Amazon Launches Freight and Shipping Services for UK Sellers
Amazon has launched two new shipping services for UK sellers: Amazon Freight for bulk FTL/LTL shipments and Amazon Shipping for parcel delivery. Both leverage Amazon's logistics network and are available for fulfilment centre and external deliveries.
Overview
Amazon has introduced two new shipping solutions specifically for UK-based sellers: Amazon Freight for larger shipments and Amazon Shipping for parcel delivery. These services tap into Amazon's extensive logistics infrastructure, giving sellers access to competitive rates and reliable delivery options beyond the traditional FBA pipeline.
Key Points
- Amazon Freight — A service for full truckload (FTL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments, designed for sellers who move palletized inventory in bulk
- Amazon Shipping — A parcel delivery service that handles individual orders from sellers' own websites or other ecommerce channels
- Dual-purpose logistics — Both services are available for shipments heading to Amazon fulfilment centres as well as external deliveries to sellers' own facilities
- Expanded delivery speeds — Amazon Shipping offers next-day and two-day delivery options with flexible warehouse pickup scheduling
Amazon Freight: Bulk Shipping at Scale
Amazon Freight gives UK sellers a way to move large quantities of inventory using Amazon's fleet of more than 9,200 trailers and a network of over 10,000 carrier partners. The service supports both full truckload and less-than-truckload shipments, which means sellers can ship palletized goods whether they need an entire trailer or just a portion of one.
One of the notable advantages is that the service works for both inbound shipments to Amazon's fulfilment centres and outbound deliveries to a seller's own warehouses or other destinations. This flexibility makes it useful for sellers who split inventory between FBA and their own fulfilment operations. Amazon has also highlighted that the service helps reduce empty miles on return trips, which can lower overall shipping costs while contributing to environmental sustainability goals.
To access Amazon Freight, sellers can navigate to the dedicated portal within Seller Central. Pricing is positioned as competitive with third-party freight providers, leveraging Amazon's scale and route optimization capabilities.
Amazon Shipping: Parcel Delivery for Multi-Channel Sellers
Amazon Shipping takes a different approach, targeting sellers who need parcel-level delivery for individual customer orders. Unlike Amazon Freight's bulk focus, this service is built for sellers who operate their own ecommerce websites or sell through channels outside of the Amazon marketplace and need a reliable last-mile delivery partner.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
UK sellers now have two new logistics options that could reduce shipping costs and simplify multi-channel fulfilment. Access to Amazon's carrier network and fleet provides an alternative during peak-season capacity crunches.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Freight supports FTL and LTL shipments using 9,200+ trailers and 10,000 carrier partners
- Amazon Shipping enables parcel delivery for non-Amazon sales channels with next-day and two-day options
- Both services work for Amazon fulfilment centre shipments and external deliveries to sellers' own facilities
- Multi-channel sellers can now extend Amazon-level delivery speeds to their own websites and other platforms
Recommended Actions
- →Evaluate your current UK shipping costs against Amazon Freight and Amazon Shipping rates to identify potential savings
- →If you sell on multiple channels, test Amazon Shipping with a subset of non-Amazon orders before full rollout
- →Review your inbound shipment workflow to determine whether Amazon Freight could replace or supplement your current FTL/LTL carrier
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