Short answer
No, Amazon Relay is for carriers, not brokers. Relay asks for a "Carrier" entity authorized for property and for hire, and Amazon says only businesses with express, written authorization from Amazon may broker its loads.
Can a freight broker sign up for Amazon Relay?
Not as a broker. The Relay FAQ asks for a "Carrier" entity type that is "Authorized for Property and for Hire," plus a DOT number with interstate authority and a valid MC number. The full list is in our Amazon Relay requirements guide.
Relay is built for direct booking. Amazon's get started page says: "Relay connects carriers directly to Amazon freight." It adds that carriers can do it all without a broker.
Amazon doesn't publish whether a company holding both carrier and broker authority can join as a carrier. The FAQ only asks for the Carrier entity type.
What's the difference between a broker and a carrier?
FMCSA draws the line in 49 CFR 371.2: "Broker means a person who, for compensation, arranges, or offers to arrange, the transportation of property by an authorized motor carrier."
A carrier booking its own loads isn't a broker. The same rule says carriers aren't brokers "when they arrange or offer to arrange the transportation of shipments which they are authorized to transport and which they have accepted and legally bound themselves to transport."
Amazon's brokers post says "a transportation broker is the go-between for carriers and shippers." It claims brokers "take a finder's fee for each load (usually 13-15%)." That's Amazon's claim about brokers in general. It also says: "Many load brokers provide valuable services, like handling paperwork."
Brokers need their own authority. Amazon's double brokering post says brokers need FMCSA property broker authority and a bond that protects payment to the carrier.
Who is allowed to broker Amazon loads?
Very few. Amazon's double brokering post says: "Only businesses with express, written authorization directly from Amazon are allowed to broker Amazon loads, and there are only a select few companies that have it."
Amazon says it uses one channel: "We directly tender all of our loads to Relay carriers on the Relay portal only." The FAQ adds: "Amazon does not tender loads through any third-party load boards."
Amazon doesn't publish how a broker applies for that authorization or which companies have it.
Can a Relay carrier pass a load to another carrier?
Not through unauthorized subcontracting. Amazon's secure freight page says: "Carriers can't re-tender loads through unauthorized subcontracting." And Amazon says it "doesn't allow double brokering because it can lead to payment and safety issues."
How double brokering works, and whether Amazon loads on other boards are real, is in our fraud guide.
Is Amazon itself a freight broker?
Yes, through Amazon Freight. Its site says: "Amazon Freight is an asset-backed freight broker licensed under MC-826094 (US DOT: 2881058)." It's the shipper side, "a connection point for businesses to move freight via the Amazon transportation network."
Amazon Freight's "Join Carrier Network" link goes to relay.amazon.com. And Amazon's 2026 booking post says: "Amazon Freight is hauling for external shippers now. That means loads from companies that aren't Amazon are flowing through Relay's load board and auctions."
Amazon's other programs are compared in Amazon Relay vs Amazon Flex.
Is there an Amazon Relay brokerage phone number?
No. The FAQ says: "Amazon Relay doesn't have an official contact phone number." To report suspected unauthorized brokering, email relay-network-reports@amazon.com. Treat any "Amazon Relay brokerage" number you find elsewhere with caution. Our Relay contact guide lists every route Amazon publishes.
Why do carriers book Relay direct instead of through brokers?
Here's Amazon's pitch. Its comparison table says traditional boards and brokers "Requires building relationships with multiple brokers," while Relay offers "Performance-based access to loads."
On pay, Amazon claims: "Say goodbye to 30-60 day waits for payouts from logistics brokers. With Relay, you typically get paid within 7 days." Pay details are in our payments guide, and the boards are compared in Amazon Relay vs DAT.
What doesn't Amazon publish about brokers?
- How a broker applies for written authorization
- The list of authorized brokers
- Whether a company with both carrier and broker authority can be a Relay carrier
- An Amazon Relay brokerage phone number
- Whether dispatch services count as brokers
Where does NudoIQ fit?
NudoIQ is for carriers who book their own Relay loads and the dispatchers who book for them. It's a Chrome extension for the load board. It refreshes the board, sounds an alert on the page when a load clears your minimums, and shows net profit on each load. It's independent, not affiliated with Amazon, and it never asks for your Amazon password. Try it 7 days free, no card needed to start, then $49.99 a month. See how the NudoIQ extension works.