Because this is peak season and the roads are filled with Amazon Relay drivers, here's what you need to know.
This is the busiest time of year for package delivery, and our highways are crowded with tractor-trailers hauling Amazon freight and racing the clock to keep up with demand.
Why Amazon Trucks Are Different
- Amazon relies on an app, not a dispatcher. Many Amazon loads are run through the Amazon Relay app, which tells the driver where to go, when to be there, and tracks every move in real time.
- Every second is measured. Carriers and drivers are graded on on‑time delivery, acceptance of loads, and app usage, so hitting the numbers can start to matter more than anything else.
Low Barriers, High Risk
- Easy to qualify as an Amazon carrier. A small company can obtain authority, carry the required insurance, wait the minimum time, and then start pulling Amazon freight, without any built‑in requirement for years of tractor‑trailer experience behind the wheel.
- Driver shortage meets delivery pressure. In an industry already short on seasoned drivers, Amazon’s volume and holiday demand mean more under‑experienced drivers in heavy trucks trying to stay on schedule.
How the System Pushes Drivers
- App‑driven control from the cab. The Relay app guides routes, tracks location, and essentially grades every trip, which can distract drivers and add constant performance pressure.
- Best loads go to the best scores. To keep getting the most profitable routes, carriers know they must hit tight windows and keep app usage nearly perfect, creating a strong incentive to push speed and cut safety margins.
What That Means for Families on the Road
- Time pressure and fatigue are a dangerous mix. When a driver is rushing to be “on time” for Amazon, the risk of speeding, tailgating, risky lane changes, and driving while fatigued goes up.
- These crashes are not simple accidents. They often grow out of a high‑pressure system built around metrics and speed, not just a one‑time mistake by a single driver.
My Amazon Truck Cases
- I am currently handling five Amazon‑related cases. Each involves families whose lives were changed by crashes with trucks hauling Amazon freight.
- These cases demand deep investigation. Results often depend on understanding Amazon Relay, performance scoring, app data, contracts, and safety policies, not just the last few seconds before impact.
If You Were Hit by an Amazon Truck
- Act fast to protect evidence. Photos, video, truck data, app records, and Amazon’s own metrics can be critical, but they must be preserved quickly.
- Work with a lawyer who understands Amazon’s system. As a board‑certified personal injury trial lawyer with more than four decades of trucking experience and multiple ongoing Amazon cases, this firm focuses on digging into the technology, data, and corporate decisions behind these crashes.
If you or someone you love was injured in a wreck involving an Amazon trailer or a truck you suspect was hauling Amazon freight, you do not have to face Amazon’s system alone. Contact Dugas Law Firm to discuss your case and your options during this especially dangerous delivery season.