Amazon Relay New Authority: Requirements, Insurance, and Timeline for 2026
Amazon Relay charges nothing to join, but a brand-new MC authority cannot haul for it on day one. Amazon requires the DOT number behind the authority to carry active, for-hire, interstate operating status for at least 180 days, plus a clean FMCSA safety rating and insurance above the federal minimums almost every new carrier starts with. None of that can be rushed by paperwork. The tool above tracks every FMCSA filing your authority needs, on its own timeline, so the 180-day mark isn't the only thing standing between you and your first Relay load. The sections below cover exactly what Amazon checks, what it costs, and what to do with the months before you qualify.
What Amazon Relay is
Amazon Relay is Amazon's own freight marketplace. Approved carriers book loads directly through the Relay app or web portal instead of going through a traditional broker, and there's no subscription fee or minimum fleet size to join. Amazon is largely built around power-only operations, where the carrier supplies the tractor and driver and Amazon supplies the trailer, though the same underlying requirements apply whether a carrier runs power-only or with its own equipment.
Loads posted to Relay aren't visible to the general freight market. They're tendered only to carriers who have completed Amazon's approval process, which is why the requirements below aren't optional paperwork, they're the gate that determines whether Relay freight exists for your authority at all.
The four requirements for new authority
Amazon's own application page and FAQ lay out four things it checks before approving a carrier: authority tenure, entity type, FMCSA safety rating, and BASIC scores.
| 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 (MCS-150) |
| FMCSA safety rating | Satisfactory, None, or Not Rated | FMCSA safety rating |
| BASIC scores | Roughly 5 points below federal intervention thresholds | FMCSA SMS / Relay Safety Scorecard |
| Driver background check | Required for every driver hauling Relay loads | Relay driver onboarding |
A brand-new authority fails the first row by definition, and it's the one requirement that can't be fixed by better paperwork or a better insurance quote. That's the practical reason the 180-day rule matters more than anything else on this list: everything else is something you control today, the tenure clock isn't. For the full sequence of what to file and in what order while that clock runs, use the new authority checklist alongside the tool above.
Insurance requirements and cost
Amazon's insurance minimums sit above the FMCSA's federal floor. Under 49 CFR 387.9, general freight carriers need $750,000 in auto liability. Amazon requires $1,000,000, plus coverage types the FMCSA doesn't mandate at all.
| Coverage | Amazon Relay minimum | FMCSA federal minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Auto liability | $1,000,000 per occurrence + $50,000 trailer interchange (semis) | $750,000 (general freight) |
| Commercial general liability | $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate | Not federally required |
| Cargo | $100,000 | Not required except household goods |
| Workers' compensation | Required for W-2 employees, per state guidelines | State-level requirement |
| Employer's liability | $100,000 per occurrence (with W-2 employees) | Not federally required |
Amazon's own carrier guidance puts newer carriers at $12,000 to $18,000 a year for Relay-compliant coverage, and experienced carriers with clean records at $8,000 to $14,000. Driving history, equipment age, operating radius, and claims history all move that number. Your insurance agent submits the certificate of insurance directly to Registry Monitoring Insurance Services (RMIS), the third-party service Amazon uses to verify coverage, and Amazon recommends renewing at least two to three weeks before your policy expires so a lapse never blocks your ability to book loads. Compare quotes against our guide to trucking insurance for new authorities.
Applying before day 180
Amazon's own FAQ encourages carriers to apply before their authority reaches 180 days rather than waiting. The application itself carries no tenure gate; only final approval does. Applying around month four or five means the background checks, entity verification, and insurance documentation are already cleared by the time your authority crosses 180 days, instead of adding the application's own processing time on top of the wait you already have.
