Amazon Relay Requirements: Equipment, Authority & Insurance
If you want to pull loads off Amazon Relay, you have to clear three gates before you ever book a run: the right truck, active operating authority for six months, and an insurance certificate that meets Amazon’s limits. Miss one and your account stalls in onboarding.
This page lays out the current Amazon Relay requirements in plain order (equipment, authority, and insurance) and explains the coverage limits that trip up most carriers. We’re a trucking-only insurance agency, so we issue Amazon-compliant certificates every week and we’ll flag exactly what underwriters look for.
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The short answer To run Amazon Relay you need a registered business with an active US DOT number and an operating authority (MC Number), an eligible vehicle (cargo van, 26-ft box truck, or a tractor for 53-ft trailers), and insurance that meets Amazon’s minimums: $1,000,000 auto liability, $100,000 motor truck cargo, $50,000 Trailer Interchange, and $1,000,000/$2,000,000 general liability, with Registry Monitoring Insurance Services (RMIS) listed on the certificate. Limits vary by program and change over time, so confirm the current figures in your Relay account. |
What is Amazon Relay?
Amazon Relay is Amazon’s load board and freight platform for carriers. Through the Relay app, trucking companies and owner operators book Amazon’s freight (block loads, line-haul runs, and shorter cargo-van work), get turn-by-turn routing, and receive payment directly from Amazon. It is open to outside carriers which is why so many small trucking companies use it to keep trucks moving.
The catch is that Amazon vets every carrier before activation. The requirements below are what stand between a new account and your first booked load.
Amazon Relay requirements at a glance
Here is the full checklist in one place. Each item is broken down further in the sections that follow.
| Requirement | What Amazon expects |
|---|---|
| Business & authority | Registered business with EIN, active US DOT number, and operating authority (MC Number) in good standing |
| Safety record | A satisfactory or unrated FMCSA safety rating and clean enough CSA scores; no recent out-of-service orders |
| Eligible vehicle | Cargo van, 26-ft box truck, or a tractor able to pull Amazon’s 53-ft trailers, depending on the program you join |
| Insurance | Auto liability, motor truck cargo, trailer interchange, and general liability at required limits, with RMIS listed on the certificate |
| Driver & app | Qualified driver (for box trucks/tractors), a smartphone, and the Amazon Relay app for booking and tracking |
Business and authority requirements
Amazon onboards companies, not individuals. Before you apply, you need:
- A registered business and EIN. A sole proprietor with an EIN can qualify, but you are signing up as a carrier, not a personal driver.
- An active US DOT number. This identifies your operation with the FMCSA and ties to your safety record.
- Interstate operating authority (MC number). Most Relay freight crosses state lines, so for-hire interstate authority is expected. New authorities can be onboarded, but Amazon weighs how long you’ve been active.
- A clean federal safety profile. A “satisfactory” or unrated safety rating, reasonable CSA BASIC scores, and no active out-of-service orders. A “conditional” rating or recent violations can hold up approval.
If you’re still setting up your authority, our team can walk you through the filings and the insurance that has to be on file before the MC activates.
Equipment and vehicle requirements
Amazon Relay runs three broad equipment tracks. The vehicle requirements (and the insurance behind them) differ by program, so match yourself to the right row before you apply.
| Program | Vehicle | Typical specs |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | Full-size cargo van | Late-model van with enough cargo room for palletized freight; no CDL required |
| Box truck | 26-ft box truck | A 26-ft straight truck is the common box-truck size for Relay; CDL may be required based on weight |
| Tractor | Day cab or sleeper tractor | Pulls Amazon’s 53-ft dry van trailers; CDL Class A driver required |
In the tractor program Amazon usually supplies the 53-ft trailer, which is why trailer interchange and non-owned trailer coverage often comes up during onboarding. Box-truck and cargo-van carriers run their own equipment and insure it as physical damage.
