Amazon Relay Expects 300,000 Loads a Week by December — What 11% More Freight Means for the Morning Sort
Amazon told its carrier network to plan for a bigger peak than last year. Here is the forecast, where it comes from, and what more freight does to a station's sorting window.
The RelayCon 2026 Forecast
At RelayCon 2026 in Las Vegas (September 9–11), Amazon told carriers that it expects to move more than 4 million loads through the holidays, with weekly volume reaching 300,000 by December — about 11% more freight than last year, as FreightWaves reported. More than 1,000 carriers attended, which Amazon described as double last year's attendance.
Amazon's own carrier page states the forecast the same way: “And in 2026, we're expecting over 4 million loads – 300 thousand per week by December.”
Sources: FreightWaves, Oct 2, 2026 · Amazon Relay — Peak season for carriers
Why a Freight Forecast Matters to a Sorting Operation
A load is not a parcel count, but the direction is clear: more inbound freight per station in the same receiving and sorting window. Three things follow for anyone running a morning sort:
- The sort window doesn't stretch. Routes still have to leave on time. More volume in a fixed window means more hands sorting or later departures when the sort is manual.
- Each sorting hour costs more. Amazon expects average delivery associate pay to reach nearly $24 an hour after its latest $1.9 billion DSP investment. Example math: 20 drivers × 0.5 hour of sorting × $24 = about $240 a day. Use your own station's numbers.
- The ramp lands in December. Amazon's forecast reaches its weekly high by December, after Black Friday (November 27) and Cyber Monday (November 30, 2026).
Driver pay source: Amazon, Sept 21, 2026. More on pay: Amazon DSP driver raise 2026.
What to Do Before December
1. Time your sort this week
One week of timed sorts — minutes per driver, packages per driver, first departure time — is the baseline every later decision depends on.
2. Run the per-package math
Manual cost per package = (drivers × sorting minutes ÷ 60 × hourly cost) ÷ packages per day. Compare it with pay-per-parcel sorting before volume peaks. Our automated parcel sorting system guide covers the main sorter types and how to size one for your sort window.
3. Plan staging, not just labor
More volume needs floor space for cages, carts and route staging. Stations sharing a floor with other delivery partners feel it first.
4. Decide before mid-November
Layout and equipment changes are hard to make in December. A measured, removable 30-day pilot fits this decision window.
How a Station Sort Works with the FlowSort S15
Watch on YouTube · SortLease, October 17, 2026
More Freight, Higher Per-Package Fees
Amazon's forecast lands on top of carrier peak surcharges: UPS and Amazon Shipping surcharges start October 25 and FedEx's on October 26, and USPS holiday prices took effect October 4, with the highest residential rates — $0.75 per package for UPS and Amazon Shipping and $0.80 for FedEx Ground residential — from late November to late December. Details and sources are in the Q4 2026 peak season brief; USPS holiday prices are in the October brief.
The largest automation players are moving the same way: Symbotic's cellumation acquisition is a bet on sorting more parcels in less floor space.
The operations that come out ahead this peak will be the ones that know their sorting cost per package before December. Use the driver sorting cost calculator with your station's figures — if manual sorting is cheaper for your numbers, it will show that too.
Amazon Peak 2026: Common Questions
How many loads does Amazon expect this peak season?
More than 4 million loads through the holidays, with weekly volume reaching about 300,000 loads by December — roughly 11% more freight than last year, as reported from Amazon's RelayCon 2026.
When is Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2026?
Black Friday is November 27, 2026 and Cyber Monday is November 30, 2026. Amazon's freight forecast reaches its weekly high by December.
Does 11% more freight mean 11% more sorting time?
Not necessarily. A load is not a parcel count, and every station's mix is different. Time your own sort for a week and compare packages per driver and departure times as volume rises.
How do I calculate my manual sorting cost per package?
Multiply drivers by sorting minutes, divide by 60, multiply by hourly cost, then divide by packages per day. The driver sorting cost calculator does this with your numbers.
Can a station still act before December?
Yes, if the first step is measurement. Timing your sort takes one week and no equipment. A 30-day pilot is measured, written down and removable.
Is SortLease affiliated with Amazon or Amazon Relay?
No. SortLease is an independent US company based in Sheridan, Wyoming.
SortLease is an independent US company based in Sheridan, Wyoming, and is not affiliated with Amazon or Amazon Relay. Carrier and program names are used only to describe the operations we serve.