Overview

When shipping inventory to Amazon's fulfillment centers, providing accurate tracking information is essential for monitoring your shipments and ensuring smooth receiving. Amazon's inbound visibility system uses tracking numbers and shipping documentation to give sellers real-time updates on shipment status, transit location, and estimated arrival times. Understanding what tracking details are required for each shipping method helps sellers avoid delays and keep their supply chain running efficiently.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Tracking numbers are required for all inbound shipments — Whether you're sending small parcels or full truckloads, Amazon needs carrier-provided tracking information to process your shipments effectively.
• Different shipping methods require different documentation — Small parcel shipments need individual package tracking numbers, while LTL and FTL shipments require PRO reference numbers and Bill of Lading (BOL) numbers.
• Tracking data is entered during the Send to Amazon workflow — Sellers provide their tracking numbers and shipping documentation directly within Seller Central's shipment creation process.
• Accurate tracking helps Amazon prepare for your inventory — When Amazon knows when and where your products are arriving, their fulfillment centers can allocate resources to receive your shipments more quickly.
• Amazon Partnered Carrier program includes built-in tracking — Sellers who use Amazon's partnered carriers benefit from automatic tracking updates without needing to manually enter tracking numbers.

Tracking Requirements by Shipping Type

The tracking information Amazon requires depends on how you're shipping your inventory. For small parcel deliveries, which are individual boxes sent through carriers like UPS, FedEx, or USPS, you need to provide the carrier's tracking number for each package in your shipment. Every box must have its own unique tracking number entered in Seller Central so Amazon can monitor each package independently.

For Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) and Full Truckload (FTL) shipments, the requirements are different. These larger freight shipments require two pieces of documentation: the carrier's PRO reference number, which is the freight carrier's unique shipment identifier, and the Bill of Lading (BOL) number that appears on your shipment's paper or electronic BOL. The BOL serves as the contract between you and the freight carrier and is a critical document for freight deliveries to Amazon's warehouses.