Amazon Relay insurance requirements
This is where most applications stall. Amazon checks your certificate against fixed limits, and a policy that’s $100,000 short on cargo or missing general liability gets bounced. The coverages below are the ones Amazon has commonly required. Confirm the exact figures in your Relay account, because Amazon updates them.
| Coverage | Typical required limit | Why Amazon wants it |
|---|---|---|
| Auto liability | $1,000,000 combined single limit | Covers injury and property damage you cause on the road |
| Motor truck cargo | $100,000 (no harmful exclusions) | Protects the freight you’re hauling for Amazon |
| General liability | $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate | Covers non-driving liability at docks and facilities |
| Trailer interchange | Required when pulling Amazon trailers | Covers damage to the 53-ft trailer in your possession |
| Workers’ compensation | As required by your state | Covers employees and drivers if they’re hurt working |
Two details cause most rejections: RMIS has to be named correctly on the certificate (as certificate holder), and your cargo policy can’t carry exclusions that gut the coverage Amazon is counting on. We handle both when we issue the certificate.
How much does Amazon Relay insurance cost?
For a single-truck operation, a policy built to Amazon’s limits commonly runs in the range of $9,000 to $20,000 per year, depending on your equipment, location, driving records, and how long you’ve held authority. Cargo-van carriers usually sit at the lower end; box trucks and tractors run higher because the liability exposure is greater. New authorities pay more until they build a record. We can quote your exact number against your trucks and drivers rather than a generic range.
How to sign up for Amazon Relay
- Register your business and get an EIN, US DOT number, and interstate operating authority if you don’t already have them.
- Put a compliant insurance policy in place and have your agent prepare a certificate with Amazon listed correctly.
- Create a carrier account at the Amazon Relay site and enter your DOT/MC details.
- Upload your documents (authority, insurance certificate, and W-9) and pass Amazon’s review.
- Download the Amazon Relay app, get activated, and start booking loads.
The insurance certificate is the step you control least once it’s submitted, so getting the limits and the wording right the first time is what keeps onboarding moving.
How much does Amazon Relay pay?
Pay varies by program, lane, and how steadily you book. Cargo-van and box-truck work tends to pay per load, while tractor block loads pay by the run or by the mile. The honest answer is that Relay can keep a truck busy, but your take-home depends on deadhead, fuel, and insurance cost, which is one of the biggest fixed expenses on a Relay operation. Getting that premium right is the difference between a lane that pays and one that doesn’t.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an MC number for Amazon Relay?
For interstate Relay freight, yes. Amazon expects active interstate operating authority (an MC number) along with your US DOT number. Intrastate-only operations are limited in what they can book.
What insurance does Amazon Relay require?
Most carriers need $1,000,000 auto liability, $100,000 motor truck cargo with no harmful exclusions, and $1,000,000 general liability, plus trailer interchange when pulling Amazon’s trailers and workers’ compensation where your state requires it. Amazon must be listed on the certificate.
Can I do Amazon Relay with a cargo van?
Yes. Amazon runs a cargo-van program that doesn’t require a CDL, which makes it one of the easier ways to start. You still need a registered business, a DOT number, and insurance at Amazon’s limits.
What size box truck do I need for Amazon Relay?
A 26-ft box truck is the common size for Relay’s box-truck freight. Depending on the truck’s weight rating, a CDL may be required to operate it.
How long does Amazon Relay approval take?
Once your documents and a compliant insurance certificate are uploaded, review typically takes a few business days. Missing or incorrect insurance is the most common reason approval drags on.
Get Amazon Relay-compliant insurance the first time
We insure trucking and nothing else, so we know Amazon’s limits, the certificate wording, and the cargo exclusions that get carriers bounced. We’ll build a policy to Relay’s requirements, issue the certificate the same day in most cases, and keep it current as Amazon updates its rules.
Get your Amazon Relay insurance quote → or call our team and we’ll tell you exactly what your certificate needs before you apply.
Amazon Relay requirements and insurance limits are set by Amazon and change from time to time. The figures here reflect Amazon’s commonly published requirements and are for general guidance. Always confirm the current numbers in your Amazon Relay account before you buy a policy.