Overview

Amazon has opened its internal trucking arm, Amazon Freight, to third‑party sellers who need to move inventory into FBA fulfillment centers. The rollout began in early 2024 and is limited to VAT‑registered businesses operating in the United Kingdom and a handful of EU countries. Sellers gain access to upfront rates, automated dock‑appointment booking, and a delivery reliability that exceeds 94 %, which can streamline inbound logistics and protect inventory availability.

Key Points

• Up‑front rate quotes — Prices are displayed at the moment of booking, eliminating surprise surcharges for both spot‑load and contract‑based routes.
• 94 %+ on‑time performance — Historical data shows that more than 94 % of Amazon Freight pickups and deliveries meet the promised window, reducing the risk of missed FC appointments.
• Automatic fulfillment‑center slots — The system secures a delivery window at the destination warehouse on the seller’s behalf, removing the need to manually coordinate with Amazon’s inbound scheduling portal.
• Full‑truckload (FTL) and less‑than‑truckload (LTL) options — UK sellers can choose between a dedicated truck for large palletized shipments or share a truck for smaller loads; EU sellers currently have access to FTL and pallet‑exchange services.
• Dedicated onboarding manager — New participants receive a single point of contact who assists with the first shipment setup, helping sellers transition from legacy carriers without service interruptions.
• Eligibility limited to VAT‑registered businesses — Only sellers with a valid UK VAT number or an equivalent EU VAT registration can enroll, and the service is not yet available in North America or other regions.

How Amazon Freight Works

1. Request access through Seller Central — A UK‑based seller logs into the “Shipping” tab, selects “Amazon Freight,” and submits company details; for example, a seller moving 15 pallets from Birmingham to the Tilbury fulfillment center receives a confirmation email within 24 hours.
2. Receive a quoted price and schedule — The platform instantly generates a rate (e.g., £1,200 for a 500‑mile FTL) and proposes a pickup date; the seller can accept, modify the load size, or request an alternative window.