Overview

Amazon has introduced a freight service that lets marketplace sellers arrange both less‑than‑truckload (LTL) and full‑truckload (FTL) shipments directly from its platform. The new offering, called Amazon Freight, consolidates quoting, booking, tracking and payment into a single web portal, giving sellers a faster way to move palletized inventory to fulfillment centers or other destinations. Sellers should care because the service promises tighter integration with Amazon’s logistics network, potentially lower rates, and the ability to react to inventory gaps within 24 hours.

Key Points

• LTL option now available — Sellers can ship a single pallet or a handful of pallets without needing to fill an entire trailer, which reduces cost for mid‑size restocks.
• FTL option for bulk moves — Companies with large‑volume shipments can reserve a dedicated truck, improving per‑unit economics compared with multiple LTL loads.
• Booking window from 24 hours to 10 days — A seller with a sudden stockout can schedule a pickup the next day, while a seasonal planner can lock in a date ten days ahead.
• All‑in‑one web portal — Quotes, shipment creation, real‑time location updates and invoice settlement happen inside the same dashboard, eliminating the need for separate carrier accounts or third‑party tracking tools.
• Dedicated account support — Each seller is assigned an account manager who helps choose between LTL and FTL based on current volume and growth forecasts.
• Potential pricing advantage — By leveraging Amazon’s massive carrier volume, the service may offer rates that are lower than those obtained through independent freight brokers.

How Amazon Freight Works

1. Access the freight dashboard — Log in to the Amazon Seller Central portal and open the Freight section; the interface displays a “Request Quote” button for both LTL and FTL services.
2. Enter shipment details — Input pallet count, weight, dimensions, pickup address and desired delivery location; the system instantly returns a price estimate, for example a 3‑pallet LTL move from a California warehouse to a Midwest fulfillment center quoted at $420.