Insurance is Non-Negotiable
Amazon will not approve your Relay account without proof of insurance. You must provide certificates of insurance (ACORD forms) showing that you meet their minimum limits in all four categories. Your insurance broker or agent can issue these forms—they typically take 1-2 business days to generate.
Insurance costs vary widely based on your carrier's safety record, years in business, equipment type and location. Do not assume you have enough coverage just because you have an existing policy. Many carriers carry bare minimums for state registration, which fall short of Amazon's standards. Review your policies now and upgrade if needed before you apply.
Required Coverages and Limits
| Coverage Type | Minimum Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial General Liability | $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate | Covers bodily injury, property damage, personal injury from your operations. The "aggregate" is your total liability across all incidents in a policy year. |
| Auto Liability | $1,000,000 per occurrence | Covers vehicle accidents, third-party injury and property damage. Includes $50,000 trailer replacement (trailer interchange) coverage. |
| Cargo Insurance | At least $100,000 | Covers loss or damage to freight in your trailer or truck while in your care. This protects Amazon's goods during transport. |
| Workers' Compensation | Required in every state where you have employees | Covers employee injury or illness from work. Each state sets its own minimum; Amazon requires compliance with your state(s). |
| Employer's Liability | $100,000 per occurrence | Part of Workers' Compensation coverage; covers third-party claims related to employee injury. |
Commercial General Liability: $1,000,000 / $2,000,000
This is your baseline liability protection. It covers bodily injury (someone is hurt because of your operations), property damage (you damage someone's building or equipment), and personal injury (defamation, wrongful eviction, etc.).
Per Occurrence means Amazon is covered for up to $1,000,000 on any single incident—a serious accident, a cargo spill, a load that causes property damage.
Aggregate means across all incidents in a 12-month policy period, your total liability coverage is $2,000,000. Once you hit that cap, you're self-insured for additional claims until your policy renews.
For a carrier, this is foundational. If you cause a multi-vehicle accident, the other parties' medical bills, vehicle repairs and lost wages can easily exceed $1,000,000. Without this limit, you're liable for everything out of pocket.
Auto Liability: $1,000,000 with $50,000 Trailer Interchange
Auto Liability specifically covers vehicle accidents and third-party claims related to your truck or trailer.
The $50,000 trailer interchange coverage is a specific requirement. This covers damage to trailers you're pulling that don't belong to you. If you're hauling a customer's or broker's trailer and you damage it (backing into a dock, overturning on a curve), trailer interchange coverage pays for repairs—up to $50,000 per incident. Amazon wants this protection because some Relay loads involve non-Amazon trailers.
If your current auto policy doesn't explicitly list "$50,000 trailer interchange," contact your broker and ask them to add it.
Cargo Insurance: At Least $100,000
Cargo coverage protects Amazon's freight while it's in your truck or trailer. If cargo is damaged, lost, stolen or contaminated during transport, cargo insurance covers it up to your limit.
$100,000 is Amazon's minimum. This covers most single loads. However, if you're hauling especially high-value freight (electronics, machinery, pharmaceuticals), confirm that a $100,000 limit is sufficient. You can purchase higher limits if needed—$250,000, $500,000 or $1,000,000—at higher premiums.
Cargo claims can happen:
- Load shifts during transit and is damaged.
- Trailer is involved in an accident; goods are destroyed.
- Cargo is stolen from an unsecured truck.
- Refrigerated goods spoil if your reefer unit fails.
Without cargo coverage, you pay the shipper (Amazon, in most Relay cases) out of pocket.
Workers' Compensation and Employer's Liability
If you have employees—drivers, dispatchers, mechanics—you are required by law to carry Workers' Compensation insurance in every state where they work.
Workers' Compensation covers medical costs, lost wages and disability benefits if an employee is injured or becomes ill from work. The employee receives benefits without having to sue you; in exchange, they give up the right to sue for negligence.
Employer's Liability ($100,000 minimum per Amazon) covers third-party claims related to employee injury—for example, if an employee is injured on the job and sues a vendor or property owner, and that third party tries to recover damages from you as the employer.
Workers' Compensation is required by law in all 50 states (with rare exceptions for sole proprietors). Amazon simply requires that you comply with your state's rules and carry the minimum coverage. Costs vary by state and industry classification. A trucking operation in California, for example, pays more than one in South Dakota.
If you're a sole proprietor with no employees, you don't need Workers' Compensation. But many states allow you to purchase it voluntarily if you want personal coverage. Check with your broker.
Beneficial Owner and Public Adjuster Information
On your ACORD (certificate of insurance) form, Amazon is typically listed as an "Additional Insured"—meaning the policy covers Amazon if they're sued as a result of an incident with your freight.
Your insurance broker will know how to list Amazon as an additional insured. It's a standard request and takes no extra time.
How to Get the Right Insurance
Step 1: Gather Your Current Policies Pull out your auto and liability policies and review the limits. Write down what you currently carry.
Step 2: Compare to Amazon's Minimums Check if your current coverage meets Amazon's thresholds:
- General Liability: $1M/$2M?
- Auto Liability: $1M with $50K trailer interchange?
- Cargo: $100K minimum?
- Workers' Comp: Compliant with your state?
Step 3: Contact Your Broker If you're short on any limit, call your insurance broker or agent. Tell them you need to meet Amazon Relay's minimums. They'll:
- Quote higher limits if needed (often a modest cost increase).
- Add trailer interchange coverage to your auto policy.
- Issue an ACORD certificate listing the correct limits.
Step 4: Upload to Your Relay Account Once you have certificates showing all four coverages at Amazon's minimums, upload them during your Amazon Relay sign-up.
Insurance Cost Considerations
Insurance premiums depend on several factors:
- Your carrier's safety record and claims history.
- Years in business and driver experience.
- Equipment type (box truck vs. tractor-trailer).
- Geographic territory and annual mileage.
- Your state's workers' compensation classification.
There is no standard "Amazon Relay insurance" price. Two carriers with the same trucks can pay vastly different premiums based on their track record. A new carrier with no history will pay more than an established carrier with a clean record.
Do not call Amazon for premium quotes or rate recommendations. Contact a commercial truck insurance broker who works with owner-operators. Many specialize in this market and can find competitive rates. Allow several weeks to get quotes and bind a policy.
What Happens After You're Approved
Once Amazon approves your account based on your insurance, your policy is in effect continuously. If your policy renews, lapses or changes, notify Amazon immediately. A lapse in coverage or a drop below the required limits can affect your Relay account—confirm the impact with Amazon Relay support.
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