Short answer
Drivers can't sign up for Amazon Relay on their own. A Relay-approved carrier invites you, and you drive for that carrier, not Amazon. Amazon says Relay carriers are independent contractors who employ their own drivers.
Can you drive for Amazon Relay?
Yes, but only through a carrier. Amazon's driver eligibility post says: "Relay-approved carriers are independent contractors, not Amazon employees. Carriers are responsible for their own drivers."
Amazon's trucking work post says the same thing another way: "Carriers employ their own drivers."
So an "Amazon Relay driver" is a driver for a trucking company that hauls Amazon loads through Relay. That company hires you and adds you to its Relay account.
How does a driver get added to Relay?
By invite. Amazon says: "Drivers can only create Relay profiles through invitations from Relay-approved carriers." It says this "helps protect carrier businesses from unauthorized access and potential fraud."
The short version:
- Your carrier sends you the invite.
- You download the Relay app (iOS or Android) and log in to an existing Amazon account, or create one.
- You enter your commercial driver's license and contact details.
- You complete the identity check and background check.
"Only drivers who successfully complete an identification check can haul Relay loads." And "Drivers can't share their accounts," so every driver has their own login.
What each check looks at is in our background check guide. The carrier's side of the invite is in our dispatcher guide.
What are the Amazon Relay driver requirements?
Amazon leaves driver qualification to the carrier. Its driver post says: "Carriers manage their drivers, including drug and alcohol screening, hours of service (HOS) compliance, medical certification, regular license verification, and ongoing driver qualification."
Federal rules still apply. For interstate commercial driving, FMCSA rules generally require a driver who:
- "Is at least 21 years old" (49 CFR 391.11)
- "Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public" (same rule)
- Is "medically certified as physically qualified" to drive (49 CFR 391.41)
Amazon adds its own line in its box truck loads post: "At Amazon Relay, we do still require a DOT medical card to drive anything commercial."
Driving a box truck without a CDL? See Amazon Relay non-CDL.
What does a Relay driver do in the app?
The Relay app is where the work happens. Drivers see their schedule, do asset inspections, follow step-by-step load instructions and truck-friendly routes, check load history and report issues. Our Relay app guide goes through the app.
For help on the road, Amazon says the app "lets drivers request support from Relay Assistant throughout their trip." There's no driver phone line. The FAQ says: "Amazon Relay doesn't have an official contact phone number." Our contact guide shows where drivers get help.
What schedules and home time do Relay drivers get?
It depends on the work your carrier books. Amazon's trucking work post lists:
- 13-hour solo: "One day of truck loads for a single driver, including 11 hours of drive time."
- 37-hour solo: two days of loads, with the 10-hour rest break taken outside the driver's base cities.
- Team: "Team truckers can drive for 6 days straight."
On contracts, Amazon's contracts post says: "Individual drivers have the option to come home every day or every other day, and team drivers can return every five days." The rules behind those hours are in our hours of service guide.
How much do Amazon Relay drivers make?
Amazon doesn't publish driver pay or a pay scale. You're employed by the carrier you drive for, so ask that carrier. We won't guess a number.
Where can you find an Amazon driving job?
Relay has no job listings and no driver application. Amazon points to two other paths:
- Drive for an Amazon Freight Partner. Amazon's Freight Partner site says: "Are you a commercial driver? Work for an Amazon Freight Partner." It links to afpjobs.amazon.com. Amazon says Freight Partners hire "full-time W-2 commercial drivers."
- Start your own carrier. Get your own authority and apply. See how to sign up for Amazon Relay and our owner-operator guide.
What should carriers know about their drivers?
Loads without a driver hurt your score. Amazon's performance score page says: "The disruptions Relay tracks are stationary trailers and loads without assigned drivers." See our scorecard guide.
You can also train drivers. Amazon's Learning Center post says: "You have the option to assign specific courses or collections to drivers on your roster." Our Learning Center guide shows how.
If a driver check goes wrong, our disputes guide covers what can and can't be disputed.
Your drivers work for you, so check what Amazon asks for in Amazon Relay workers' comp.
What doesn't Amazon publish for drivers?
- Driver pay or a pay scale
- A driver application or job listings on relay.amazon.com
- Whether one driver can be on two carriers' rosters
- A minimum age or experience rule of Amazon's own
- How a carrier removes a driver
- A driver support phone number
Where does NudoIQ fit?
NudoIQ is for whoever books the loads: the carrier owner or the dispatcher. It's a Chrome extension for the Relay load board. It shows net profit on each load and can book loads that clear your minimum net profit, up to a max-books number you set. During the trial and on the paid plan, its Pro View shows each load's driver type (Team or Solo) and every stop's facility address. It's independent, not affiliated with Amazon. Try it 7 days free, no card needed to start, then $49.99 a month. See how the NudoIQ extension works.