Amazon Relay vs FlatLoads

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.

FlatLoads is a load board and online community for flatbed and open deck freight, connecting carriers, owner-operators, brokers, and shippers. It is available on the web, Android, and iOS. The free plan lets members browse load and truck boards, use the forum, and post a truck or classified. Listings cover flatbed, step deck, removable gooseneck, double drop, lowboy, B-train, Conestoga, and hotshot equipment; each load includes dimensions, weight, tarping responsibility, and securement requirements. Carrier memberships add direct contact details, text and push lane alerts, broker ratings and pay history, filters, and truck posting. The Carrier plan is $29.99 a month. Shipper and Broker memberships cost $99 a month and include unlimited load posting, carrier search and broadcast, vetting, direct messaging, and posting performance reporting. The service also has member ratings and broker pay-speed history. One account works across FlatLoads and several related services. Memberships are month to month, have no application fee or annual commitment, and can be cancelled at the end of the paid period.