📦 Amazon Relay Owner-Operator Earnings

Amazon Relay owner-operators average about $175,000 gross and $63,000 net annually. The per-mile rates are high ($2.65-4.00/mi) because most loads are short-haul between Amazon fulfillment centers, but total annual miles are lower than traditional OTR. The real advantage is no factoring costs — Amazon pays within 7 days, compared to the 30-45 day wait with most brokers. Many Relay drivers run dedicated local/regional routes near major metro areas.

Apply at relay.amazon.com with your MC authority, USDOT number, and insurance certificates meeting Amazon's minimums ($1M auto liability, $100K cargo, $1M general liability). The onboarding process takes 2-4 weeks and includes insurance verification, equipment inspection, background screening, and app training. You need a truck that meets Amazon's standards (typically 2015 or newer). Having all documents ready speeds up approval significantly.

The biggest complaint is long wait times at Amazon fulfillment centers — 2-4 hour waits are common, and 6+ hour waits happen regularly. Detention pay does not kick in until after 2 hours and is often insufficient ($30-40/hr). The loads are short (10-150 miles), so you spend significant time deadheading between facilities. Amazon can also deactivate carriers with little notice, creating income instability. The app occasionally has glitches that delay check-in.

Yes, if you are based near a cluster of Amazon fulfillment centers (San Bernardino, Chicago, NJ/NYC, DFW, Atlanta). Drivers in these areas can book 3-5 loads per day and gross $1,500-3,500 per week. In areas with fewer Amazon facilities, Relay alone may not provide enough volume. Most successful Relay drivers supplement with other freight sources (DAT, Uber Freight, direct shipper accounts) to fill gaps in their Amazon schedule.

Amazon Relay primarily uses 53-foot dry van trailers (provided by Amazon — you supply the tractor). Most loads are power-only, meaning you hook up to Amazon's trailer at one facility and deliver to another. Your tractor typically needs to be 2015 or newer, well-maintained, and DOT compliant. Some Amazon programs accept box trucks for last-mile delivery, but the main Relay program focuses on tractor-trailer operations between fulfillment and sortation centers.