How to Create a Shipment Plan and Find a Freight Forwarder for Amazon FBA

 

How to Create a Shipment Plan and Find a Freight Forwarder for Amazon FBA – MPL Lecture 6

a shipment plan in Amazon Seller Central

• Generate item and box labels
• Send these labels to your supplier
• Find a verified Freight Forwarder via Alibaba
• Complete shipping payment and prepare for product launch

If you haven't seen the previous lectures, check the MPL playlist on our channel Ecommerce World.

 

What is a Shipment Plan in Amazon?

A shipment plan tells Amazon how many products you’re sending, where they’re coming from, and how they are packed. It allows you to:

• Generate barcodes (FNSKU labels) for your products
• Ensure that each shipping carton is labeled appropriately by printing and affixing the required box labels
• Track your shipment to Amazon's warehouse

You only need to create this once your supplier confirms the order is ready for shipping.

 

Information You Need from Supplier Before Shipment Plan

Before making the shipment plan, ask your supplier:

• Factory/Warehouse address (for the "Ship From" field)
• Total quantity (e.g. 200 units)
• Number of cartons (e.g. 10 master cartons)
• Units per carton (e.g. 20 units per box)
• Carton dimensions (Length x Width x Height in cm)
• Weight per carton (in kg)

How to Create a Shipment Plan in Seller Central

Step 1: Go to Your Amazon Seller Central

• Navigate to Inventory > Manage Inventory

Access your product listing, then use the ‘Edit’ dropdown to select the ‘Send/Replenish Inventory’ function."

Step 2: Create New Shipping Plan

• Click “Create a New Shipping Plan”
• Enter your supplier’s address as the "Ship From" location

Step 3: Packaging Type

·       If each box includes the same product, choose ‘Case-packed products’ during setup."

• Select “Continue to Shipping Plan”

Step 4: Enter Case Details

• Units per case: e.g., 20
• Number of cases: e.g., 10
• Click Continue

 

Print and Send Labels to Supplier

Item Labels (FNSKU):

• Select “Merchant” as the party who will label the products
• Click “Print item labels”

Provide your supplier with all 200 FNSKU labels to affix one label to every individual product

Box Labels:

• Select “Multiple Boxes”
• Enter:
• Number of boxes: e.g., 10
• Units per box: e.g., 20
• Weight & dimensions for each box
• Click “Calculate Shipping Charges” and Accept Charges
• Print and send 10 box labels to your supplier (labeled 1 of 10, 2 of 10, etc.)

Once done, your shipment plan is complete.

 How to Find a Freight Forwarder from Alibaba

After your supplier applies the labels, you’ll need to ship your inventory.

Step 1: Search on Alibaba

• Go to Alibaba.com
• Search “Freight Forwarder”

Step 2: Apply Filters

Your freight forwarder should meet these criteria:

• Gold Supplier
• Verified
• 4+ Years Active on Alibaba
• Trade Assurance Enabled
• Three Gems (performance rating)
• Response rate: 80%+

Step 3: Compare & Contact

• Use Alibaba’s Compare feature
• Send a message to at least 3-5 freight forwarders with:
• Quantity (e.g., 200 units)
• Number of boxes (e.g., 10)
• Dimensions & weight of each box
• Amazon warehouse address (from the shipment plan)

They will provide you with a quotation and estimated delivery time (usually 20–25 days).

 

Freight Forwarder Payment Terms

Unlike suppliers (who usually take 30% upfront), freight forwarders require 100% upfront payment.

What You Should Do:

• Ask for a proper invoice
• Pay via Alibaba Trade Assurance
• Never use Western Union or risky payment methods

 

Summary – Your Shipment Flow

1. Confirm product readiness from supplier
2. Collect address, quantity, box info, and dimensions
3. Create a shipment plan in Amazon
4. Generate the necessary product and shipping box labels and provide them to your supplier for application
5. Find a verified freight forwarder on Alibaba
6. Send all product details to them
7. Make 100% payment with invoice
8. Wait for shipment tracking and prepare for launch