Why Equipment Requirements Matter
Amazon's equipment requirements aren't bureaucratic checkboxes — they reflect what's needed to operate safely in Amazon's facility network and interface with their technology systems. Facilities are designed around specific trailer dimensions, and the app-driven check-in system assumes drivers have smartphones capable of running current software. Getting equipment wrong means your trucks can't legally operate on Relay loads, which creates problems at the facility gate and potential contract issues.
Tractor Requirements
Amazon Relay requires Class 8 semi trucks (sleeper or day cab). The specific tractor requirements include:
- Model year — Amazon has tightened equipment age requirements over time. Currently, tractors must generally be 2011 or newer, though requirements can vary by state and operational area due to emissions regulations in states like California
- ELD compliance — all tractors must have an FMCSA-registered Electronic Logging Device installed and functioning. Amazon is not an ELD provider; you need to have your own ELD solution in place
- Brake function — tractors must be equipped with functional trailer air brakes and all DOT required safety equipment
- Cab card and registration — current, valid, and accessible in the cab
Amazon's carrier compliance team can conduct virtual or in-person equipment inspections. If your equipment fails inspection, loads assigned to that unit will need to be covered by alternate equipment or cancelled — the latter of which hurts your score.
Trailer Requirements
The primary trailer type on Relay is the 53-foot dry van. Amazon provides the trailers on most loads — this is a drop-and-hook network, and you're pulling Amazon's trailers, not your own. Your driver connects to an Amazon trailer at the origin facility and drops it at the destination. You don't need your own trailer fleet to run Relay, which is one of its advantages for asset-light operations.
For loads where you're expected to provide a trailer (less common, but it happens), the requirements are:
- 53 feet in length
- Swing doors or roll-up doors (facility-specific)
- Clean, dry interior — Amazon has cargo integrity standards, and trailers with moisture damage, holes, or pest evidence will be rejected
- Functional landing gear, lights, and brakes meeting DOT standards
Driver Technology Requirements
Every driver operating on Relay must have a smartphone capable of running the Amazon Relay app. The app requires:
- iOS 14 or later, or Android 8.0 or later
- Location services enabled — the geofencing for facility check-in won't work without location access
- Cellular data connectivity — the app needs data to communicate with Amazon's systems at pickup and delivery
Drivers who show up at an Amazon facility without the app, with an incompatible phone, or without location permissions enabled will face check-in problems. This is a common source of service failures for new carriers — brief your drivers on app requirements before their first load, not after they're stuck at a gate.
California-Specific Requirements
If you operate in California, Amazon's requirements align with CARB (California Air Resources Board) regulations. Tractors must meet CARB emissions standards, which currently mandate 2010 or newer engine model year for most operations. Pre-2010 engines are generally prohibited from operating in California, and Amazon will not dispatch non-compliant equipment to California facilities regardless of what's in your carrier profile. If you add California lanes to your preferred regions, make sure your California-operating equipment is CARB-compliant.
Inspection and Maintenance Records
Amazon may request maintenance records as part of carrier compliance reviews. At minimum, maintain:
- Annual DOT inspection records for all active tractors
- Pre-trip and post-trip inspection logs (required by FMCSA regardless of Relay)
- ELD diagnostic records showing device function
If your equipment gets flagged in an FMCSA roadside inspection and generates an out-of-service order, report this to Amazon proactively. An OOS order on a truck you've got assigned to Relay blocks creates an immediate operational problem — better to communicate early than have a service failure cascade from an equipment issue you knew about.
Staying Current
Amazon updates its equipment requirements periodically, usually announced via email to the address on your carrier account. The requirements in your carrier agreement supersede anything you might have been told during onboarding if they've been updated since. Check the requirements section of the carrier portal annually at minimum, and whenever you receive a compliance communication from Amazon. Equipment that was compliant when you signed up may not remain compliant as Amazon tightens standards over time.