Timeline: authority to first load
| Step | Typical time |
|---|---|
| FMCSA authority active (USDOT + MC number) | Day 0 of the 180-day clock |
| Insurance bound and certificate submitted to RMIS | Before applying, ideally within the first 30 days |
| Amazon Relay application submitted | Recommended around day 120–150 |
| Driver background checks completed | Runs alongside the application review |
| 180-day authority tenure reached | Day 180 |
| Final approval and first load booked (clean file) | Within a few business days of day 180 |
The 180-day mark is fixed; everything else on this list is what you control. Use the tool above to keep your FMCSA filings, insurance, and safety record on track for that date instead of scrambling once it arrives.
Common rejection reasons
- Authority younger than 180 days at final review. Applying doesn't waive the tenure requirement; it just gets the file in the queue.
- Entity type registered as Private or Broker instead of Carrier. Amazon checks the FMCSA registration directly, and this has to be corrected before reapplying.
- Conditional or Unsatisfactory FMCSA safety rating. Only Satisfactory, None, or Not Rated clears this requirement.
- BASIC scores above Amazon's internal thresholds, even when they're under the FMCSA's own federal intervention levels.
- Insurance certificate below Amazon's limits or missing trailer interchange coverage on a semi truck operation.
- Missing or incomplete cargo insurance documentation.
- Drivers who haven't completed the Relay background check at the time of application review.
Amazon's FAQ states that issues like insurance coverage, authority status, or missing documentation are correctable, and carriers can reapply once fixed. Rejections tied to more serious safety findings don't always work the same way.
Freight sources while you wait
A new authority still needs freight and revenue during the 180-day wait. None of the following carry a tenure requirement the way Amazon Relay does:
- Traditional load boards and freight brokers, which typically only require active authority and proof of insurance.
- Direct relationships with shippers built through local outreach or freight networks in your region.
- Brokerages that specialize in placing newer carriers, often with lighter vetting than a dedicated shipper contract.
Every clean inspection and on-time delivery logged during this window becomes part of the safety record Amazon checks later. Track it with the CSA score estimator so there are no surprises when your BASIC scores get pulled at day 180, and see our first 90 days guide for what to prioritize early.
Amazon Relay readiness checklist
- ☐USDOT number and MC number active for 180+ days (or applied early and tracking toward it)
- ☐FMCSA entity type set to "Carrier," authorized for Property and for Hire
- ☐FMCSA safety rating of Satisfactory, None, or Not Rated
- ☐BASIC scores checked against Amazon's stricter internal thresholds, not just federal levels
- ☐Auto liability bound at $1,000,000 per occurrence, plus $50,000 trailer interchange for semis
- ☐Commercial general liability bound at $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate
- ☐Cargo insurance of at least $100,000 in place
- ☐Workers' compensation and $100,000 employer's liability, if you have W-2 drivers
- ☐Certificate of insurance submitted to RMIS with Amazon listed as certificate holder at the exact required limits
- ☐Drivers ready to complete Relay's identity verification and background check
- ☐Insurance renewal date calendared 2–3 weeks ahead of expiration to avoid a coverage lapse
- ☐Application submitted around month four or five, ahead of the 180-day mark
FAQ
How long do you need authority before Amazon Relay will approve you?
Your USDOT number needs active, for-hire, interstate authority for at least 180 days before Amazon completes onboarding. Amazon confirms this on its own application page and FAQ. You can submit an application before day 180, and Amazon will keep the file on record, but final approval waits until the tenure requirement is met.
Can a new authority apply to Amazon Relay before reaching 180 days?
Yes. Amazon explicitly invites carriers to apply before their authority reaches 180 days and says it will keep them updated on program news while they wait. Most carriers apply around month four or five so the application, background checks, and insurance documentation are already cleared by the time the tenure requirement is met.
What insurance does Amazon Relay require?
At minimum: $1,000,000 per-occurrence auto liability, including $50,000 in trailer interchange or non-owned trailer physical damage coverage for semi trucks, plus commercial general liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate, and cargo coverage of at least $100,000. Carriers with W-2 employees also need workers' compensation meeting state requirements and employer's liability of at least $100,000 per occurrence.
What FMCSA safety rating does Amazon Relay require?
