How Amazon Relay Freight Bidding Works + Calculator
- Michael Carter
- Oct 7
- 7 min read
Amazon Relay it’s a smart system that rewards carriers who deliver on time, follow rules, and keep clean data.
Many drivers think it’s only about bidding low, but that’s how profits disappear. Success comes from understanding how the platform thinks.
In this guide, you’ll learn how Amazon Relay freight bidding really works, why reliability beats price, and how to make every mile count for your business.
Freight Auction Requirements
Before we dive in, let’s start with the requirements.
Item | Requirement |
Training | ~15-minute Auctions Training |
Score Gate | C+ (Reefer B, some Box-Truck B+) |
Trailer Pool* | 1.5× trailers per daily route; 24h drop |
Auction Types | 53' power-only / 53' trailer-required / Reefer 48'–53' / Box 26'–27' (reefer) / Hostler |
Bid Includes | Base rate only (accessorials after) |
Volume | Bid covers full weekly volume |
Tie-Break | Performance score wins ties |
After Award | Repeated declines can remove access |
The Two Ways to Get Loads on Amazon Relay
Amazon Relay gives carriers two main ways to book freight: “Book It Now” and “Bid on It.”They may look similar on the screen, but they work very differently, and each has its own purpose.
Understanding when to use each one helps you save time, build a better score, and earn more money per mile.
1. Book It Now
“Book It Now” loads have a fixed rate that Amazon sets. The first carrier to click and confirm gets the job. There’s no bidding, no waiting, and no guessing.
This option is great for:
Quick backhauls: When you just dropped a load and need freight to get back home.
Repositioning: Moving your truck to a busier area with better-paying lanes.
New carriers: Perfect for building a good performance history fast.
Even if the pay isn’t the best, these loads help you stay moving and improve your on-time and acceptance scores, which matter more in the long run.
2. Bid on It
“Bid on It” is where you name your price. You enter the amount you want to be paid for the load, and Amazon’s system compares your bid to others. But here’s the catch, the lowest bid doesn’t always win.
Amazon’s algorithm looks at more than price. It considers your scorecard, how often you deliver on time, and whether you use the app properly.
Feature | Book It Now | Bid on It |
Rate Type | Fixed rate set by Amazon | You choose your price |
Speed | Instant, first to click gets it | Slower, wait for bid results |
Competition | Based on who books first | Based on price and performance |
Profit Potential | Moderate, steady but limited | Higher, if you bid smart and have a good score |
Risk Level | Low, guaranteed rate | Higher, may not win the load |
Best For | Backhauls, new carriers, quick moves | Experienced carriers who know their costs |
Main Goal | Build history and reliability | Maximize earnings and efficiency |
Why the Lowest Price Doesn’t Always Win
Many carriers believe Amazon Relay works like a simple auction, whoever bids the lowest wins the load. That’s not true. Relay’s system looks at more than price; it looks at trust.
Amazon would rather pay a few dollars more to a carrier it can rely on than risk a late delivery that disrupts an entire warehouse schedule. Every minute counts in their network, and one late truck can throw off hundreds of orders.
That’s why Relay rewards carriers who have strong scorecards, drivers who show up on time, accept offers consistently, and use the app correctly. These signals tell the system you’re dependable.
Think of it like this:
Your price is one part of the bid.
Your performance is the other.
A high-performing carrier can win a load even if its bid isn’t the lowest. Reliability becomes your “bonus currency.” When the system knows you’ll deliver as promised, it’s willing to pay a little more for that peace of mind.
You don’t need to be the cheapest; you need to be the most trusted.
How to Set a Smart Bid
Before placing a bid on Amazon Relay, you need to know exactly what a load costs you to run.
Many carriers lose money because they chase the rate per mile without counting all their expenses.
Start with your Cost Per Mile (CPM); this is the foundation of every smart bid.
👉 If you already know your numbers — CPM, loaded miles, and deadhead miles
Step 1: Find Your Cost Per Mile
Add up everything you spend in a month:
Fuel
Driver pay (or your pay if you drive)
Truck payment and insurance
Maintenance and tires
Permits, tolls, and taxes
Then divide that total by the number of miles you drive in a month.
Example:
If your total monthly cost is $16,000 and you drive 10,000 miles,your CPM = $16,000 ÷ 10,000 = $1.60 per mile
Step 2: Add Your Profit Margin
Decide how much profit you want to make per mile. Let’s say 40¢.
