E-commerce and logistics giant Amazon today took another step toward flexing its e-commerce muscle beyond operating its powerful online marketplace, announcing that it will operate as a less-than-truckload (LTL) freight carrier.
The Seattle-based company had previously provided LTL services solely for inbound-to-Amazon lanes that brought inventory to its own distribution centers. But it will now expand that model to reach any type of destination, including third-party warehouses, distribution centers, and retail partners.
The move comes just a month after Amazon officially became a third party logistics provider (3PL) by opening up its massive warehousing and transportation networks to any shipper, not just those who sell goods through its online platform.
Under that new Amazon Supply Chain Services (ASCS) arm, the company now adds an LTL service with a fleet of more than 80,000 trailers and 24,000 intermodal containers.
The offering allows businesses of all sizes move freight that typically ranges from one to six pallets—or between 150 and 15,000 pounds—into their warehouses, between their own facilities, or to their retail partners and distributors. Amazon says its pickup options include: next-day live pickup for orders placed by 5 p.m., same-day pickup through Amazon’s drop trailer solution, and standing daily pickups for high-volume shippers.
In all, ASCS now includes a portfolio of supply chain capabilities from Amazon, including freight, distribution, fulfillment, and parcel shipping, the company says.
