Surrounded by a whopping 94% of Amazon FBA sellers, are you struggling to find a stronghold among this competition? FBA throws down the rulebook with inventory limits to keep sellers from turning their storage spaces into miniature warehouses.
The amount you can ship? Well, that depends on your sales history and IPI score – Amazon’s version of a report card. However, optimizing your supply chain makes all the difference in your Amazon FBA success, promising cost savings, efficiency, and of course smiling customers.
A Full Container Load (FCL) shipping can help in that regard, slashing your cost per unit, especially for bulkier shipments. But, you’ll need to weigh in on Amazon FBA requirements associated with FCL to avoid costly penalties and delays.
So, let’s understand how to ship a Full Container Load to Amazon and in which situation it’s the most ideal choice!
What Is Full Container Loads (FCL)?
FCL, or Full Container Loads, is a shipping method where the entire container is reserved for one shipper. This makes it ideal for transporting goods that are bulky enough to fill the entire container. FCL is a fast and cost-effective option compared to air freight and has lower prices for volumes exceeding 13 cubic meters.
It also ensures quick transit times due to one-time loading and unloading. The sealed container keeps cargo safe, preventing cross-contamination. This particularly benefits exporting large, valuable, or fragile goods like ceramics.
In context with Amazon FBA, shipping full containers directly to Amazon’s warehouses is suitable for large retail chains and e-commerce giants. Direct FCL shipping speeds up delivery by avoiding stops or transfers, minimizing the risk of damage since there are fewer touchpoints. Although the initial cost of shipping full containers may be high, it proves cost-effective in the long term, especially for high-volume businesses. This method also grants businesses greater inventory control by sending products to Amazon’s FBA centers as needed.
There are various container types used for FCL shipping like the following:
Container Type | Description | Ideal Use |
Flat Rack | Used for transporting large items such as machinery, lumber, or oversized vehicles. | deal for transporting heavy and oversized cargo that doesn’t fit into standard dry containers. |
Tank and Refrigerated | Temperature-controlled containers designed for bulk transportation of liquids, gases, powders, and perishable items (e.g., fresh vegetables). | Perfect for transporting temperature-sensitive goods, preventing cross-contamination, and maintaining the integrity of perishable items. |
Standard Dry | Suitable for carrying dry loads over long distances. | Commonly used for general cargo, manufactured goods, and a wide range of dry bulk materials. |
Amazon’s Requirements for FCL Shipments
When choosing FCL shipping, you must prepare your shipments according to the guidelines of Amazon FBA. Amazon has specific rules for FCL shipments to guarantee smooth and secure delivery to their fulfillment centers. Here are the main things to keep in mind.
Shipment Preparation
Keep all SKUs in one plan to prevent splitting across multiple fulfillment centers. Use the warehouse pickup address, not your supplier’s, when prompted for “Ship From.” Opt for Amazon’s Inventory Placement Program if you want your entire shipment at one center, but note the per-unit fee.
Choose Small Parcel Delivery (SPD) for under 30 cartons, ensuring speed. Opt for Less than Truckload (LTL) for over 30 cartons, prioritizing cost-effectiveness. When creating a shipment plan you must keep two things in mind:
- Specify a specific fulfillment center in your Amazon Seller Central dashboard during shipment plan creation. This is necessary for FCL shipment. If multiple fulfillment centers for your FCL shipping are assigned to your Seller Central account, direct delivery to Amazon FBA becomes impossible.
- Ensure your supplier labels the shipment at its origin. Otherwise, missing labels mean breaking down goods to transfer with Less than Truckload (LTL) onward.
Load Type
There are three ways you can load goods with FCL: Pallets, Fluid Floor Loading, and Clamp Truck Shipment. Each load type comes with its own pros and cons and loading requirements. Moreover, some Amazon FBA centers may not accept a specific type of loading.
Specifically, they won’t accept floor-loaded or non-palletized goods if they arrive on a trailer with uneven or corrugated floors. So, check with the destination warehouse before deciding to choose a load type for your FCL shipment, and check the latest guidelines on Seller Central.
