Authority and Operational Requirements
Before you can book your first load on Amazon Relay, your business must meet these foundational criteria:
DOT Number You need a DOT number with interstate authority. The critical requirement: your DOT authority must be active for at least 180 days. If you received your authority recently, you'll need to wait until you cross the 180-day mark. There's no exception to this rule—Amazon enforces it consistently.
MC (Motor Carrier) Number You must have a valid MC number. This number, issued by the FMCSA, shows that you're registered as an interstate carrier. When you get your DOT number, the MC application is usually filed at the same time.
Authority Age The 180-day rule is the single biggest barrier for new carriers. You can't rush it. Amazon checks this before approving your account. If your authority is newer, check back in 180 days; Amazon will not make exceptions.
Safety Rating and BASIC Score Requirements
Amazon requires a satisfactory safety profile. Amazon will check your FMCSA records, including your safety rating and your BASIC (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories) scores.
FMCSA Safety Rating Your safety rating must be one of these three: Satisfactory, None, or Not Rated. Any rating below Satisfactory (such as Conditional or Unsatisfactory) disqualifies you from Relay.
BASIC Score Limits Your BASIC scores must stay within these limits:
- Unsafe Driving: below 60%
- HOS Compliance: below 60%
- Vehicle Maintenance: below 75%
- Controlled Substances/Alcohol: below 75%
- Driver Fitness: below 75%
Additionally, your driver out-of-service violation rate must be at or below 35%, and your vehicle out-of-service violation rate must be at or below 50%.
These thresholds reflect Amazon's risk tolerance. If you're close to any limit, focus on improving that metric before applying. A violation that pushes you over the limit can delay approval.
Insurance Minimums
Insurance requirements are strict and non-negotiable. Here's a summary; see the full insurance page for details on each coverage:
- Commercial General Liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate
- Auto Liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence, including $50,000 trailer replacement (trailer interchange) coverage
- Cargo Insurance: at least $100,000
- Workers' Compensation: required in every jurisdiction where you operate with employees; $100,000 per occurrence for Employer's Liability
You'll need to upload proof of insurance to your Relay account. Amazon verifies these minimums before approving you.
Equipment Specifications
Amazon accepts only specific types of equipment. Your equipment choices determine what loads you can book:
- Day cab tractors (single-engine cab, no sleeper)
- Sleeper tractors (with sleeping compartment)
- 26 ft and 16 ft box trucks with a working tuck-under liftgate (the liftgate is required)
- 48 ft and 53 ft dry van trailers
- Reefer trailers (temperature-controlled 48 ft and 53 ft)
- 20, 40 and 45 ft high-cube containers (UIIA compliant)
Cargo vans are not supported. Do not apply with a cargo van—Amazon will not approve it, even if you think it meets the load specs.
Each equipment type comes with different load availability. Sleepers and large trailers get more volume. Box trucks see steady work but at lower rates. Containers are for carriers with specialized equipment.
Beneficial Owner Verification
Amazon verifies the ownership of your carrier. This means:
- Amazon verifies your business entity (LLC, S-Corp, Sole Proprietorship, etc.).
- Amazon verifies every beneficial owner—anyone with more than 25% ownership—using government records and documentation you provide.
During the sign-up process, you'll be asked to provide ownership information. Have your business formation documents, tax ID and ownership structure ready.
Steps to Sign Up for Amazon Relay
Once you confirm you meet the requirements, the process is straightforward:
1. Visit relay.amazon.com Go to the Amazon Relay homepage and select "Sign up" or "Apply now." You'll need a business email address (not a personal Gmail or Yahoo). This will be your account login going forward.
2. Enter Your Business Information Provide your legal business name, entity type (LLC, S-Corp, etc.), your DOT and MC numbers, and the date your authority was granted. Double-check the authority date—if it's less than 180 days old, Amazon will ask you to reapply later.
3. Submit Safety and Compliance Records Amazon will pull your FMCSA records automatically once you provide your DOT number. If your BASIC scores are in range and your safety rating is acceptable, you'll move to the next step. If you're out of range on any metric, your application may be delayed or rejected.
4. Upload Insurance Documentation Provide proof of insurance for each coverage type (General Liability, Auto Liability, Cargo, Workers' Comp). Your insurance broker or agent can issue a certificate of insurance (ACORD form) that lists all required coverages and limits.
5. Verify Beneficial Ownership Provide documentation of your business structure and beneficial owners. If you're a sole proprietor, this is simple. If you're an LLC or corporation, you'll need operating agreements or articles of incorporation showing ownership percentages.
6. Review and Confirm Amazon will send you an approval notice via email once your application is processed. Once approved, you can log in to your Relay account and start browsing loads.
7. Set Up Your Profile Complete your carrier profile: add driver information, vehicle details, contact preferences (SMS or email dispatch alerts), and your preferred equipment and lanes. The more detailed your profile, the better Amazon can match you to work.
What Happens If You Don't Meet Requirements
If your DOT authority is too new, your BASIC scores are out of range, or your safety rating is below Satisfactory, Amazon will reject your application. You'll receive an email explaining which requirement you didn't meet.
If it's the authority age, you simply need to wait. Apply again after 180 days.
If it's a BASIC score or safety rating, work with your fleet manager or compliance officer to improve. Common issues:
- Unsafe Driving: Driver training or speed-governor limits.
- HOS Compliance: Better logging practices or dispatch timing.
- Vehicle Maintenance: Proactive vehicle inspections and repairs.
- Controlled Substances/Alcohol: Drug-screening programs.
Once you fix the issue, you can reapply. The FMCSA updates these records regularly, so improvements show up over time.
After You're Approved
Once your account is active, you can browse the load board, post your truck for instant matching, and start accepting work. Many carriers use auto-refresh tools or auto-booking extensions to speed up the process—NudoIQ is designed to work inside the Relay board and give you lane rate history, net profit per load, and scorecard dispute assistance.
NudoIQ costs $49.99 per month for all features. Start with a 7-day free trial, cancel anytime. 5.0 rating on the Chrome Web Store. Used by 300+ carriers.