Satisfactory, None, or Not Rated. A Conditional or Unsatisfactory rating blocks approval. On top of the safety rating itself, Amazon applies its own BASIC score thresholds, which run roughly 5 percentage points below the federal intervention thresholds, meaning Amazon's bar for Unsafe Driving, Hours-of-Service Compliance, Vehicle Maintenance, Controlled Substances/Alcohol, and Driver Fitness is stricter than what FMCSA itself would flag.
How much does insurance cost to meet Amazon Relay's requirements?
Amazon's own carrier guidance puts newer carriers at $12,000 to $18,000 a year for Relay-compliant coverage, and experienced carriers with clean records at $8,000 to $14,000. Your state, equipment age, operating radius, and claims history move that number in either direction. The tool above builds an estimate specific to your setup.
What entity type does Amazon Relay require?
A 'Carrier' entity type, authorized for Property and for Hire, registered with FMCSA. A carrier registered as Private or as a Broker doesn't meet this requirement and needs to correct its FMCSA registration before applying.
What happens if my Amazon Relay application gets rejected?
It depends on the reason. Amazon says that issues like insurance coverage gaps, authority status, or missing documentation are correctable, and carriers are welcome to reapply once the issue is fixed. Rejections tied to more serious safety or compliance findings may not be eligible for reapplication the same way.
Do I need a specific number of trucks to qualify for Amazon Relay?
No. Amazon Relay has no minimum fleet size and no subscription fee to join. A single-truck owner-operator meeting the authority tenure, entity type, safety rating, and insurance requirements qualifies the same way a larger fleet does.
How long does Amazon Relay approval take once I apply?
If the application, insurance certificate, and background checks are complete and clean, approval commonly happens within a few business days of the 180-day tenure requirement being met. Incomplete paperwork, a mismatched certificate of insurance, or an unresolved safety issue adds time on top of that.
What should I do with my authority while I wait to reach 180 days?
Book freight through traditional load boards and brokers, most of which carry no tenure requirement, to build revenue and operating history. Use the window to clean up your MVR and CSA BASIC scores and get your insurance certificate listing Amazon as a certificate holder with the exact limits required, so nothing needs fixing once you apply.
Does Amazon Relay work with power-only carriers?
Yes. Amazon Relay is largely built around power-only operations, where a carrier supplies the tractor and driver and Amazon supplies the trailer. The same authority tenure, entity type, safety rating, and insurance requirements apply regardless of whether a carrier runs power-only or with its own trailers.
Where does Amazon verify my insurance certificate?
Through Registry Monitoring Insurance Services (RMIS), a third-party insurance-tracking service Amazon uses to confirm coverage. Your insurance agent submits the certificate of insurance directly to RMIS, and Amazon recommends renewing at least two to three weeks before your policy expires so RMIS has time to update its records before any lapse could block your ability to book loads.
Related tools and guides
Every requirement above has a matching tool or guide. Use them while your authority ages toward 180 days, or once you're already booking Relay loads.
Sources
- Amazon Relay — Apply to Amazon Relay (carrier requirements)
- Amazon Relay — Frequently Asked Questions
- Amazon Relay — Understanding Insurance Requirements for Relay Carriers
- 49 CFR 387.9 — Minimum Levels of Financial Responsibility for Motor Carriers
- FMCSA — Get Operating Authority (Docket Number)
- FMCSA — CSA Safety Measurement System (BASIC scores)
- FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse
Reviewed by: truckcompliancehq compliance team
Methodology: Requirements and figures on this page come directly from Amazon Relay's own carrier documentation (application page, FAQ, and insurance guidance), cross-checked against FMCSA's federal financial responsibility minimums under 49 CFR 387.9. Amazon updates its program requirements periodically; confirm current thresholds in your own Relay application before making a business decision based on this page.
Disclaimer: truckcompliancehq is an independent compliance resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated on behalf of Amazon. This page is not legal, financial, or insurance advice. Fees, thresholds, and processing times reflect information published as of July 27, 2026 and can change; verify current requirements on relay.amazon.com and fmcsa.dot.gov before filing.