Amazon Relay vs Direct Freight

Amazon Relay is a free freight marketplace where carriers can find spot loads and contracts. Its load board supports one-off load searches and bookings, alongside Post A Truck matching, lane auctions, and single- or multi-week round-trip contracts. Before accepting a load, carriers can see the base rate, fuel surcharge, and toll charges. Completed work is paid weekly: loads completed by Saturday at 23:59 are paid the following Friday. The web portal and Android and iOS apps provide access; drivers can view schedules and load history, inspect assets, follow load instructions, and report issues in the app. Truck-friendly routes account for truck and trailer type, road restrictions, and changing traffic. Drivers can request trip support through Relay Assistant, an AI-generated chat tool. Active carriers may also access discounts on services and equipment, including eligible Samsara dash cams. Carrier eligibility generally includes interstate DOT authority active for at least 180 days, a valid MC number, qualifying safety metrics, and required insurance. Completed applications are typically approved or rejected within one to three weeks, according to Amazon.

Direct Freight Services connects carriers with loads posted mostly by brokers, with some direct shippers also posting. Its load board supports searching and posting loads and trucks, and matching load alerts, mileage, and maps are available. The company says its Driver app searches more than 300K loads daily. A lane pricing tool uses millions of load records to provide spot market rates for thousands of lanes. Professional Carrier adds current and historical freight rates, toll costs, saved lanes, and team management; Enhanced Carrier and Professional Carrier also include credit scores, days to pay, and full credit reports. The service is available on the web and through iOS and Android apps. The Free plan costs nothing and allows three load searches per day. Basic Carrier costs $39 a month after 15 days for $1; Enhanced Carrier costs $49 a month and Professional Carrier $69 a month, each after 15 days for $1. The FAQ notes that unavailable loads may remain listed and most loads do not show pay rates.