- Fluid Floor Loading – In fluid floor loading, goods are stacked directly on the container floor without using pallets, filling the space from floor to ceiling. It can cut freight costs by utilizing the entire container for products, reducing the need for more containers.
However, it’s not suitable for all items, especially fragile ones, and involves manual labor for loading and unloading which increases labor costs.
- Palletization – In this load type, goods are stacked on pallets, secured with metal straps or plastic wrap, and then loaded into the container. This is safer for delicate items, suitable for long-distance transportation, and allows efficient unloading with forklifts.
However, pallets occupy space in the container that could be used for more goods, and compliance with pallet requirements may complicate the shipping process.
- Clamp Truck Shipment – Clamp truck shipments are specialized floor-loaded shipments received by Amazon’s fulfillment centers, allowing efficient unloading using clamp attachments. This approach works for both standard-sized (Sortable FC’s) and oversized products (Non-Sortable FC’s). Products are organized in even columns, ensuring the clamp truck can access all four sides easily.
The Clamp Truck shipment is a safe and efficient method for unloading goods from containers, speeding up the fulfillment center’s processing time. However, not all items work with clamp trucks. They must be categorized as either “clampable” or “non-clampable.”
Labeling
For smooth shipping to Amazon, every individual unit needs a Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit (FNSKU) or ASIN labels. when selling a product already on Amazon, use the same ASIN for labeling. Amazon uses ASINs to reference catalog data, track inventory, and improve the online shopping experience.
If your product can’t use a manufacturer barcode or doesn’t have one, get an FNSKU label from Amazon. FNSKU is an Amazon-exclusive alphanumeric barcode used to track products in their warehouse and identify them to specific sellers.
Documentation and Regulations
For FCL shipping, you’ll need various documents for importing your products. Failure to be aware of them beforehand could lead to shipment delays and additional costs. You’ll need documents such as:
- Consignment note/Seaway Bill of Lading.
- Freight receipt (Ocean freight).
- Certificate of Origin.
- Sales receipt.
- Travel checklist.
- Fumigation validation.
- Inspection validation.
- Marine insurance.
- Carriers may request a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for items like creams, liquids, and powders to verify they aren’t classified as hazardous materials. Your supplier should provide an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet).
- A shipper’s Declaration provided by the supplier. It specifies the shipped item’s details, its level of danger, packaging requirements, labeling instructions, and transportation guidelines.
How to Determine If You Need to Ship FCL to Amazon?
Determining if FCL is suitable requires evaluating your inventory size, sales demand, and financial plan. Here’s a breakdown of these aspects:
- Determine the shipment volume by considering product packaging and pallets in cubic meters (m³). For instance, if your total goods volume exceeds 20 cubic meters, it can be more cost-effective to choose FCL than smaller mixed containers. It is a cost-effective choice for importing large volumes of goods.
- Find product dimensions on manufacturer sites or measure them yourself. For exporting large, fragile, and valuable items such as ceramics or chemicals, choose FCL. It ensures no sharing of containers, minimizing the risk of damage. Moreover, if you’re transporting perishable goods like fresh vegetables you’ll have to choose FCL due to the availability of temperature-controlled containers.
- Consider future forecasts to avoid empty space in containers.
- Evaluate sales volume projections, accounting for seasonality and potential spikes, to avoid overstocking and sell through inventory promptly. If your products consistently experience high demand, opting for FCL may be advantageous.
- Compare FCL costs, including freight and customs fees, with LTL or air freight.
- Factor in potential storage fees if inventory takes longer to sell. FCL is viable if cost savings outweigh upfront investment. For instance, if you sell camping tents with a projected monthly sale of 300 tents, shipping 500 tents via FCL might be economical. This is due to a lower per-tent cost, even with a higher upfront expense.
If your stock doesn’t fill an entire container, think about combining shipments with other sellers or utilizing Amazon’s Less-than-Truckload (LTL) program. For smaller and urgent shipments, you can leverage Amazon Air Cargo.
How to Set Up FCL Shipment on Seller Central?
If you choose FCL for your Amazon FBA shipment, you’ll also need to set up your shipment plan as FCL. Follow the steps below to set it up on your Amazon Seller Central:
- On the “Manage Inventory” page, choose the products and select “Send/Replenish Inventory” from the drop-down menu.
