Overview

Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) offers sellers a low-cost bulk storage option that feeds inventory into Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) centers and other sales channels. For sellers looking to reduce storage costs while maintaining product availability, understanding how to properly create and send AWD shipments is essential. This reference covers the step-by-step process, packaging requirements, and key restrictions sellers should know before shipping inventory to AWD facilities.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• US-only availability — AWD is currently offered exclusively in the United States marketplace. Sellers operating in other regions cannot use AWD at this time.
• Boxes required for all shipments — Every item shipped to AWD distribution centers must be packaged in boxes, regardless of the shipping method chosen. Loose or unboxed inventory will be rejected upon arrival.
• Account health matters — Sellers with active performance issues on their account or flagged ASINs will be blocked from creating AWD shipments until those issues are resolved.
• Auto-replenishment available — AWD can automatically move inventory from bulk storage into FBA-ready fulfillment centers, helping sellers avoid stockouts without manual intervention.
• Two shipping methods supported — Sellers can ship via small parcel delivery (SPD) or full truckload (FTL), with Amazon partnered carriers available for truckload shipments.

The Shipment Creation Workflow

Creating an AWD shipment follows a structured, multi-step process accessed through Seller Central. Sellers begin by navigating to the AWD program page, selecting the "Warehousing service" option, and clicking "Create shipment." This launches the Send to Amazon Warehousing and Distribution workflow, which guides sellers through each stage. The workflow is designed to be straightforward, but sellers should have their inventory details, box dimensions, and shipping preferences ready before starting to avoid delays.

The five steps in the workflow are as follows. First, sellers select the inventory they want to send to AWD. Second, they configure their shipping preferences, including choosing between small parcel delivery and truckload options. Third, they generate and print box content labels for each carton in the shipment. Fourth, for truckload shipments, sellers select a carrier — Amazon partnered carriers are available as a convenient option. Fifth, for truckload shipments using an Amazon partnered carrier, sellers generate and print pallet labels. After completing all steps, sellers confirm shipment details, which applies to both small parcel and partnered carrier truckload shipments.