Beware of Amazon Relay !!!

Have you ever been in a situation where you were on your way to deliver a load for Amazon Relay, only to find out upon arrival at the drop-off point that the load had been cancelled or that someone else had already taken it? If you have, chances are that you were a victim of a "back-up-load". This is a practice that Amazon occasionally engages in, and it can be very frustrating and costly for carriers.

A back-up load is essentially a duplicate load that Amazon creates for a shipment that they feel may be at risk of being delayed or cancelled. If you notice multiple loads going in and out of the same pick-up and drop-off points, there is a chance that some of them may be back-up loads. The first carrier to deliver the load gets the full payment, while the other carrier gets a "canceled rate" of $175. While this may seem like a good gesture on Amazon's part, it is unethical to give two carriers the same load without informing them and then cancelling on one if they arrive second.

This practice can be very damaging to carriers, as it can result in a significant loss of time and money. Often, the expenses associated with hauling a load exceed the $175 TONU (Truck Ordered, Not Used) payment that the carrier receives for a cancelled load. While Amazon may see this as a way to protect their business, it is not a sustainable or fair practice for the carriers who are doing the actual work.

If you have experienced this problem or have any comments about these practices, please share your thoughts below. It is important for carriers to speak out about these issues so that Amazon and other companies can understand the impact of their actions on the trucking industry.

In order to avoid being assigned a back-up load, carriers can try to stay informed about their loads and be aware of any duplicate loads that may be assigned to them. However, it is important to note that Amazon takes points away from carriers who reject loads, which can be a deterrent to speaking out against this practice. This is a concerning issue, and carriers should not have to fear retaliation for speaking out about unfair practices.

At the end of the day, back-up loads are a problematic and unethical practice that Amazon occasionally engages in. It is important for carriers to be aware of this practice and to speak out against it in order to protect themselves and the trucking industry as a whole. We hope that Amazon and other companies will take steps to address this issue and to ensure fair treatment of carriers in the future.