- Choose your “Packing type” as individual or case-packed products and click “Create new shipping plan.”
- Next, pick your “Ship From” address, which is where your shipment will be picked up for delivery to an Amazon fulfillment center.
- Click “Continue to the shipping plan” and set the quantity for the shipment. You can make small changes to your shipping plan. However, you can only adjust the number of units by up to 5% above or below the original amount, with a maximum change of six units.
- Afterward, on the “Label Products” page choose “Merchant” for the “Who preps?” option. This means your supplier will apply the FNSKU barcode labels to your products. You can also choose “Amazon” instead of your supplier but this will cost you a fee per unit.
- Print FNSKU barcode labels and send them to your supplier. You can also download them later on by choosing the “Manage Inventory” option next to each product and then clicking “Print item labels.”
- In the “Review Shipments” page name your shipment, confirm the info is correct, and approve the shipment. You’ll be assigned a fulfillment center by Amazon after you complete reviewing the shipment.
- The “Review Shipments” page will shift to “View Shipments.” So, press “Work on shipment” to proceed to the “Prepare Shipment page.” Here you’ll view the details for your destination Amazon FBA warehouse. You can copy the address of this warehouse to send to your freight forwarder.
- You’ll be forwarded to the “Prepare Shipment Page” to choose FCL as your final delivery method. To do this, select “LTL” and then next to the “Other Carrier” choose “Other” from the drop-down list to select a carrier for your FCL shipment. You’ll only be able to select this option if it were assigned to one FBA center.
- Next, select whether you wish to send “Everything in one box” or “Multiple boxes.” Here you can customize the number of boxes and units per box if they’re not of the same type.
- Choose “Use web form” and “Fill out the form” with shipping details like expiration date etc.
- Confirm your choices, and download the box labels. Send them to your supplier for labeling at the origin. Note that the shipment will undergo transloading for label application at a warehouse.
But setting up FCL shipment on your Amazon Central account is not the only thing you need to prepare for delivery to Amazon FBA. You’ll need to perform a detailed preparation from packing your products into cardboard boxes to loading them and hiring a freight forwarder.
However, with a digital freight forwarder like Unicargo, you don’t need to prepare anything. We go beyond just shipping goods from one place to another and also provide global freight services with real-time tracking through our digital platform, and a centralized warehousing system for all your locations
Our cost and time-efficient strategic warehousing solutions in China, India, UK, and the U.S for Amazon Sellers, help them send their products to our warehouses. Our local teams take care of everything from appointments at Amazon’s FBA warehouses to labeling, ticketing, and repacking.
We even insert promotional materials into packages, all in compliance with Amazon’s guidelines. Besides, we have our own trucks for domestic U.S. deliveries. Unicargo is your one-stop shop, offering convenience, efficiency, and complete ownership from loading to final delivery.
How to Prepare a Full Container Load for Delivery to Amazon FBA?
Here’s the step-by-step process of preparing an FCL shipment for delivery to Amazon FBA.
Prepare Your Products
Get ready for FCL shipping by placing your products in cardboard boxes. But keep in mind that Amazon FBA has specific rules for the boxes you use. Here are the approved types:
- The Regular Slotted Carton (RSC) – Also known as a standard corrugated box, it is widely used for Amazon FCL shipping. The RSC contains flaps that are of the same length except for two outer lengthwise flaps that are one-half of the box’s width. They are simple to assemble and are ideal for shipping items that need a level, flat bottom surface.
- B-Flute boxes – They have a 3.2 mm thickness and consist of three layers of paper, for cushioning and thermal insulation and a wavy middle layer called a flute. With 47 flutes per linear foot and each flute ⅛-inch thick, these boxes were initially designed for canned goods storage.
- 32 ECT (edge crush test) boxes – They can handle stacking pressure of 32 lbs per inch of edge without collapsing, making them stronger than standard boxes. 32 ECT boxes are ideal for heavier products that will be stacked on pallets.
