How Much Do Amazon Relay Drivers Make in 2025?
- Michael Carter
- Oct 31
- 3 min read
You're an owner-operator, you see Amazon Relay trucks everywhere, and you're wondering one thing: how much can you actually make driving for the Amazon Relay program?
The potential is huge, but the numbers vary widely. Based on aggregated salary data, here’s a quick look at the annual gross revenue you could be looking at as an owner-operator on the platform.
Earning Tier | Annual Gross Revenue |
Low-End (25th Percentile) | $125,000 |
Average | $228,575 |
High-End (75th Percentile) | $340,000 |
Top Earners | $385,000+ |
Now, before you get too excited about those top-tier numbers, remember that these figures are gross revenue. This is the total amount of money your truck brings in before you pay for fuel, insurance, maintenance, and all the other costs of running your business.
Think of it as your starting point. The final amount you take home depends heavily on your strategy and, most importantly, the type of truck you're driving.
Amazon Relay Earnings by Equipment
Your earning potential is directly tied to the type of truck you operate. A sleeper cab running long-haul routes will have a different revenue stream than a box truck doing local deliveries.
Here’s the average gross revenue you can expect based on your truck type:
Truck Type | Average Annual Gross Revenue | Typical Work |
Sleeper Cab | $228,575 | Long-haul, multi-day trips, and contracts |
Day Cab | $177,696 | Regional and local power-only loads, often home daily |
Box Truck (26') | $114,472 | Local freight, often involving late-night runs to post offices |
As you can see, sleeper cabs have the highest gross revenue potential, while day cabs offer a great balance for drivers who want to be home more often.
From Gross Pay to Net Profit
Those big revenue numbers are exciting, but they aren't what you put in the bank. To find your actual profit, you have to know your Cost Per Mile (CPM), the single most important number for any owner-operator.
According to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the average cost to operate a truck in 2025 was $2.26 per mile. If a load pays less than your CPM, you're losing money.
How to Boost Your Amazon Relay Profit
Making good money on Amazon Relay is all about strategy. You need to beat that average CPM. Here’s how:
Be a Smart Dispatcher: As an owner-operator, you are your own dispatcher. Book smart by using the "Post A Truck" feature, which lets Relay's algorithm automatically book loads that match your criteria. This saves you from constantly watching the load board.
Master Your Performance Score: A high score is your golden ticket. It unlocks access to better-paying, consistent contract work that most drivers never see. Stay on time, every time.
Use a Hybrid Strategy: Don't rely only on the spot market. Use contracts to cover your fixed costs, then "cherry-pick" high-margin spot loads to boost your weekly profit.
Cut Your Costs: Lowering your CPM is pure profit. Use Amazon's discount programs for fuel, tires, and maintenance to keep more money in your pocket.
Is Amazon Relay a Good Deal?
The key is to treat Amazon like your biggest customer, not your boss. Their platform is a system with clear rules, and the owner-operators who win are the ones who learn to master it.
In this high-volume game, profitability comes from strategy, not just from driving.
The Good:
Weekly Pay: Unbeatable cash flow.
Endless Freight: Always work available.
No Broker Fees: Keep more of the rate.
The Bad:
Cheap Spot Loads: Intense competition drives rates down.
Tough Performance Score: A bad score locks you out of the best loads.
The top earners on Relay aren't just driving; they're strategizing. They master the performance system to secure the best-paying contract work, leaving the low-paying spot market behind.
Our clients are those top earners. If you're ready to maximize your revenue, let our Amazon Relay Top Tier Dispatch Management handle the strategy so you can focus on driving.
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