Short answer
Amazon publishes no separate HOS rules for Relay, so federal rules apply. A property-carrying driver may drive 11 hours within 14 hours of coming on duty after 10 consecutive hours off, with a 30-minute break after 8 driving hours.
Who sets hours of service on Amazon Relay loads?
The federal government, not Amazon. Amazon's hours of service post says HOS rules were created by FMCSA "to limit commercial driving time and avoid driver fatigue."
Compliance is on you. Amazon's driver eligibility post says carriers manage their drivers, including "hours of service (HOS) compliance."
What are the federal hours of service limits?
These come from 49 CFR 395.3, the federal rule for property-carrying drivers, as published on eCFR:
| Rule | What the regulation says |
|---|---|
| Start of shift | "A driver may not drive without first taking 10 consecutive hours off duty" |
| 14-hour window | No driving "after a period of 14 consecutive hours after coming on-duty following 10 consecutive hours off-duty" |
| 11-hour driving | "A driver may drive a total of 11 hours" inside that 14-hour window |
| 30-minute break | No driving after more than 8 driving hours "without at least a consecutive 30-minute interruption" |
| Weekly limit | 60 hours on duty in 7 days, or 70 hours on duty in 8 days if the carrier runs every day |
| Restart | The 7 or 8-day period "may end with the beginning of an off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours" |
Trucks with a sleeper berth can split the 10-hour off-duty period. Under 49 CFR 395.1(g), one rest period must be at least 7 consecutive hours in the berth, the other at least 2 hours, and the two must total at least 10.
One correction. Amazon's HOS post says a driver must take a 34-hour reset after driving 60 hours in a week. The regulation counts on-duty hours, not only driving, and the 34-hour restart is an option. Go by the regulation.
How does Relay build HOS into trip times?
Amazon's HOS post says: "Relay includes time for HOS breaks in your scheduled trip duration. It's on the carrier to plan accordingly." Amazon's high volume events post adds that Relay navigation factors HOS into tour planning.
Delays still land on you. "Load delays lower your performance score," the HOS post says. It also says to account for seasonal delays, especially between November and February.
Two habits Amazon suggests:
- Filter for a buffer. Its CSA post says carriers "can filter available loads by transit time and distance to buffer hours of service."
- Report changes. Drivers and carriers "can use our app to connect with our operations for support" when hours get tight.
Chaining two loads in one shift is its own puzzle. Our guide to booking multiple loads has the checklist, and our free Relay load calculator shows each load's net and net per loaded mile.
Does Amazon Relay require an ELD?
Amazon publishes no ELD rule of its own and no approved ELD list. Federal law does the requiring. 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1)(i) says "a motor carrier operating commercial motor vehicles must install and require each of its drivers to use an ELD."
The regulation lets a carrier use paper logs instead in a few cases, including:
- A driver who needs a record of duty status "on not more than 8 days within any 30-day period"
- Some driveaway-towaway operations
- A vehicle "manufactured before model year 2000"
Short-haul drivers are exempt from the logging rule under 49 CFR 395.1(e)(1) if they stay "within a 150 air-mile radius (172.6 statute miles)" of their work reporting location and are released within 14 hours, among other conditions. Amazon doesn't say whether any Relay trips qualify.
Amazon's HOS post only says "An electronic logging device can help keep drivers aware of their HOS." In Amazon's load tracking post, one carrier says "You can use your own ELD, but this is tethered to Amazon loads." That's a carrier talking, not an Amazon rule.
What are solo and team driver types on Relay?
Amazon's trucking work post describes three:
- 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. A single truck driver spends their 10-hour rest break outside their base cities."
- Team: "Two drivers trade off in order to keep the truck moving for days at a time." Amazon says "Team truckers can drive for 6 days straight."
Contracts use longer blocks. Amazon's contracts post lists a 119-hour team round trip and a 109-hour solo round trip over five days. Team drivers get home every five days. A sleeper cab is needed for nights on the road, except on the 13-hour solo contract. Our contracts guide covers each type.
Home time by driver type is also in Amazon Relay for drivers.
What happens if a driver breaks HOS rules?
Amazon's HOS post lists the costs: "Fines for driver and carrier (anywhere from $300-$13,000)," plus out-of-service orders, CDL suspension, a hit to CSA scores and higher insurance.
Hostling has its own cap. Amazon's hostler post says drivers must stay within their hours of service limits, with a 12-hour maximum on hostling support.
What doesn't Amazon publish about HOS?
- An ELD requirement of its own, or a list of approved ELDs
- How ELDs connect to Relay
- Team load rules beyond the driver types above
- A definition of "stem time"
- Whether any Relay trips can use the short-haul exemption
Where does NudoIQ fit?
NudoIQ doesn't log hours or replace an ELD. It's an independent Chrome extension for the Relay load board, not affiliated with Amazon, that shows net and net per mile under the price on every load card. Its Pro View dropdown shows each leg's times and the load's driver type, Team or Solo, so you can check the fit before you book. It's free for 7 days with no card needed to start, then $49.99 a month.