Shipping is a critical part of business, and careful planning and preparation increase efficiency and control costs. But there are a lot of decisions to make, and the process can be complex, especially for those new to shipping. As one shipper says, “You need a lot of attention to detail. You need to be flexible and to juggle a lot."

Our new shipping guide, Shipping made easy: The Amazon Freight guide to freight transportation, is full of best practices and essential information from Amazon’s shipping experts to help you ship with confidence while streamlining operations and driving growth.

A look inside
Successful shipping starts with knowing your needs, including the size, weight, and handling requirements of your freight, as well as cost considerations and timelines. The guide identifies the top questions that can help you assess your operations and specify your requirements and priorities, which can guide your shipping decisions.

One of the first choices shippers have to make is between booking full-truckload shipments, which dedicate an entire trailer to a single shipment even if it isn't full, and less-than-truckload loads that combine shipments from multiple companies to fill a trailer. According to the guide, the amount of control, speed, and visibility you need helps determine which option works best for your situation.

Choosing who to trust with your loads can be a daunting process, starting with which type of provider—a carrier or broker—to use. Both offer slightly different value, and there are key differentiators between the two, including access to assets. When securing capacity, consider a provider’s size, reputation, and ability to scale.

Once you have established the critical details of your loads and secured a provider, there are still important pieces that have to come together to get your orders picked, packed, and delivered. Amazon Freight’s shipping experts offered specific recommendations to help protect your products, speed up the loading and unloading process, and ensure your freight arrives on time in the right location.

Get the whole story
Shipping is a full-time job with plenty of responsibilities. What else can you do to make the best decisions for your shipping needs? Learn more about optimizing the freight shipping process by downloading the guide here.