Product shipping costs can take a heavy toll on any eCommerce store. But you don’t have to pay such high costs with the Amazon Partnered Carrier program.
This service lowers shipping rates for FBA brands. It also delivers your products to any Amazon warehouse in the US.
Let’s break down the Amazon Partnered Carrier program and its benefits to Amazon sellers.
What is the Amazon Partnered Carrier Program?
A regular shipping operation may prove expensive to sellers. One shipment could cost $15 or more, according to SellerMobile. Here’s where the Amazon Partnered Carrier program comes in.
This service improves the customer’s fulfillment experience. Amazon Partnered Carrier provides discount shipping fees for FBA sellers shipping products to an Amazon warehouse.
Amazon negotiates each rate with carriers like FedEx and UPS. That way, brands may ship parcels to Amazon fulfillment centers at cost-effective rates.
Sellers only need to attach an Amazon-submitted shipping label to each parcel. Then, they can drop off shipments to their carrier. Another option is to request a pickup at their own warehouse.
From here on, all seller packages arrive at Amazon, and are ready for online sale. The rate is invoiced to your account as an inbound transportation charge.
Brands will only pay for the trailer area they use to send parcels to an Amazon fulfillment center. Seller Mobile states that this perk may reduce your shipping cost as much as 45%!
Why Use Amazon Partnered Carrier?
The program also features many special benefits for enrolled sellers. For example:
- Easy start up.The program does not require a special sign-up, and no minimum shipments.
- Loss coverage.Amazon will take full responsibility for damage or lost products during delivery.
- Fast processing.Partnered carrier shipments benefit from processing priority. So, products sent using the program have a faster delivery rate.
- Secure packaging. Large shipments are packed with foil and bubble wrap for additional protection.
- Tracking Data.Brands can track shipments from the Seller Central dashboard. Here, you can review pickup dates, reference and landing numbers, PRO and PO numbers.
Brands can ship almost every article they can think of via the Amazon Partnered Carrier Program. That is, unless it’s otherwise stated in the dangerous goods identification guide.
Related content: The Ultimate 2021 Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA) Guide
Amazon Partnered Carrier Options
Amazon Partnered Carrier features 3 shipment options for sellers:
- Small Parcel Deliveries (SPD)
- Less-Than-Truckload (LTF)
- Full-Truckload (FTL)
Let’s review each of these Amazon freight carrier options. This is key to choose the best Amazon shipping carrier for you.
SPD Carrier
An SPD shipment comprises small unit bulks packed in separate boxes. Each box counts as an individually labeled package sent to Amazon via UPS (Canada and the US) or DHL (Mexico).
SPD shipments have a 200-box limit, which are deliverable to the 48 contiguous US states. As we said above, Amazon will provide you with the labels to use with their approved carrier.
Amazon also calculates the cost using the packing information, shipment address and destination. But the most important metric is the billable weight, which is rated in 1 of 2 options:
- Shipment weight.The real weight of the shipment, based on weight per parcel.
- Dimensional weight.Packaged density, based on the package dimensions.
Note that there is a 1lb-minimum charge for SPD shipments. So, if your parcel weighs less than 1lb, you’ll be charged a shipping fee.
LTL and FTL Carriers
FTL and LTL are the options for shipments that weigh over 150lbs. Both models are also the best choice for brands shipping less than 100 items.
Also, these services do not transport individual packages. Rather, sellers must combine boxes on pallets.
This is crucial for shipment, because your stock will share space in a trailer or freighter. Of course, you’ll only pay for your own space on the transport.
Carrier fees are also calculated using packing data, shipment address, destination and billable weight.
Plus, LTL and FTL carriers must meet specific requisites form Amazon sellers:
- Support truck arrival to the warehouse for shipment.
- Forklift or dock door to store the pallets on a truck.
- 40 x 48 inches wooden pallets with 4-way access.
- Pallets must be GMA Standard B Grade or higher.
Sellers who don’t have a dock door or forklift can request a lift-gate service. This is supported by all partnered LTL carriers.
When using lift-gate service, you can only ship up to 12 pallets, each measuring 1.0 x 1.2 meters, with 4-way access. Plus, the shipment should not exceed 20,000 lb.
