Overview

Amazon has opened its freight‑transport network to third‑party sellers, allowing them to book less‑than‑truckload (LTL) and full‑truckload (FTL) services for palletized inventory. The change gives sellers a single portal for pricing, booking and tracking, which can streamline inbound logistics to fulfillment centers or external warehouses.

Key Points

• Less‑Than‑Truckload (LTL) Service — Sellers can place pallets on a trailer that also carries other sellers’ loads, which spreads the cost of the truck and typically lowers the per‑pallet expense for medium‑size shipments.
• Full‑Truckload (FTL) Service — When a seller’s volume fills an entire trailer, Amazon assigns a dedicated truck that travels directly from the origin to the destination, shortening transit time and eliminating intermediate stops.
• Destination Flexibility — Shipments can be routed straight to any Amazon fulfillment center that supports the seller’s inbound workflow, or to a third‑party prep center, distribution hub, or external warehouse that the seller has authorized.
• Integrated Booking & Tracking — All freight actions—creating a shipment, receiving a rate quote, confirming the load, and monitoring real‑time status—are performed inside Seller Central, removing the need for separate carrier portals.
• Pricing Transparency — Amazon displays the freight quote before the seller commits, showing line‑item costs such as base freight, fuel surcharge and any applicable handling fees, which helps sellers compare directly with existing broker rates.
• Scalable Capacity — Because Amazon controls a large fleet, sellers can increase volume during peak seasons without negotiating new contracts, and the system will automatically allocate additional trucks or trailer space as needed.
• Regional Availability — The service is currently live in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and selected other European marketplaces, with plans to expand to additional regions based on demand.
• VAT Registration Required — Sellers operating in the UK or EU must have a valid VAT number on file; the system validates the registration during enrollment to ensure compliance with local tax regulations.