While it is one of the most labor-intensive types of loading, you may not be able to
avoid Floor Loading your products when shipping Less than Truckload (LTL), Full
Truckload (FTL), or Full Container Load (FCL) deliveries to Amazon fulfillment
centers.
When loading packed products directly on the floor, rather than using pallets or other
containers, it takes longer for the fulfillment centers to process, which may impact
your products availability for sale on Amazon and unload times. Carriers may also apply
additional charges if your shipments require extensive handling.
Important: Failure to comply
with FBA product preparation requirements, safety requirements, and product restrictions
may result in the refusal of inventory at the Amazon fulfillment center, disposal or
return of inventory, blocking of future shipments to the fulfillment center, or charging
for preparation or for noncompliance at the fulfillment center. Please share these
requirements with your carrier or vendor to ensure that they fully understand these
requirements.
Floor loading requirements
Palletize all shipments as much as possible to ensure earlier delivery appointments.
Floor-loaded shipments requiring extensive handling may be refused for safety reasons
(i.e. boxes greater than 50.0 pounds). By definition, Amazon considers floor loading to
be loose, stacked boxes, which are under 50.0 pounds in weight that will be unloaded by
hand. Any additional charges assessed by your carrier would vary based on the extra time
and labor required, which can vary significantly from shipment to shipment.
You must inform your carrier that floor-loaded
shipments are only accepted when they identify them on the Carrier
Central.
Follow
these requirements while readying the floor-loaded shipment:
-
Stack boxes into columns in an alternating pattern to provide stability.
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Boxes must not be bundled together with any kind of straps, zip ties, tape,
etc.
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Maintain at least 7.5 cm between
column stacks and container walls.
-
Stack boxes no higher than 1.6 cm, unless they
conform to the slip sheet or clamp truck instructions below.
-
-
Make sure that the overall height of the column stack allows
7.5 cm of clearance from the top of the stack to the roof of the
container.
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Products exceeding 48 inches in length must be loaded along the length of the
container or trailer.
Load quality requirements
Correctly staging your floor-loaded shipment will ensure there are
no delays in processing your products once at the fulfillment center. Remember to:
-
All shipments should be properly secured
using load bars/straps. It is the shipper's and the carrier's responsibility to
ensure that shipments are loaded into a trailer in a manner that prevents the load
from shifting during transit. When using
Intermodal transportation (COFC), always use a load strap, never a load bar to
secure loads.
-
Floor-loaded freight should only
be loaded into containers that are at least 2.4 mts tall and make sure that the
overall height of the carton stack allows 7.5 cm of clearance from the top of the
stack to the roof of the container.
-
Ensure that all boxes (regardless of
weight) comply with the clamp truck instructions listed below.

Important: If the load quality does not meet Floor Loading policy, your shipment
may take longer to receive and you may be contacted about your shipment. Load quality
issues may result in charges for unplanned services or refusal of shipments.
Clamp Truck Guidelines
Use these instructions to accommodate forklifts with hydraulic
attachments that open and close around a load to squeeze and pick it up:
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When loading the trailer, maintain
at least 7.5 cm between stacks and between stacks and container walls.
-
Make sure that the overall height of stack allows 7.5 cm of
clearance from the top of the stack to the roof of the container.
-
Arrange each tier to be uniform and aligned relative to the other tiers on the
footprint so that all four sides of the freight stack can be safely accessed and
"squeezed" by a clamp truck. Tier heights may vary.
-
The product must also be oriented in such a manner that
it can be clamped without having to rearrange the load.
-
Use spacers between stacks to prevent them from shifting during transit. All
shipments should be properly secured using load bars/straps. It is the shipper's and
carrier's responsibility to ensure that shipments are loaded into the trailer in a
manner that prevents the load from shifting during transit.
-
Air pillows, diamond corrugate shims, or dunnage must be
used for stability and to maintain the separation between stacks during transit.
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Boxes that are considered clampable must be a minimum of
24 inches in width and no longer than 72 inches to be able to accommodate min and max
clamp truck restrictions. Clampable boxes must not be forced into a trailer during
the load process.
-
Products must be shrink-wrapped together to prevent
insecure loading.
Slip sheet guidelines
When slip sheets are used instead of pallets, be sure to
follow these instructions:
-
Insert slip sheets between the floor and
product, as well as between layers. The overall height of the stack should
allow 7.5 cm of clearance from the top of the stack to the roof of the
container.
-
Use only slip sheets of industry-standard
pallet size (100 cm x 120 cm).
-
Products exceeding 120 cm in length must be loaded along the length of the
container or trailer.
Related guidelines