Before shipment, make sure you provide the following data to the carriers:
- Freight-ready date
- Pallet count and weight
- Freight class
The freight class system rates the risk and billable weight of a shipment. Carriers use package data to estimate your freight class. So, make sure you provide accurate information.
Accepted freight classes rank from 50 to 500. Rejected classes may incur reviews and delayed pickups.
How to Become an Amazon Partnered Carrier
There are many shipping businesses who can benefit from the Amazon Partnered Carrier Program.
Here’s what you must do to start your Amazon Carrier service:
- Log in to Seller Central.
- Open Inventory and select Manage FBA Shipments. Here, you’ll be able to see your shipment list, or create a new one.
- Click on Prepare shipment for any unsent parcel. Here, go to “Delivery Service” and check the following:
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- Select “Amazon or partnered carrier” FOR SPD, or “Amazon Partnered Carrier” for LTL/FTL.
- Submit the details of your shipment. This includes dimensions and weight, shipment method, address and destination.
- Click on Calculate to assess the shipping costs. Then review and accept the estimated delivery charges by clicking on Accept charges.
- Download the shipping labels, print and adhere them to your parcels. Amazon requires this to verify that you’re using the program.
- Now check the Amazon Partnered Carrier list, and contact your carrier to schedule a pick up.
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Before you move on, make sure that all shipment information is accurate. This includes the tracking number, Amazon’s reference ID, carrier status and warehouse address. Any mistakes could cause Amazon to charge you with a noncompliance fee.
Related content: Use Amazon Freight Carriers to fulfill inbound shipments
Amazon Partnered Carrier Tracking Information
Being part of the Amazon Partnered Carrier program can cut down your shipping headaches in a flash. You get access to the Amazon carrier logistics machine to speed up shipments.
With no special sign-ups, the Partnered Carrier program is open to all Amazon FBA sellers. Thus, you can reduce delivery times, protect your inventory, and boost sales.
The program can surely meet the fulfillment needs for Amazon stores in a safe way. Plus, you can also speed up customer deliveries, increasing delight and sales.
Related content: The Magic Behind Amazon Automation
How to Cancel a Shipment
There’s a 24-hour window to cancel SPD shipments. The cancelation timeframe for LTL/FTL carriers is up to 1 hour. However, you can only do so after you approve the estimated fees.
- Go to the shipping queue and locate your shipment.
- Click on Work on shipment and select Provide details.
- Click on Void charges.
Note that cancelling a shipment does not forfeit the fees. You must follow the steps above to make sure the charges won’t apply, and no pickup is made.
Amazon Global Logistics
Sellers who wish to ship internationally can enroll in Amazon Global Logistics. This program offers Full-Container Load (FCL) and Less-Than-Container Load (LCL) services, via ocean or air.
Amazon Global Logistics ships from China to the US. It also ships to France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. Here’s how to use the program:
- Create an Amazon Global Logistics profile on Seller Central.
- Set Up an FBA shipment.
- Submit the required cross-border documentation.
- Choose an Importer of Record (IOR) to handle Amazon customs clearance delay.
- Provide an Exporter of Record (EOR) for additional contact.
- Select a payment method for customs, duties and related charges.
- Book transportation.
The program also features Streamlined Inventory Placement to cut down fees. This service ensures all sortable, non-sortable, and specialty items arrive at a single warehouse.
Amazon also has a Service Provider Network (SPN) directory. These are third-party services for FBA sellers.
SPN is a great resource for brands who want to streamline their international shipping. Some of the services available are accounting and taxes, storage, and translation.
Related content: Remote Fulfillment vs Marketplace Expansion
Final Thoughts
Being an Amazon Partnered Carrier can cut down your shipping headaches in a flash. You get access to the Amazon carrier logistics machine to speed up shipments.
With no special sign-ups, Amazon Partnered Carrier is open to all FBA sellers. Thus, you can reduce delivery times, protect your inventory, and boost sales.
The program can surely meet the fulfillment needs for Amazon stores in a safe way. Plus, you can also speed up customer deliveries, increasing delight and sales.
Author
Esteban Muñoz is an SEO copywriter at AMZ Advisers, with several years’ experience in digital marketing and e-commerce. Esteban and the AMZ Advisers team have been able to achieve incredible growth on the Amazon platform for their clients by optimizing and managing their accounts and creating in-depth content marketing strategies.
