Overview

Amazon has released a comprehensive advisory for sellers who rely on Amazon Freight to move inventory during the holiday rush. The guidance, issued in early November, spells out exact steps for bill‑of‑lading verification, delivery‑window adherence, early change notifications, and packaging compliance. Following the checklist can keep shipments from being rejected, avoid costly chargebacks, and ensure inventory reaches fulfillment centers before the critical Black Friday and Christmas cut‑offs.

Key Points

• Tighter receiving windows — Fulfillment centers will only accept shipments that arrive within a narrowly defined window; a single‑day miss can trigger a chargeback.
• Stricter packaging enforcement — Pallet dimensions, carton labeling, and seal integrity will be inspected rigorously; non‑compliant loads are rejected on pickup or at the dock.
• Higher penalty rates — Chargebacks for missed windows, non‑compliance fees, and “send‑shipment” penalties are being applied at peak‑season multipliers.
• Limited rescheduling flexibility — Last‑minute cancellations create a domino effect; the system will not accommodate changes after the cutoff time.
• Bill‑of‑Lading accuracy essential — Any discrepancy between the BOL and the data in Seller Central can hold a shipment for days during the holidays.
• Early communication required — Sellers must alert Amazon the moment a timeline shift is anticipated to reduce the risk of penalties.

What’s Changing During Peak Season

1. Receiving window enforcement — Amazon now treats the assigned delivery window as a hard deadline. Example: A seller shipping 15 pallets of winter apparel to FC PHX1 with a window of Dec 1‑3 must have the carrier dock the pallets by Dec 3 00:00 PT; arriving on Dec 4 incurs a $250 chargeback.
2. Bill‑of‑Lading verification — Every line on the BOL must match the shipment record in Seller Central. Example: If the BOL lists 12 pallets but the system shows 13, the load is flagged and held until the error is resolved, adding 2–3 days to transit.