How Rates Are Set
Amazon Relay uses a fixed-rate model. When a load is posted on the load board, the rate displayed is what you'll be paid — there's no negotiation. Amazon's algorithm prices loads based on distance, lane, market conditions, and operational demand. High-demand lanes or urgent loads sometimes carry premium rates, but these show up as standard posted rates, not as something you haggle for.
Rates are all-in. Unlike broker loads where fuel surcharge (FSC) might be listed separately, Relay rates typically include FSC in the posted number. This matters when you're benchmarking Relay rates against the market — a $1,800 Relay load is comparable to a $1,600 broker load plus a $200 FSC, not a $1,800 broker load plus separate FSC.
Rate Components
For standard trips, you're paid a flat load rate. For blocks (recurring scheduled work), the rate is posted per block, and blocks can contain one or multiple legs. When a block has multiple legs, the rate covers the entire block — not each leg individually. Make sure your drivers understand this so they're not expecting separate pay for each segment.
Detention pay exists on Relay, but it's structured differently than you might expect from traditional freight. Amazon's facilities are primarily drop-and-hook, so live-load detention situations are less common. When detention does apply (typically for live-load situations or extended gate delays), it's calculated based on time beyond a threshold and credited through the settlement system. It's not automatic — delayed situations need to be logged through the app or reported through the portal.
The Settlement Statement
Amazon pays weekly via ACH. Your settlement statement is available in the carrier portal under Financials > Settlements. Each settlement covers loads completed in a specific period, and the cutoff timing affects which week a load falls into payment.
The settlement statement shows:
- Load ID — Amazon's internal reference number for the load
- Origin and destination
- Completion date
- Base rate
- Adjustments — this line is where detention pay, bonuses, or deductions appear
- Net amount
Download the CSV version of your settlement for easier reconciliation. The web view is fine for spot-checking individual loads, but when you're reconciling 50+ loads a week, the CSV is faster to work with in a spreadsheet.
Common Pay Discrepancies
The most frequent pay issue carriers encounter is a load showing as completed in the app but not appearing in the expected settlement. This usually comes down to timing — load completion timestamps near the weekly cutoff can push a load into the following week's settlement. Check the completion date on the load detail before assuming something is missing.
The second most common issue is a rate discrepancy between what was shown at booking and what appears in settlement. This can happen if a load was modified after booking (route change, facility change) or if there was a system error. The load detail in the portal should show the booked rate. If it doesn't match settlement, that's when you contact Relay carrier support with the load ID and the discrepancy amount.
Bonus Loads and Incentive Pay
Amazon periodically posts loads with bonus rates, typically during peak periods (Q4, Prime Day) or when specific lanes have coverage gaps. These show up on the load board with a "bonus" indicator and are otherwise booked the same way as standard loads. The bonus amount is included in the posted rate — you don't have to do anything special to capture it.
Amazon has also run targeted incentive programs for carriers who maintain high on-time performance or complete a minimum number of loads per month. These programs vary and are communicated through portal notifications or email. They're worth paying attention to — a $0.05/mile bonus across 50,000 miles of monthly volume adds up quickly.
Tracking Revenue Per Load
The settlement statement gives you payment data, but it doesn't give you rate-per-mile, revenue per driver, or any of the metrics you need to actually manage fleet economics. To get from raw settlement data to useful numbers, you need to either build your own tracking system or use a tool that ingests your Relay CSV exports. At minimum, you want to know your average revenue per mile by lane and your revenue per driver per week — those two numbers will tell you where you're making money and where you're not.