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Originally published on June 1, 2023, updated October 24, 2024
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As one of the most prominent players in the eCommerce industry, Amazon has transformed the way people shop online, offering millions of products for sale daily.
Quality products, competitive pricing, and great customer service are all crucial elements for a thriving Amazon business. However, it's important not to overlook the significance of reliable and affordable shipping. It remains a vital component that can make or break the success of your store.
The Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program offers the convenience of hassle-free shipping to customers, but getting your products to Amazon's warehouses has been a long-standing challenge. Fortunately, Amazon's Partnered Carrier program provides a reliable and efficient solution.
In this article, we'll explore what the Amazon Partnered Carrier program is, how it works, and the many benefits it offers sellers like you who are looking to streamline your shipping process and increase profits. We'll also cover a new policy that requires you to provide an estimated date of arrival at Amazon's fulfillment centers.
The Amazon Partnered Carrier Program is a shipping service that allows FBA sellers to access discounted shipping rates from Amazon-partnered carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL. Sellers in the United States and other specified countries can take advantage of the Amazon Partnered Carrier program, which is designed to simplify the shipping process and lower expenses.
By enrolling in the Amazon Partnered Carrier program, you can take advantage of Amazon's large shipping volume to access lower shipping rates, which can result in significant cost savings. In addition, the program offers various other features that make it easier to streamline your shipping and provide a better experience for your customers.
The Amazon Partnered Carrier program offers three main shipment options: small parcel delivery (SPD), less-than-truckload (LTL), and full-truckload (FTL). Note that dangerous goods cannot be shipped via Amazon Partnered Carriers.
Small parcel delivery is ideal for smaller sellers that send lighter loads of inventory to Amazon. Units must be packed in boxes, with each box individually labeled for delivery.
Amazon estimates your shipping cost based on the shipment packing information and the billable weight, which will either be the dimensional weight or the shipment weight, whichever one is greater.
Shipment weight is the actual weight of your shipment based on the weight per box. Dimensional weight reflects package density based on the box dimensions.
As the responsible party, it falls upon you to provide accurate and detailed information regarding the shipment as well as the tangible cost of its transportation. The cost will be billed to your account as an inbound transportation charge. There is a 1kg minimum fee for carrier shipments. For shipments that weigh less than 1 kg, the minimum fee applies.
LTL and FTL shipments combine individual boxes on pallets for delivery. If your total shipment weighs more than 150 lb, you should use a partnered LTL or FTL carrier. You are required to provide the following:
You'll also need to share a freight-ready date, the freight class, and the weight for each pallet along with an accurate count.
To ensure accurate billing and assess potential risks, the freight industry employs a standardized classification system called freight class. This system assigns a ranking to shipments, ranging from 50 to 500.
More than 20 carriers participate in the Amazon Partnered Carrier program for LTL and FTL services. You can see a full list in Seller Central as you prepare your shipment.
Amazon began providing new FBA shipment notifications for changes and delays in 2024. Learn more about tracking your shipments in Seller Central.
Providing options for all three shipment types helps makes the Amazon Partnered Carrier program advantageous for small and large sellers alike. Here are some additional benefits:
In its original announcement, Amazon said that it's launching this new Send to Amazon requirement to "helps us get your products in stock faster."
When creating a shipment, Amazon now requires sellers using non-partnered carriers for small parcel or LTL shipments to provide an estimated delivery window. This window should specify the date range within which the shipment is expected to arrive at Amazon's warehouse. Domestic shipments require a seven-day delivery window, while cross-border shipments with longer lead times need a 14-day window. Amazon tracks your shipment performance in the Shipping Queue and will notify you if shipments arrive earlier or later than the delivery window.
Again, it's important to note that this requirement is only mandatory for non-partnered carrier shipments. If an Amazon partnered carrier or Amazon Global Logistics is used, no action is required.
Related reading: How Amazon's Last-mile Delivery Works
The Amazon Partnered Carrier program offers a cost-effective, streamlined, and reliable solution for you to ship your products to Amazon warehouses. By enrolling in this program, you can access discounted shipping rates, reliable tracking, and automatic updates that can help boost your seller performance.
With several different shipment options available, you can find what process works for you. Moreover, Amazon's newly introduced delivery window policy for FBA shipments aims to further optimize the shipping process, making it more efficient in the long run.
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