Amazon Relay is free to join, but a new authority cannot onboard on day one. Amazon requires 180 days of active, for-hire interstate authority, a clean safety rating, and coverage above the FMCSA's federal minimums. Here is exactly what qualifies, what disqualifies, and what to do if your authority is not old enough yet.
A brand-new MC authority cannot haul for Amazon Relay yet. Amazon requires the DOT number to carry active, for-hire interstate authority for at least 180 days, plus a Satisfactory, None, or Not Rated FMCSA safety rating and insurance above federal minimums ($1M auto liability, $1M/$2M CGL, cargo coverage). You can apply before day 180, and Amazon recommends doing so around month four or five so your file is ready the moment you qualify.
Amazon Relay is Amazon's own freight marketplace. Approved carriers book loads directly through the Relay web portal or app instead of working through a traditional broker. There is no subscription fee to join, per Amazon's carrier onboarding page, but loads posted to Relay are only tendered to carriers who have completed the approval process, not to the general market.
Amazon's published requirements, confirmed on its official FAQ and application page, cover four areas: authority tenure, entity type, safety rating, and insurance.
| Requirement | What Amazon Requires | Where It's Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Authority tenure | 180+ days of active, interstate, for-hire authority | USDOT / SAFER record |
| Entity type | "Carrier," authorized for Property and For-Hire | FMCSA registration |
| Safety rating | Satisfactory, None, or Not Rated | FMCSA safety rating |
| BASIC scores | Roughly 5% stricter than federal intervention thresholds | FMCSA SMS / Relay Safety Scorecard |
| Background check | Required for every driver hauling Relay loads | Relay driver onboarding |
A brand-new authority fails the first row by definition. Nothing else on this list can be fixed faster than the calendar allows, which is why the 180-day rule is the real gate, not the insurance or the paperwork. For the full sequence of what to file and in what order before you reach that mark, see our new authority checklist.
Amazon's minimums sit above the FMCSA's federal floor. The FMCSA requires $750,000 in auto liability for most general freight carriers; Amazon requires $1,000,000.
| Coverage | Amazon Relay Minimum | FMCSA Federal Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Auto liability | $1,000,000 per occurrence + $50,000 trailer interchange | $750,000 (general freight) |
| Commercial general liability | $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate | Not federally required |
| Cargo | $100,000 total coverage | Not required except household goods |
| Workers' compensation | Required for companies with W-2 employees, per state guidelines | State-level requirement |
| Employer's liability | $100,000 per occurrence (with W-2 employees) | Not federally required |
According to Amazon Relay's own carrier guidance, newer carriers typically pay $12,000 to $18,000 a year for Relay-compliant coverage, while experienced carriers with clean records often pay $8,000 to $14,000. Your driving history, equipment age, operating radius, and claims history all move that number. Run your own numbers with the Launch Kit tool below, and compare against our full trucking insurance guide for carriers that write new authorities.
Yes, and Amazon recommends it. The application itself has no minimum-tenure gate, only final approval does. Amazon's guidance suggests applying around month four or five so the review process, background checks, and document collection are already done by the time your authority crosses 180 days. Waiting until day 180 to start the paperwork just adds the application's own processing time on top of the wait you already have.
Per Amazon's own FAQ, most rejections are fixable. If the reason given is something like insurance coverage, authority status, or missing documentation, you can correct it and reapply. Rejections tied to serious compliance issues are the exception and may not be eligible for reapplication.
Check off each item as it's confirmed. Nothing here is saved between visits, so treat it as a working list while you prepare your application.
A new authority still needs freight and revenue during the wait. None of the following carry a six-month tenure requirement:
Use this window productively. Every clean inspection and on-time delivery you log now becomes part of the safety record Amazon reviews later. Track your progress with our CSA score estimator so there are no surprises when your BASIC scores get pulled at day 180.
| Source | Tenure Requirement | Insurance Bar | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Relay | 180+ days active authority | Above FMCSA minimums ($1M auto, $1M/$2M CGL) | No subscription fee; book directly through the Relay app |
| Traditional load boards | None, typically | FMCSA minimums usually sufficient | Access varies by board; some require a subscription |
| Freight brokers | None, typically | Broker-set, often $1M auto / $100K cargo | Relationship-based; terms vary broker to broker |
| Dedicated shipper contracts | Varies by shipper | Often negotiated per contract | Highest stability once secured, hardest to win as a new authority |
The New Authority Launch Kit tracks every FMCSA filing, flags compliance risks specific to your state and cargo, and builds a day-by-day timeline so your insurance, safety rating, and paperwork are already in order when your tenure requirement clears.
Open the New Authority Launch Kit →Requirements and figures on this page are drawn directly from Amazon Relay's own carrier documentation: Relay FAQ, the Relay application page, and Relay's insurance guidance, cross-checked against FMCSA minimums under 49 CFR 387.9. Amazon updates its program requirements periodically. Verify current thresholds in your Relay application before making a business decision based on this page.
Not affiliated with Amazon. TruckComplianceHQ is an independent compliance resource and has no relationship with Amazon Relay. This is not legal or financial advice.