that exists with virtually every other load source.

Cons Explained

180-Day DOT Requirement Excludes New Carriers. If your operating authority is less than six months old, you cannot access Relay [^6]. Period. This locks out new owner-operators precisely when they need freight sources most. The first months of running your own authority are difficult enough without being excluded from a major platform. Amazon's reasoning makes sense from their perspective. Newer authorities have higher failure rates and less established safety records. But that does not help you if you just got your MC and need loads today. Consider 123Loadboard or other platforms without time-in-business requirements while you build toward Relay eligibility. You can apply before reaching 180 days and receive status updates, so get the process started even if you are not there yet.

Rates Consistently Run Below Market. This is not speculation or competitor slander. Carriers on forums, in reviews, and across social media consistently report that Amazon pays less than comparable broker freight. The gap runs roughly $200 to $300 per load on similar lanes according to many reports. One carrier noted that "rates are horrible" and Amazon "wants to pay you a few bucks to move the whole world." During the freight recession, this gap has been especially painful for carriers counting on every dollar. The drop-and-hook efficiency partially offsets the rate differential, and the carrier discounts help close the gap further, but you need to run honest numbers on whether Relay works economically for your specific operation and cost structure.

Amazon Freight Only Limits Your Business Diversification. Traditional load boards connect you with thousands of brokers and shippers. You build relationships, establish lanes, develop negotiating leverage as a reliable carrier. Relay connects you with exactly one customer: Amazon. If Amazon changes their rates, you have no leverage. If Amazon reduces volume in your region, you have no alternative through the platform. If Amazon decides to change carrier requirements or policies, you accept them or you leave. Customer diversification is a fundamental business risk management strategy, and Relay by design prevents you from building it through their platform. Smart carriers treat Relay as one component of a broader freight strategy, not as their only source.

Customer Service

Customer service at Relay operates through the Relay Operations Center, or ROC. The experience gets mixed reviews depending on who you ask and what issue you are dealing with.

On the positive side, the app itself handles most routine operations without requiring human contact. Booking loads, submitting documentation, tracking payments, and managing your schedule all happen through the interface. When the app works as designed, you rarely need to call anyone.

When you do need help, experiences vary. Some carriers report quick resolutions and helpful representatives. Others describe frustration with ROC staff who lack deep trucking industry knowledge. One common complaint is that ROC representatives do not always understand the operational realities that drivers face on the road. Dispute resolution can drag out, with some carriers reporting issues taking over 40 days to resolve.

Support is primarily callback-based rather than live-answer. You request a call, and someone gets back to you. For non-urgent matters, this works fine. For time-sensitive problems while you are trying to make a delivery appointment, waiting for a callback adds stress.

The Relay Assistant AI chatbot introduced in 2024 helps with some inquiries and can handle rate negotiations on your behalf. Automated systems work well for straightforward questions but hit limitations when your situation involves nuance or exceptions.

Amazon does not operate like a traditional trucking company with customer service representatives who have spent years running freight. They operate like a technology company that happens to move packages. The service reflects that orientation. Process-driven, efficient for standard scenarios, less flexible when things go sideways.

Who Should Use This

Amazon Relay works best for established carriers who value simplicity and consistency over maximum per-load revenue. If you have been running for at least 180 days and qualify under the carrier requirements, here is how to think about whether Relay belongs in your operation.

Owner-operators seeking consistent, predictable freight will find value in Relay's steady load availability. The platform posts thousands of loads daily. You know what the rate is before you book. You know Amazon will pay. The drop-and-hook efficiency means you can calculate your time more accurately than with traditional broker freight where detention is always a wild card.

Carriers who prioritize simplicity over squeezing every dollar from rate negotiations will appreciate how Relay operates. No phone calls to brokers. No playing games. No wondering if the rate you negotiated will actually show up on the invoice. Book the load, run the load, get paid for the load. For carriers who are tired of the traditional load board hustle, that simplicity has real value.

Small and disadvantaged carriers who qualify for the SDI program get additional support that is genuinely helpful. The networking opportunities, workshops, and financing assistance help smaller operations compete more effectively. Amazon's certification fee reimbursement removes a financial barrier that stops some carriers from pursuing certifications that could open doors.

Regional carriers wanting home time can often find Relay freight that fits regular patterns. Amazon has fulfillment centers everywhere, and many routes are regional rather than cross-country. If being home on a predictable schedule matters more to you than running long-haul for higher rates, Relay can support that priority.

Carriers who will actually use the discount programs see the highest total value from Relay. If you are going to sign up but never bother with the fuel card, never get insurance quotes through McGriff, never use the tire and maintenance deals, you are leaving money on the table. The discount programs are where much of Relay's real value lives. Use them.

You should look elsewhere if you have a new authority under 180 days, since you simply cannot access the platform yet. Consider Relay as a future option once you meet the requirement. You should also look elsewhere if maximizing per-load revenue is your primary goal. Skilled negotiators who work phones and build broker relationships will likely earn more per load through traditional boards, even accounting for the subscription costs. Finally, carriers who need diverse customer relationships for business risk management should treat Relay as a supplement rather than a primary freight source.

Final Verdict

Amazon Relay earns a 4.3 out of 5 and our Best Free Platform badge because it delivers genuine value to carriers who understand what they are getting. The combination of free platform access, substantial carrier discounts, and Amazon's payment reliability creates a package that belongs in the toolbox of most established carriers.

The discount programs alone can justify adding Relay to your operation. Fuel savings up to $0.64 per gallon, insurance discounts up to 50%, tire and maintenance deals, equipment rental savings. Amazon claims the average carrier saves up to 23% on operating costs through these programs. Even if your experience comes in below that average, the savings can be substantial.

The trade-offs are real and you need to weigh them honestly. Rates run below market. The 180-day requirement excludes newer carriers. You are limited to Amazon freight with no customer diversification through the platform. ROC support has inconsistent reviews. These are not minor issues that you can ignore.

The smart approach for most carriers is using Relay as part of a broader strategy rather than as an exclusive freight source. Keep your DAT or Truckstop subscription for higher-paying loads and customer diversity. Use Relay for consistent backhauls, to fill gaps when other freight dries up, and to access the discount programs. Let the free platform and carrier savings offset what you spend elsewhere.

For carriers who qualify and approach it strategically, Amazon Relay represents one of the best deals available in trucking today. Zero cost to try, substantial potential savings, and freight from a company that will not disappear or fail to pay. Apply, get approved, and add it to your toolkit. Just do not expect it to be your only tool.