Your goal rate per mile is then: $1.60 (cost) + $0.40 (profit) = $2.00 per mile
Step 3: Include Deadhead Miles
Don’t forget the miles you drive empty to reach the pickup point, those miles cost you too.
Here’s a simple formula:
Total Bid = (Loaded Miles × [CPM + Profit]) + (Deadhead Miles × CPM)
Example:
Loaded miles: 400
Deadhead miles: 60
CPM: $1.60
Profit: $0.40
Total Bid = (400 × $2.00) + (60 × $1.60) = $896
That’s the lowest bid you can take and still make your target profit.
Step 4: Check Time and HOS
Make sure you have enough Hours of Service (HOS) to legally finish the trip. If you’ll need a reset or long break, your time costs money, so the load should pay more.
Step 5: Pick Your Type of Load
Round-trips may pay less per mile but save you time and stress.
One-way loads can look better on paper but leave you hunting for a backhaul.
A smart bid isn’t about guessing what wins, it’s about knowing your numbers and walking away when the rate doesn’t make sense.
Try Amazon Relay Dispatch Smart Bid Calculator
The Carrier Scorecard: Your Key to Better Loads
Your Amazon Relay scorecard decides which loads you see and how often you win bids. It measures reliability, consistency, and compliance. You need at least a C+ score to view/place bids.
Some freight requires a higher B for reefer and B+ for certain box-truck auctions. Keep on-time, acceptance, and app usage tight.
To keep it strong, pay attention to these key areas:
On-Time Performance – Arrive early and plan for delays. Frequent late deliveries caused by traffic, mechanical problems, or poor scheduling can quickly hurt your score.
Appointment Accuracy – Stick to pickup and delivery times. Missed appointments signal poor planning or lack of communication.
Compliance Standards – Follow Amazon’s strict safety and operational rules at all times.
Load Reliability – Avoid frequent load rejections or cancellations after accepting a job; they reduce trust and visibility.
A strong score means more trust, better freight, and higher earnings. A weak one can quietly push you down the list, a “shadow ban” where only low-paying or leftover loads appear.
In your first few months, focus on perfect trips, steady communication, and full compliance.
Navigating the Market and Staying Profitable
Amazon Relay rates rise and fall fast. When there are more loads than trucks, prices go up.
When there are more trucks than loads, prices drop.
Smart carriers watch these changes and move their trucks to stronger markets instead of chasing cheap freight.
Always track your true cost per mile before accepting a load. A $3.00/mile trip with long deadhead might pay less than a $2.50/mile run close by.
If rates crash, don’t rush to take losing loads. Sometimes, parking for a day protects your bottom line better than driving for less.
Win with Smart Strategy, Not Just Speed
Success on Amazon Relay comes from more than quick clicks or low bids, it’s about being reliable, data-driven, and consistent.
Save time with bulk bidding: filter contracts, export the spreadsheet, enter your prices once, then upload to submit all bids at once.
Enable automated bidding to set a minimum bid and have Relay auto-rebid up to your threshold, so you can focus on filling schedules with spot loads or steady contracts.
Carriers who master their cost per mile, protect their scorecard, and communicate clearly win better loads and build long-term profit.
Book a Call now and become one of the Best High-Performing Carriers, and let us help you operate smarter, stay compliant, and win more high-value freight.
FAQs: How Amazon Relay Freight Bidding Works
1. How does Amazon Relay choose who wins a bid?
Amazon looks at both your bid price and your performance. Carriers with strong scorecards often win even if their bid isn’t the lowest.
2. What’s the difference between “Book It Now” and “Bid on It”?
Book It Now has a fixed rate, first to click gets it. Bid on It lets you name your price and wait for results.
3. What hurts my Amazon Relay score the most?
Late deliveries, missed appointments, poor app usage, and canceling accepted loads all lower your score.
4. How do I calculate a good bid price?
Add up your total costs (fuel, pay, insurance, etc.), divide by your miles to get your cost per mile, then add your profit and deadhead miles.
5. Can I get loads faster with Post a Truck?
Posting your truck’s location and availability lets Amazon send direct load offers before they hit the public board.
6. How can I get better-paying loads?
Keep a high scorecard, stay on time, use the app correctly, and bid smart based on your true costs, not just rate per mile.
7. Can a dispatch service help me perform better on Amazon Relay?
A skilled dispatch team can manage your loads, watch your scorecard, and help you stay compliant so you win more profitable freigh