Protect Your Amazon Relay Performance Score in 2025

Amazon just announced major changes to how Amazon Relay calculates performance scores.

For carriers, that means tougher penalties for late loads, stricter rules on acceptance, and new weight on app usage.

With the right strategies and proper preparations, you can protect your score and keep your account safe. In this post, we’ll break down the updates and show you how to stay ahead.

Amazon Relay Performance Score Updates for 2025

Starting September 2, 2025, Amazon Relay is changing how it calculates carrier performance.

Some rules are completely new, while others are stricter versions of what carriers already know.

On-Time Performance

Amazon is making late deliveries count much heavier against your score.

• 241–600 minutes late → now 4× penalty (previously 2×).

• 601+ minutes late → now 8× penalty (previously 4×).

Example: If you miss a delivery by 5 hours, Amazon now counts it as 4 late loads instead of 2. That’s double the damage to your score.

What Stayed the Same:

• 1–60 minutes late = 1× penalty.

• 61–240 minutes late = 2× penalty.

Acceptance

Amazon is raising the penalties for rejecting contracts and blocks.

• Rejecting a contract more than 3 weeks out = 1× penalty (was 0.75×).

• Rejecting a contract within 3 weeks = 2× penalty (was 1×).

• Block rejections:

  • More than 24 hrs before = 1× penalty (was 6 hrs).

  • Less than 24 hrs before = 4× penalty (was 6 hrs).

Example: If you cancel a block only 12 hours before execution, Amazon now hits you with a 4× penalty, even if it’s just one block.

What Stayed the Same:

• Post-execution rejection still = 4× penalty.

App Usage

Amazon is shifting how app usage affects your score.

• Score weighting is now balanced:

  • 50% app steps completion (was 70%).

  • 50% location availability (was 30%).

Example: Forgetting to confirm one step in the app hurts less than before, but failing to keep your GPS on now hits harder.

Disruption-Free

No changes here, this category is staying the same.

What the 2025 Rule Changes Mean for Carriers

These updates might look like just new math on a scorecard, but in reality, they change the way carriers operate day to day.

• Small mistakes carry bigger consequences: One late delivery or last-minute rejection can now drag your score down faster than before. For small fleets and single-truck operators, this can mean losing access to premium loads overnight.

• Smaller carriers take the hardest hit: Large fleets can “absorb” a few penalties since they move hundreds of loads weekly. But if you’re only running 5–10 loads a week, a single 4× penalty could tank your grade for the entire 6-week cycle.

• The app matters more than ever: Amazon is putting more weight on location availability (GPS tracking). A simple mistake like forgetting to keep your app running could cost you opportunities, even if you ran the load perfectly.

• Planning ahead is no longer optional: With acceptance penalties rising, you can’t afford to overbook or cancel at the last minute. Every rejected block now hits harder.

Carriers will need to be more precise, plan tighter schedules, and dispute penalties quickly if they want to stay competitive under the 2025 rules.

How to Protect Your Amazon Relay Account in 2025

The new rules may be stricter, but that doesn’t mean your account has to be at risk.

With the right habits and dispatch strategy, you can keep your performance score strong and continue accessing premium loads.

Build Buffer Time Into Every Load

Don’t plan loads too tight. A small traffic delay on I-55 or I-294 could turn into a 4× penalty under the new rules. Add a time cushion so you can absorb unexpected delays.

Be Strategic With Load Acceptance

Think twice before rejecting contracts or blocks. If you can’t commit, don’t book it in the first place; last-minute rejections now cost more.

Keep the App Running at All Times

App usage now makes up half your score. Always keep the Relay app open with GPS enabled, and train drivers to double-check every step is marked complete.

Dispute Every Unfair Penalty

System errors, missed check-ins, or rescheduled loads shouldn’t be held against you. File disputes quickly with clear documentation (BOLs, screenshots, timestamps).

Use Dispatch Support to Optimize Routes

AI-powered planning and experienced dispatchers can help you sequence loads, avoid peak congestion, and protect your performance. The right plan means fewer mistakes and more premium freight.

Dispatch Expert Opinion: A Stricter System, But Still Beatable

Amazon’s 2025 update raises the bar, especially for small carriers. One late load can now drag your grade down for weeks, even if most of your runs are flawless.

The reality is that not every issue is in your control: traffic, facility delays, and system glitches still happen every day. 

That’s why the winners under the new rules won’t just drive harder, they’ll dispatch smarter.

With solid planning, buffer time, and swift dispute action, carriers can still protect their score and maintain premium loads.

Need Help Protecting Your Relay Score in 2025?

At Amazon Relay Dispatch, we know how damaging the new performance rules can be if you’re running a fleet or as an owner-operator.

A single late load, missed check-in, or rejected block can now hit your score harder than ever, and lock you out of premium loads.

That’s where we step in. Our team combines AI-powered planning with hands-on dispatch expertise to:

•  Plan smarter routes with built-in buffer time

•  Monitor your performance score and flag risks early

•  File disputes fast to reverse unfair penalties

•  Handle load cancellations, detention, and layovers to protect revenue

•  Keep your trucks running on premium freight with minimal deadhead

Don’t wait for a penalty to lock you out of premium loads. 

Book a free consultation today and protect your account before the new rules take effect.

FAQs About Amazon Relay’s 2025 Performance Rules

1. When do the new Amazon Relay performance rules take effect?

The updated performance score rules begin on September 2, 2025, and will apply to all

carriers hauling through Amazon Relay.

2. What’s the biggest change in the 2025 rules?

Late deliveries and last-minute rejections now carry much heavier penalties. For example, a 5-hour late load is now a 4× penalty instead of 2×.

3. How will these changes affect small carriers?

Smaller fleets and single-truck operators are hit hardest because they have fewer loads to balance out penalties. One mistake can drag down a 6-week score.

4. Can I dispute penalties under the new rules?

Carriers can still file disputes for unfair penalties, such as system glitches, facility delays, or loads rescheduled by Amazon. Fast documentation is key.

5. How important is the Relay app under the new system? 

Very important. App usage now makes up 50% of your score, so carriers must keep GPS active and confirm all steps correctly.

6. What can I do to protect my Relay account in 2025?

Plan routes with buffer time, avoid overbooking, keep the Relay app running, and dispute unfair penalties quickly. Dispatch support can help you stay ahead.