- 200 lb burst strength boxes – These boxes are crafted with thicker paper, offering 50% more bursting strength compared to 32 ECT boxes. They require 200 pounds per square inch to burst the paperboard. This increased bursting strength results in fewer crushed and damaged boxes during shipping. But it also means these boxes are pricier.
Box Type | Description | Ideal Use | Strength | Cost |
Regular Slotted Carton (RSC) | Standard corrugated box with equal-length flaps, except for two outer lengthwise flaps. Easy to assemble. | Shipping items requires a level, flat bottom surface. | Moderate | Affordable |
B-Flute Boxes | 3.2 mm thick with three layers, including a wavy flute layer. Originally designed for canned goods storage. | Suitable for cushioning and thermal insulation. | Moderate | Moderate |
32 ECT Boxes | Can handle stacking pressure of 32 lbs per inch of edge. Stronger than standard boxes. | Ideal for heavier products stacked on pallets. | Higher than RSC, B-Flute | Moderate |
200lb Burst Strength Boxes | Crafted with thicker paper, offering 50% more bursting strength than 32 ECT boxes. | Minimizes crushed and damaged boxes during shipping. | Highest | Higher but more durable |
Amazon’s Requirements for Boxes:
- You can use new or second-hand boxes that meet Amazon’s requirements, ensuring they are six-sided, rigid, and intact.
- Use at least 2 inches of packaging around the contents.
- Cover or remove existing barcode labels on reused boxes, and clearly label each box with delivery and return info.
- Boxes sent to Amazon FBA should not exceed 25 inches on any side (unless oversized).
- Boxes’ weight must be no more than 50lb, except for single items over 50lb (labeled “Team Lift”) or over 100lb (labeled “Mechanical Lift”).
- For jewelry or watches, the box weight should not exceed 40lb.
Choose a Container
Choose a container type for your Amazon FCL shipping. There are four sizes of containers available for Amazon FBA:
Amazon FCL Container Sizes and Dimensions | |||
Container Type | Length/ feet | Width/ feet | Height/ feet |
20 Feet General Purpose (GP) | 20 | 8 | 8.5 |
40-Feet General Purpose (GP) | 40 | 8 | 8.5 |
40 Feet High Cube (HQ) | 40 | 8 | 9.5 |
45 Feet High Cube (HQ) | 45 | 8 | 9.5 |
Figure out the overall volume (in cubic meters) and weight (in kilograms) of your shipment, including packaging. Make sure the selected container can handle the volume and weight according to the maximum weight your container can handle.
Maximum Weight for Amazon FCL Containers | |
Container Type | Max Weight Limit |
20 GP | 37,500 lbs/ 17,025 kgs |
40 GP/ HQ | 44,000 lbs/ 19,958 kgs |
45 / HQ | 46,000 lbs/ 20,865 kgs |
Create a Shipment Plan
Once you’ve chosen a container, create an FCL shipment plan on your Amazon Seller Central account. You can refer to the “How to Set Up FCL Shipment on Seller Central?” section.
Labeling the Cartons
Next, generate FNSKU or ASIN labels on your Amazon Seller Central account and send them to your supplier for labeling. If your shipment goes to multiple centers, each FBA ID will have its label, so ensure correct labeling for each carton. If FBA labels aren’t applied, the cartons must be marked with the Amazon SKU.
Also, if you decide to use pallets for your FBA shipment, make sure to have four Amazon shipment labels—one on each side, along with the carton label. Once your freight forwarder palletizes the shipment, create the pallet labels on your Amazon Seller Central account. Or if you don’t want to palletize, you can also choose other load types depending on your destination warehouse’s acceptance.
Load the Shipment
For each load type you choose be it fluid floor, pallets, or clamp truck you’ll need to load the FCL shipment according to the guidelines set by Amazon FBA. Here’s how:
Fluid Floor Loading:
- Ensure individual unit sizes don’t exceed the dimensions of 18’’ x 14’’ x 8’’ or 45cm x 35cm x 20cm for standard-sized ASINs.
- Make sure the weight of each unit doesn’t go over 20 lbs or 9kg and place all units in boxes.
- Large or oversized products can be in larger boxes, and units over 20 lbs or 9kgs should be palletized or clamp truck enabled.
