Amazon Best Practice Explained

As an Amazon preferred carrier in the Inbound Preferred Carrier Programme (IPCP), we deliver pallets into Amazon fulfilment centres efficiently and reliably. This means daily booked slots, reduced delays at the fulfilment centre, and protection from late fees once your freight is with us. But your part matters too - your pallets must meet Amazon’s strict standards for us to deliver them successfully.

Key things you need to know

When booking your Amazon FBA delivery, you must provide the correct reference numbers, including your PO (purchase order) number and FBA shipment code. These link your delivery to Amazon’s systems and ensure smooth processing at the fulfilment centre.

Amazon’s fulfilment centres require enough space inside the trailer to offload safely. Our drivers must leave at least 30 centimetres of space above the pallets and at the rear of the trailer. Pallets must be offloaded from the back, so your pallet layout must allow for this.

Lastly, check your pallets meet Amazon’s size and weight rules. Oversized or overweight pallets will be refused and additional costs may apply.

How to create your Amazon manifest

Amazon recommend generating a manifest for each shipment. This is your SCAN form and helps Amazon process your goods correctly. In Seller Central, go to the ‘Orders’ tab, select ‘Order Reports’, then ‘End of Day Forms’ to generate and print your SCAN form for the shipment day.

Amazon pallet requirements

• Maximum pallet height: 1.8 metres (including the pallet base)
• Maximum pallet weight: 1,000 kg
• Pallets over 500 kg must be clearly labelled "heavy goods"
• Standard four-way wooden pallets only - Amazon will not accept plastic pallets
• Pallets must be shrink-wrapped with no loose cartons
• Any single items taller than 1.8 metres must be laid flat and must not exceed 1.8 metres wide

Label each pallet clearly on A4 or larger paper showing:

• To: the fulfilment centre address
• From: your full business address
• Purchase orders
• Number of cartons
• Number of units
• Pallet count: for example, 1 of 3, 2 of 3

Double-stacking pallets is not recommended. Most vehicles we use cannot safely carry stacked pallets due to height restrictions and load security rules.

What does non-inventory freight mean?

Non-inventory freight refers to goods Amazon use internally, such as packaging materials or office supplies. These deliveries run separately from FBA stock and follow a dedicated process.

Through our partner Palletline, we deliver non-inventory freight directly to Amazon via a drop-and-swap operation running between 6am and 6pm.

Why using an IPCP carrier matters

As an IPCP carrier, we manage the entire delivery booking with Amazon through Carrier Central. This means:

• Guaranteed daily delivery slots at all UK fulfilment centres
• Priority unloading and reduced waiting times on site
• Protection from late fees once your freight is with us
• No need for you to book the delivery slot yourself
• Direct network delivery through Palletline, not sub-contractors or third parties

Following Amazon’s best practice ensures your pallets are accepted first time and your stock reaches their shelves without delay. Poorly prepared deliveries waste time and money - get it right first time to protect your seller metrics.