Why does Amazon split my Shipment Plan into multiple FCs?

Amazon uses network balancing and inventory placement logic. Large shipments are often split across 2–4 fulfillment centers unless the seller uses inventory placement options or relies on 3PL consolidation strategies.

Should suppliers create my Shipment Plan?

Amazon expects the Seller Central account owner to control shipment plans. Suppliers frequently make labeling and carton dimension errors, so many brands authorize a 3PL or prep center to execute shipment plans instead.

What happens if box content information is wrong?

Incorrect box content often forces Amazon into manual receiving, causing delays, inbound performance defects, or mismatched quantity investigations. Accurate carton data is critical for FBA check-in speed.

Do SPD and LTL shipments require separate shipment plans?

Yes. SPD and LTL are treated as different shipments inside Amazon's routing system. Each mode has unique labeling, routing, and appointment rules, even when shipping the same SKUs.

Can a 3PL fix a shipment plan after creation?

A 3PL can correct labeling and packing to match an existing plan or help rebuild the plan before shipment. However, once cartons are in transit, adjustments are extremely limited.

FBA Shipment Plan — Definition, Routing Logic & 2025 Inbound Workflow Updated Dec 2025

Q: Is an FBA Shipment Plan required for every inbound?

Yes. Every inbound shipment to Amazon FBA requires a Shipment Plan with shipment IDs created in Seller Central. This enables Amazon to verify routing, quantities, carton labels, and pallet structure.

Source: Amazon Seller Central (Send to Amazon workflow), Amazon FBA help documentation, LTL/SPD routing rules, FBA prep and labeling guides, and the WinsBS US Importer & Fulfillment Wiki taxonomy (2025). “FBA Shipment Plan” refers to the shipment-level configuration that defines which SKUs, quantities, cartons, and pallets are routed to specific Amazon fulfillment centers (FCs) via SPD or LTL/FTL.

Industry Standard Definition

View Official-style Definition

In the Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) model, Shipment Plan is the configuration sellers create in Seller Central to tell Amazon: which SKUs, in what quantities, packed into which cartons and pallets, should be routed to which fulfillment centers (FCs), using which transport mode (small parcel delivery / SPD or LTL/FTL freight).

At minimum, an FBA Shipment Plan defines:

Shipment ID(s): unique identifier(s) Amazon assigns to each inbound shipment.
SKUs & Quantities: units of each FNSKU being sent.
Destination FCs: which Amazon fulfillment centers will receive the goods.
Box / Pallet Structure: how units are packed into cartons and pallets.
Transport Mode: SPD vs LTL Shipment / FTL.
Labeling Requirements: FNSKU, Carton Labels, and Pallet Labels.

“An FBA shipment plan defines the products you are sending, the quantity of each product, and the fulfillment centers your inventory will be sent to. Once created, it generates the shipment IDs, box labels, and routing instructions used for inbound delivery.”
— Interpreted from Amazon Seller Central ‘Send to Amazon’ workflow (Accessed 2025)

Practically, the Shipment Plan is the source of truth that your factory, 3PL or FBA Prep Services provider follows for labeling, packing, and routing each carton and pallet.

How FBA Shipment Plans Work — Step-by-step Workflow

View 2025 Shipment Plan Workflow

Build Product Catalog & FNSKUs Seller creates listings and FNSKUs in Seller Central, then syncs with the FBA Prep provider or factory.
Start “Send to Amazon” / Create Shipment Plan Seller selects SKUs and quantities, packaging type, and Amazon assigns destination FCs.
FC Assignment & Routing Split Amazon may split the plan into multiple Shipment IDs, routing units to several FCs.
Box Content Information Seller or 3PL uploads exact carton contents (SKU mapping, dimensions, weight).
Mode Selection — SPD vs LTL/FTL Each shipment is assigned a transport mode.
Label Generation Carton labels and FBA pallet labels are generated based on shipment IDs.
3PL / Factory Execution Prep, labeling, carton sealing, palletization, routing.
Inbound Appointment & Delivery LTL/FTL requires an Inbound Appointment.
FC Receiving & Performance Amazon scans pallets, cartons, and FNSKUs, comparing actual units with the Shipment Plan.

Routing, SPD vs LTL & FC Split Logic

View Transport Modes & Split Patterns

Aspect	Key Options	Operational Impact
Transport Mode	SPD: small parcels (UPS, FedEx, Partnered). LTL/FTL: palletized freight.	SPD suits small, light, urgent restocks. LTL/FTL suits bulk restocks with pallet-level Pallet In / Pallet Out workflows.
FC Split Pattern	Single-FC vs Multi-FC routing.	Multi-FC splits increase carton complexity, labeling load, and freight cost.
Partnered vs Non-partnered	Amazon Partnered vs independent carriers.	Partnered simplifies purchase & tracking; non-partnered may reduce freight cost.
Box Content Accuracy	WMS carton IDs, SKU mapping.	Errors trigger manual receiving and delays.
Palletization Rules	Single vs mixed SKU pallets, height & weight limits.	Single-SKU pallets reduce mixed pallet mismatch risk.

Regional Nuance — U.S., EU, UK & Cross-border Inbound

View Regional Differences

Region	Shipment Plan Pattern	Key Considerations
United States	Frequent multi-FC splits, network balancing.	Must align with IPI limits and inbound performance rules.
European Union (Pan-EU)	Tied to VAT OSS/IOSS and multi-country placement.	Errors may trigger VAT mismatches and multi-state delays.
United Kingdom	Shipment plans interact with UK customs post-Brexit.	DDP and import documents often required for inbound stability.
China → US/EU/UK	Often executed by factories or prep centers.	High risk unless seller or 3PL tightly controls labeling, weights, and box content.

Who Should Own the Shipment Plan? Supplier vs 3PL vs Seller

View Ownership Models & Trade-offs

Owner	Pattern	Risks & Benefits
Factory / Supplier	Seller sends screenshots or Excel; supplier prints labels.	Low seller effort but high error rate in labels and carton data.
Seller In-house	Seller controls creation and sends PDFs to suppliers/3PLs.	High accuracy but time-consuming; weak without WMS integration.
3PL / FBA Prep Center	Seller authorizes 3PL to create & execute plans.	Strongest compliance; WMS + SP-API yields best box content accuracy.

Best practice: Seller retains account control while delegating Shipment Plan execution to a vetted FBA-focused 3PL.

FBA Shipment Plan Cost Drivers & Financial Impact

View Cost Components & Hidden Fees

Driver	Examples	Impact
Number of Shipments	1 PO split into 2–4 shipment IDs.	Raises label count, freight cost, handling load.
Mode Choice	SPD (urgent) vs LTL/FTL (bulk).	SPD costs more per unit; LTL needs pallets & appointments.
Prep & Labeling Complexity	Extra relabeling, carton label updates, pallet labels.	Increases VAS cost.
Dimensional Accuracy	Incorrect weights, dims, box content.	Triggers remeasure fees & delays.
Inbound Performance	Mismatched counts, missing cartons.	Inbound defects, receiving delays, possible penalties.

Expert Insight — WinsBS Research

View Analyst Commentary

Michael, Senior Supply Chain Analyst at WinsBS Research:

“Across our inbound dataset, roughly 60–70% of FBA receiving problems start with the Shipment Plan, not with the truck. When SKUs, box content, and pallet structure are misaligned with the plan, Amazon is forced into manual receiving — resulting in delays, shrinkage disputes, or shipment rejections.”