- For Sortable Fulfillment Centers, box measurements shouldn’t exceed 25’’ or 64cm on each side.
- Boxes with sortable products shouldn’t exceed 50 lbs or 23 kg.
- Put the same ASIN in each box, mark boxes as “Case Packed,” and limit different ASINs in one box to 5.
- Ensure the packing list meets FBA requirements.
- Load boxes with different ASINs sequentially in the container.
- Print and place box labels (Ship From, Ship To, PO # with barcode) visibly on each box.
- Use only large-sized dunnage like air pillows, full paper sheets, bubble wrap, or sheet foam. Avoid loose fill like styrofoam or shredded paper.
- In the container, stack boxes into columns without using straps, zip ties, tape, or other items to bundle them together.
- While loading the container, use air pillows, diamond corrugated, or dunnage to keep the load stable.
- Ensure there’s at least 8’’ or 21 cm of space between the last row of cartons and container doors.
- Use load bars and straps to securely fasten all shipments.
- Palletization:
- Affix FBA shipment labels on each carton.
- Utilize 40’’ x 48’’ (1.02 m x 1.22 m) 4-way access wood pallets. If a unit is too large for this pallet size, choose a more fitting pallet type.
- Whenever possible, stack only one ASIN per pallet, labeled as “Single ASIN Pallet.”
- Use only GMA Grade B or higher compliant wooden pallets for most products, but opt for GMA 1A grade pallets for grocery or food items.
- Wrap all pallets with clear plastic and avoid opaque or black stretch wrap.
- Adhere to pallet size limits: maximum height of 72’’ (1.82m) and weight of 1,500 lbs (680 kgs).
- Use corner boards for pallet protection and stability during transit.
- Double-stack pallets only if safe, ensuring the height doesn’t exceed 100’’ (2.54 m).
- Ensure each box’s gross weight doesn’t surpass 50 lbs (23 kgs) unless a single unit is heavier.
- Mark cartons with heavy units (50-100 lbs) as “Team Lift.”
- Label heavy lifts above 100 lbs as “Mech Lift.”
- While loading goods in a palletized container, maintain a minimum of 6’’ or 15 cm clearance from the pallet top to the container roof.
- Ensure stability during transport using airbags, non-metal straps, or a safety net.
- Keep at least 3’’ or 8 cm between container stacks and walls while in transit.
- Stack cartons evenly, avoiding any overhang from the pallet.
- Provide a minimum of 8’’ or 21 cm clearance between the last row of cartons to the container doors for dock leveler engagement.
- Clamp Truck Shipment:
- Align each column uniformly with other tiers on the base for safe squeezing by the clamp.
- Ensure columns are 24’’ to 72’’ wide and 61 cm to 183 cm long.
- Follow clamp weight limits: 3000 lbs (1360 kgs) for non-elevated loads, and 1300 lbs (590 kgs) for double-stacked loads.
- Maintain 3’’ or 8 cm clearance above the box to the container roof.
- Use airbags to create 3’’ or 8 cm clearance between container stacks and walls, preventing load shifting.
- Keep 3’’ or 8 cm gaps between columns, using airbags for load stability. Do not bundle boxes together with straps, ties, tape, or other items.
- Allow 8’’ or 21 cm clearance from the last carton row to the container doors for dock traveler engagement.
- Secure shipments with load bars and straps.
Book the Shipment with the Carrier
Prepare all necessary documents mentioned in the “Documentation and Regulations” section. Ensure all of them are accurate and complete to avoid customs delays. Next, schedule the pick-up of your shipment with a freight carrier.
Also, inform Amazon about your FCL shipment through Seller Central, including the estimated arrival date and tracking information. After loading, update the shipment plan in Seller Central with the final carton and pallet count. However, one thing to keep in mind is that like any shipping method, FCL also comes with its own fair share of potential risks.
What Are the Potential Risks of Shipping FCL to Amazon FBA?
Amazon reserves the right to reject shipments without specifying a reason, but following their guidance minimizes this risk. Despite proper preparation, common issues may still arise. Here are the common challenges when shipping FCL to Amazon FBA:
Inventory Overstock
- If sales are overestimated, excess inventory may accumulate in Amazon warehouses, incurring storage fees and affecting cash flow.
