Amazon Relay insurance requirements

Amazon Relay coverage limits

Every policy Amazon requires carries its own limit, and a few are required only for some carriers.

The $2,000,000 aggregate is the most the general liability policy will pay across all claims combined. If you run a semi, you'll also need $50,000 of trailer interchange coverage.

Per Amazon's FAQ, if you have employees on your payroll (W-2), you also need workers' compensation wherever you operate, plus $100,000 of employers liability.

Relay rules beyond insurance: authority and safety

Getting approved takes more than insurance. Amazon's FAQ also requires the following:

• The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) must list your entity type as Carrier, with authorization for property and for-hire work.
• You can apply before your authority is 180 days old, but you can't haul with Relay until your MC has been active for 180 days.
• A Satisfactory, None, or Not Rated FMCSA safety rating is required.
• Amazon also checks your safety scores, and its limits are stricter than the federal ones.

BASIC scores are federal safety measures built from things like crashes and inspections. Amazon notes that its thresholds run stricter than federal regulations, so passing federal rules doesn't guarantee you'll pass Relay. Fleet size doesn't matter for applying.

Cost of Relay insurance

Amazon says experienced carriers with clean records often pay $8,000 to $14,000 for the required coverage. Just one claim can push premiums up for years.

After onboarding, you can request quotes through McGriff Insurance for coverage that matches Amazon's limits. Relay carriers may also qualify for industry discount programs, with special deals on insurance among them.

How does Relay approve your insurance and keep it active?

1. Send in your Relay application; the whole thing may take only 20 minutes.
2. An outside vendor working with Amazon then collects the certificate of insurance that your agent, broker, or insurer has on file. This certificate, usually shortened to COI, is the document listing your policies and limits.
3. Expect a decision in about 1 to 3 weeks. Insurance checks cause most delays.
4. If your coverage gets flagged as non-compliant, ask your provider to bring it up to Amazon's minimums, and have the provider forward the corrected details directly to FMCSA.
5. Start renewal at least 2 to 3 weeks before expiration, and enter the updated information in your Relay account's Insurance tab no later than 5 days before the old policy ends so Amazon has time to verify it.

A lapsed policy means no booking or hauling Relay loads until coverage is restored, according to Amazon.

How does Relay compare with other brokers?

Other freight platforms set their own insurance requirements, so check each platform's rules before booking loads.

Platform or broker	What they ask for
Amazon Relay	$1,000,000 auto liability and $100,000 cargo
C.H. Robinson	Liability of $1,000,000, plus cargo coverage of $100,000
Uber Freight	$1,000,000 in liability and $100,000 in cargo
TQL	Auto liability at $1,000,000, cargo at $100,000

Sources: Amazon Relay, C.H. Robinson, Uber Freight, TQL, J.B. Hunt.

What insurance do carriers need for brokers?

Federal law creates the baseline, and brokers may set a higher number. For-hire carriers moving general, non-hazardous freight over state lines in trucks rated 10,001 lbs or above need at least $750,000 in liability. The common broker ask is $1,000,000 for auto liability and $100,000 for cargo.

Take C.H. Robinson as an example. Signup runs through Highway, and your file goes to final review once Highway receives the COI straight from your insurance agent. Expect processing of about 1 to 2 business days once all documents are in. C.H. Robinson requires an MC that's been active 7 days or more, and it sets no minimums for fleet size or load volume.

Insurance requirements at Uber Freight

The Uber Freight carrier agreement calls for these limits:

• Auto liability: $1,000,000 or more per occurrence
• Commercial general liability: $1,000,000 or more per occurrence
• Motor truck cargo: $100,000 or more per shipment

Your insurer needs an A-VII or better rating from AM Best. If you plan to cancel or make a major change to your policy, you have to give 30 days' written notice first. Uber Freight and the shipper also need to be named on your policy as additional insureds.

State insurance rules

Truckstop's guide notes that state rules can add more, mostly for hauling within a single state:

• Alabama: a Form E filing from your insurer as proof of coverage, with continuous coverage required to hold your authority
• Louisiana: liability shown through a Form E filing, and cargo often shown through a Form H filing
• Maine: a $350,000 liability limit is enough for property carriers operating within the state
• Michigan: personal injury protection under no-fault rules, on top of liability coverage
• Mississippi: cargo coverage of $5,000 for loads up to 3 tons, rising to $10,000 above that

Does Amazon Relay require $100k in cargo?

Yes, it does. Amazon's FAQ calls for $100,000 of cargo coverage. Federal law doesn't require cargo insurance for freight haulers, only for household goods movers, so the $100,000 is Amazon's own rule, not a government one. The same $100,000 figure shows up at Uber Freight, C.H. Robinson, and TQL.

Frequently asked questions