Over 1,000 carriers that partner with Amazon through Relay and Amazon Freight Partners representing 21 countries gathered in the Italian capital for the sixth edition of Amazon FastForward, Amazon's flagship event for the carrier community powering Europe's transportation network. It was the largest one in history. And this year's theme – Your Road to Possibilities – wasn't just a tagline. It was a promise delivered across every stage, every session, and every handshake. "This year, Amazon went bigger. More people. More ideas. More momentum. And for the first time ever, Rome." – Fabian Duex, Director, Surface Transportation Operations.
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“Amazon FastForward is not a conference, is a movement. The event exists because Amazon believes logistics partnerships shouldn't be transactional. They should be strategic. When carriers, OEMs, and Amazon teams come together in the same room, things move. Fast.” – Helder Velho, VP, EU Amazon Transportation Services Operations. More than 250 carriers signed up to new programs and contracts on-site, while 600+ resolution cases were closed in three days. Programs were adopted that will directly feed capacity for the 2026 holiday season. This is what happens when collaboration has a stage.
Built From Carrier Feedback
Every major product announcement at FastForward 2026 started the same way: with a carrier sharing what wasn't working. Amazon listened. Then Amazon built a solution around it. Domicile-level auctions was not the best solution for shorter distances; so, Domicile Radius on Relay was launched, helping triple capacity utilization. Shift planning needed improvement; Block Shift Optimization was built, reducing complexity and increasing efficiency.
This year, Amazon announced more than 10 new features for Amazon Relay, each designed to give carriers more control, more predictability, and more opportunity. Among them: Multi-Month Contracts that let carriers lock in guaranteed volume and plan their fleets with certainty. Scheduled Blocks that eliminate guesswork with fixed start times booked in advance. A completely redesigned Relay Contract Marketplace interface that makes finding the right work – matched to a carrier's fleet, lanes, and availability – easier than ever. And Relay Negotiations, a new capability enabling carriers to find work that fits both their schedule and their financial expectations.
Across the board, the message was the same: carriers asked, Amazon delivered. All opening new roads to possibility.
Carriers Take Centre Stage: The AFF Pitch Arena.
Amazon FastForward 2026 also created a stage for carriers to build with Amazon, and what truly defined the event this year was having carriers take the main stage, sharing their own stories of growth, sustainability, and how they're building their businesses alongside Amazon's, a true highlight of the event: for the second year running, the event featured the AFF Pitch Arena, an innovation competition that puts the microphone in the hands of the carriers themselves. Amazon Freight Partners and Relay Carriers were invited to pitch breakthrough ideas that could shape the future of Amazon's freight and logistics operations – from new tools and processes to improvements in efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
Four finalists were selected to pitch live on the main stage in front of Amazon leadership, fielding questions from a panel of judges in real time. It's bold, it's competitive, and it's a signal of something bigger: that the best ideas in this network don't only come from inside Amazon. They come from the carrier community who live the operation every day.
What Carriers Are Saying
"We always have a great time at Amazon FastForward and this year was no different. We know you really listen to us and this event has been great to connect with our peers and Amazonians as well as hear from companies what is the latest innovations." – Levs Bluzma, Stronghold Logistics Ltd (Amazon Freight Partner)
"It was great to engage with Amazon last year for the first time in person at the Peak Summit in Manchester. I learned and executed new programs between then and Rome and am more excited now to add additional trucks to my fleet." – Satnam Sidhu, URS Choices Ltd (Relay Carrier)
"We are investing in AI as a company and it's great to see what Amazon has to offer to support us and also educate us to move us forward with you." – Andreas Klaushoffer, Quehenberger Logistics Ltd (Relay Carrier)
Milestones Matter
Amazon FastForward 2026 was also about recognizing how far the network has come. This year, Amazon launched 69 new electric trucks in the UK, bringing the total EU electric fleet to 107 and surpassing 7.3 million electric kilometers driven – the equivalent of 19 trips to the moon. "We went from experimenting with AI to full-scale deployment: 93 AI-powered tools now live across our European network." says Vignesh Solairaj, Director Supply Chain EU, Amazon Transportation Services.
“Every year, the ambition grows. And every year, the network rises to meet it.” – Apurwa Banka, Senior Product Manager, Amazon Transportation Services.
Looking Ahead
Amazon FastForward 2026 proved something that has been true from the start: when carriers, partners, and Amazon teams come together – not to talk at each other, but to build with each other – the entire network accelerates.
“To every carrier and partner who joined in Rome: thank you for being part of this network. Amazon is building something, together with you, that goes well beyond moving packages.” – Helder Velho, VP, EU Amazon Transportation Services Operations.
The road to possibilities doesn't end here. FastForward 2027 is coming.