- Ignoring seasonal fluctuations in demand may lead to unsold products during off-peak periods.
Unexpected Costs
- Large FCL shipments can accrue Amazon storage fees if sales fall short of expectations.
- If your cargo doesn’t fill the container efficiently, you’re essentially paying for unused space. Therefore, explore less-than-container load (LCL) or groupage services for smaller shipments. In fact, with Unicargo’s console box services, you can combine your LCL shipments at competitive rates. By consolidating small shipments into one container, you can also decrease the number of times cargo is handled, lowering the risk of damage.
- If you don’t pre-book the return leg of your journey, you may end up paying extra fees to reposition the empty container.
- If Amazon can’t unload your container immediately, they might ask the driver to leave it and come back later. This leads to extra charges for a second trip and substantial demurrage and detention fees.
- If there are delays in Amazon accepting the container, you’ll incur extra fees for storing it before reaching the fulfillment center. However, at Unicargo we work closely with sellers and Amazon’s warehouses to create a customized logistics plan. This includes scheduling, factoring in shipping schedules, transit times, and other crucial elements to ensure your products reach Amazon’s fulfillment centers on time.
- Delayed unloading also results in additional daily charges by your shipping company, affecting the initially agreed container usage period.
- Drivers have a set time for unloading. If Amazon delays or unloading takes longer, you’ll pay extra for the driver waiting beyond the agreed period.
Logistical Complexity
- Meticulous planning is crucial for FCL container availability, scheduling appointments with Amazon warehouses, and coordinating with freight forwarders to avoid delays and additional expenses.
- Improper packing or labeling can lead to shipment rejection at Amazon warehouses, causing delays and potential returns.
- Amazon might refuse your container, requiring you to unload it at your warehouse and return it with smaller shipments. This can cause disruptions.
Picking the Wrong Freight Forwarder
If your chosen freight forwarder isn’t familiar with Amazon’s strict FCL shipping rules, your inventory might get rejected. This can lead to hefty fees, disposal of your products, or even future shipments being blocked from Amazon FBA.
However, a reliable freight forwarder like Unicargo can prevent inventory rejection, disposal fees, and shipment blockages. As part of Amazon’s solution provider network (SPN), we are familiar with Amazon’s FBA rules. Our team can assist in proper planning, labeling, and coordination, ensuring a smoother FCL shipping process to Amazon FBA. In fact, Unicargo was the FIRST freight forwarders to offer tailored solutions and services to Amazon’s FBA Sellers, since Day 1! The knowledge and experience we’ve gained through the years is priceless and our out-of-the-box approach helps sellers attain the best solution for their logistics operations.
How a Freight Forwarder Can Help You Ship FCL to Amazon?
When shipping massive inventories, things can get difficult with FCL shipping. Imagine an FCL shipment as a cargo ship – potent and efficient but in need of an expert captain.
Attempting to sail it solo is inviting a storm of challenges. It could lead to missing a crucial step, risking product loss, confiscation, or delays. That’s where a freight forwarder can help eliminate these issues and ship FCL to Amazon FBA. Let’s see what they can bring to the table:
- Expertise in FCL Logistics – Freight forwarders specialize in going around the complexities of FCL shipping and possess in-depth knowledge of Amazon FBA. They can help you with shipping regulations, container requirements, and necessary documentation for a seamless process.
If you’re a new seller, our seasoned team at Unicargo can help you navigate the ins and outs of international shipping, and customs. We’ll help you comply with Amazon’s FBA regulations by ensuring your products are prepared and shipped following Amazon’s guidelines to the tee.
- Optimizing Costs – Adept at cost optimization, they can assist in selecting the most cost-effective container options, managing customs procedures efficiently, and preventing unexpected charges.
- Container Booking and Coordination – Freight forwarders can meticulously plan and coordinate container bookings, ensuring timely synchronization with Amazon’s requirements for smoother deliveries. They can also pick the best shipping method, carrier, and routes to save costs and ensure timely delivery.
