Short answer
Amazon's Relay FAQ says a completed application is typically approved or rejected within 1 to 3 weeks, and delays come from validating insurance. If you hear nothing after two weeks, check that your FMCSA contact information matches your application exactly.
How long does Amazon Relay approval take?
Usually one to three weeks. Amazon's Relay FAQ says that once Amazon receives your completed application, "it will typically be approved or rejected within 1-3 weeks."
Amazon's own pages don't all give the same range, though:
| Amazon page | What it says |
|---|---|
| Relay FAQ | Approved or rejected within 1 to 3 weeks |
| How to become a carrier | "Amazon generally reviews completed applications within three weeks." |
| Prime Day post | Approval "can take 2-3 weeks" |
| High volume events post | "about 1-3 weeks" |
So plan on up to three weeks. And note the word "completed." The clock starts when Amazon has everything, not when you open the form.
Filling out the form is the quick part. Amazon's carrier post says you can submit everything "in as little as 20 minutes." You'll give your DOT number and company details, verify a one-time password, list your equipment and add payment information. What you need to qualify is in our Amazon Relay requirements guide.
In Canada it's faster on paper. The relay.amazon.ca page says applications are approved or rejected within 2 to 4 business days.
For each application step in Amazon's order, see how to sign up for Amazon Relay.
What slows a Relay application down?
Insurance, by Amazon's own account. The FAQ says: "Delays, if any, will be due to validation of insurance information."
What Amazon tells you to do about it:
- Have it all ready first. Amazon "urges you to have all data ready prior to applying."
- Call your insurance provider if it stalls. The FAQ says to reach out to them in the event of any delays.
- Get your insurance on file with FMCSA. If your insurance gets flagged, Amazon says to "ensure your provider submits the information directly to FMCSA."
- Give new insurance time. If you're already a Relay carrier and changing insurance, the high volume events post recommends allowing 2 weeks for it to process.
Our insurance requirements guide lists the minimums your certificate needs to show.
Can you apply before your DOT number is 180 days old?
Yes. The FAQ says Relay "typically requires your DOT number to be at least 180 days old to complete onboarding," but "we encourage you to apply early."
Amazon words the 180-day rule four ways. Our new authority guide puts them side by side.
Haven't heard back after two weeks?
Check your FMCSA record first. The FAQ says to check "that your FMCSA contact information matches your Relay application details, down to the dash or comma."
That detail matters because "Our onboarding team uses your information on file with the FMCSA to reach you." If the phone number or email on file is old, Amazon's messages may never reach you.
If everything matches and you still haven't heard, click Contact Us on the top right of your application page. The FAQ also says Amazon Relay doesn't have an official contact phone number, so don't go looking for one.
You can watch progress from your phone. Amazon's carrier post says to "download the Relay app on iOS or Android to get started and track your application's progress on the go."
Can you reapply if Amazon Relay rejects your application?
Often, yes. The FAQ says: "In many cases, you may be eligible to reapply." Fixable reasons like insurance, authority status or missing documents can be addressed first, while serious compliance issues may disqualify you.
What to check before you apply again is in Amazon Relay application denied.
What happens after you're approved?
The FAQ says you'll get an email with instructions to access your Relay account. Then:
- Complete the Relay 101 course in Relay's Learning Center (about 10 minutes).
- Add your drivers and equipment to your Relay profile. Each driver is invited and verified separately.
- Start booking through the Relay load board.
Before the first booking, work out what a load leaves you. Our free Relay load calculator takes a load's pay and miles and shows your net and net per loaded mile, deadhead included.
What doesn't Amazon publish about approval?
- What each application status, such as "in review," means
- Any way to speed up a review
- A waiting period before you reapply
- A full list of rejection reasons
- An approval rate
If someone promises a faster approval, ask where that's written on relay.amazon.com.
Where does NudoIQ fit?
Once you're approved, the load board is where the work starts. NudoIQ is a Chrome extension for the Relay load board, an independent tool not affiliated with Amazon. It shows net and net per mile under the price on every load card, from costs you set once, and Lane Intelligence (the first button under a load) shows that lane's price history. It's free for 7 days with no card needed to start, then $49.99 a month.