Overview

Amazon's Partnered Carrier program offers FBA sellers discounted shipping rates for sending inventory to fulfillment centers. The program supports both small-parcel delivery (typically through UPS) and less-than-truckload (LTL) freight options. Understanding how the program works — including cost estimation, pickup logistics, and weight calculations — can help sellers minimize inbound shipping expenses and avoid unexpected charges.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• No dock or forklift required for LTL — Partnered carriers can pick up pallets from locations without dock doors or forklifts, provided the shipment has fewer than 12 pallets and weighs under 20,000 pounds. Lift-gate service is available but may cause pickup delays.
• Costs may differ from estimates — The initial cost shown during shipment creation is based on estimated weights, dimensions, and freight class. Final charges are determined by the actual carrier assigned and audited shipment measurements taken in transit.
• No minimum pallet requirement — There is no minimum number of pallets needed for LTL service. If a small-parcel shipment exceeds 250 pounds, LTL may actually be the more cost-effective option.
• Manufacturers can ship directly — Sellers can use the Partnered Carrier program even when products ship directly from a manufacturer or distributor, as long as shipment details are entered accurately in Seller Central.
• Billable weight uses the higher value — Amazon compares actual shipment weight against dimensional weight and charges based on whichever figure is greater.

How Costs Are Calculated

Shipping costs within the Partnered Carrier program are estimated based on the packing information sellers provide during shipment creation, including box weights and dimensions. For small-parcel shipments, Amazon calculates both the actual weight and the dimensional weight (length x width x height divided by 139) and uses the higher of the two as the billable weight. For LTL shipments, the estimate factors in the number of pallets, their weight, dimensions, and freight class.

It is important to understand that the estimate shown during the Send to Amazon workflow is not a guaranteed final price. The actual cost depends on the carrier ultimately assigned and any adjustments made after the shipment is weighed and measured in transit. If a seller believes the audited weight, dimensions, or freight class is incorrect, they can submit a dispute through the Shipping Queue dashboard by selecting the relevant defect and clicking the dispute option.