- Navigating Customs – They are familiar with international shipping laws and compliance requirements and will ensure that all essential documentation is in order, minimizing the risk of customs delays or fines. They can also serve as your customs broker, eliminating the need to hire a separate company.
It’s a given that Amazon’s rules vary by region. So if your product is fulfilled in a US center, it’s a different story compared to a center in Europe. However, our team at Unicargo is on top of these differences, taking care of everything from labeling and packaging to pallet height. We make sure your goods meet international guidelines, avoiding penalties that could hurt your business.
- Flexible Solutions – Freight forwarders can provide flexibility and quick problem-solving, adapting to schedule changes, handling unexpected issues, and offering alternative solutions.
- Communication Bridge – They can connect you, the shipping line, and Amazon, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned, minimizing misunderstandings, and facilitating a smoother process.
For instance, at Unicargo we specialize in shipping to Amazon fulfillment centers. We have strong communication with Amazon’s FBA warehousing teams and direct access to fulfillment centers. That’s why even in unforeseen circumstances our regular communication guarantees efficient and accurate handling of your shipments. We also handle your appointment scheduling for final delivery at the designated FBA warehouse, so that you don’t incur any unforeseen charges. And believe us, this happens all the time. It’s worth being in ‘good hands’ that know all the tricks and have a local team knowledgeable with all of Amazon’s requirements.
- Warehousing Services – Some freight forwarders provide warehousing services, storing sellers’ inventory until it’s prepared for shipment to Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
- Efficient Last-Mile Delivery – Coordinating with local carriers for the last leg of the journey, freight forwarders ensure efficient transportation of your goods from the port to Amazon’s fulfillment center.
FAQs – FCL Shipping to Amazon
Does Amazon Accept Floor-Loaded Containers?
Yes, Amazon does allow floor-loaded containers, but they prefer shipments to be palletized whenever feasible for faster delivery and safe unloading. However, floor-loaded shipments that involve extensive labor or handling, especially for boxes exceeding 50 pounds, may be rejected by Amazon due to safety concerns.
What Is the Difference between Floor-Loaded and Palletized Containers?
Floor-loaded containers are shipping containers where goods are loaded directly without using pallets or structural supports, maximizing space. They are ideal for smaller, loose cargo secured directly to the container’s floor. On the other hand, palletized containers use standardized pallets for loading cargo. Pallets offer stability for larger, heavier, or bulkier items and are stacked for efficient loading and unloading.
How Much Does a Full Container Load Cost?
Shipping a full container can cost a lot, and it depends on factors like the route, container size, demand, custom fees, and additional charges for the destination. On average, it ranges from $2,000 to $3,000. For example, sending a 20-foot container to South America can range between $900-$2000, and a 40-foot container is about $1,500-$2500. However, keep in mind these are just ballpark figures, and the actual cost might differ. It’s important to mention here that during specific times of the year, prices spike and during global events, such as wars and geo-political instability, surprises in price are common, and unforeseen, thus you must account for it.
Conclusion
If you want to succeed with Amazon FBA, it’s crucial to optimize your supply chain and using Full Container Load (FCL) shipping can help in that regard. It’s especially beneficial for larger shipments, cutting down on costs per unit by minimizing handling. However, it’s essential to meet Amazon FBA requirements for FCL shipping to avoid penalties. Unicargo, a reliable freight forwarder, simplifies FCL shipping with expertise in cost optimization, container coordination, fulfillment warehousing, customs clearance, and effective communication.
We offer comprehensive services, including pickup, transport, warehousing, and efficient last-mile delivery, ensuring a smooth journey for your products to reach Amazon FBA. With our robust global partnerships, and local teams spread globally, we can secure the best deals for you, offering a range of freight services like FCL, LCL, Fulfillment, PO Management, or project cargo shipping.
Our reliable and efficient Amazon preparation services like packing labeling, bundling, and kitting, coupled with continuous support, make your shipping journey smooth. In case of customs delays or issues, our dedicated customer service team ensures resolution and provides updates, giving you peace of mind about your shipment’s whereabouts.
We’ll handle the logistics; you focus on the profits. Ship smart, sell smart. Streamline your FCL operation now with Unicargo!
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