The holiday shopping season is in full swing. During this peak time, you’re likely seeing more volume, more loads, and, typically, more to keep track of.

We’re staying busy here at Amazon Freight as well to get your goods moved on time. Know that we’re in this together, and we are here to help you finish the year strong.

Here are some tips for Amazon Freight shippers so you can do just that.

1. Double-check your contact info
The most critical thing is to ensure we know how to get a hold of you. Log into your account and double check or enter your contact information. We are constantly balancing our network and optimizing routes to move your freight so if something changes, we need to know how to contact you.

Pro tip: An easy way to stay abreast of your shipment status is to select the option to receive automated notices. Go to Setup > Company Profile > Add email recipient address.

2. Sweat the details
Within your account, you’ll also want to provide key information about your location. First, enter your operating hours if you haven’t already. To avoid receiving pickup appointments outside of your normal business hours, verify that your operating hours are correct under Setup > Shipping Locations.

Is your yard area unique? The check-in area tricky to find? Those are important details that your driver should know. Under Setup, enter specific information so the driver has the best instructions to pickup your loads.

3. Think outside 9-to-5
We know speedy delivery is critical. One way to help is to think about scheduling pickups at traditionally slower times. Most Amazon facilities operate 24/7 and have the lowest amount of delivery requests overnight and on the weekends. You can take advantage of these windows by ensuring your operating hours in your account include relevant overnight hours, extended shifts, and weekend pickups.

4. Keep the BOL clean
A bill of lading (BOL) is another piece of administrative work, but it pays to do it right. You can track your shipments and help with proper delivery by verifying that your bill of lading has some key elements. For instance, make sure all the numbers are correct. That includes your pickup, delivery, and shipper reference numbers. Then check your location. Include the correct location name and address as well as the location’s point of contact.

5. Is your freight ready?
We want to avoid delays just as much as you do. To make that happen, make sure your freight is ready to go at the confirmed pickup time and packed properly. Then check that the reference numbers provided match the shipment and paperwork.

For some of our customers, know that to get your shipment where it needs to be in time, we may relay it to an intermediate point before its final destination. This is typical so don’t worry if you see that the driver’s delivery address is different even if the reference numbers are the same.

6. Contact your rep about contract rates
Another way to help get a delivery appointment sooner is to explore contract rates and set your deliveries to drop at an Amazon Facility. The best way to do this is to reach out to your dedicated Amazon Freight rep or log into your account (if you do not have a rep and are shipping FTL, contact us here). This option isn’t a fit for every shipment, but doing it will allow for earlier pickup and unload times because the facility will be able to unload it as soon as a slot becomes available.

Getting to the finish line
Overall, it all boils down to two things: communicating and responding swiftly. During this time of year, we’ve seen that successful shippers ensure they have open lines of communication with all of their partners and respond nimbly when changes happen.

If you have any questions or concerns, visit the “Help Center” located within your account.

This time of year is always busy. We understand and are here to help. Following these tips will get you on your way and closer to finishing up another successful holiday season.