Amazon Expands LTL Shipping Nationwide for 1-6 Pallets as It Pushes End-to-End Logistics
Updated
Updated · FreightWaves · Jun 10
Amazon Expands LTL Shipping Nationwide for 1-6 Pallets as It Pushes End-to-End Logistics
3 articles · Updated · FreightWaves · Jun 10
Summary
Amazon on Wednesday opened its less-than-truckload service to all businesses nationwide, extending it beyond inbound moves to Amazon facilities and allowing shipments to third-party warehouses, distribution centers and retail stores.
The expanded service targets loads of 1 to 6 pallets, or 150 to 15,000 pounds, with next-day pickup for orders placed by 5 p.m., same-day drop-trailer pickup, GPS tracking and electronic proof of delivery.
Amazon says the move answers seller demand for broader use of its LTL technology and reliability, and fits its wider Amazon Supply Chain Services push after opening freight, fulfillment and parcel shipping to non-Amazon sellers last month.
Questions remain over how the network will operate because Amazon lacks a traditional terminal system; analyst Satish Jindel said it looks more like a freight-broker model leveraging Amazon's scale than a classic asset-based LTL carrier.
With 80,000 trailers and 24,000 intermodal containers, Amazon's broader LTL push could pressure incumbents such as FedEx Freight and Old Dominion, though some analysts see brokers like C.H. Robinson as the closer competitive set.
As Amazon enters the freight game, are legacy trucking giants facing an unstoppable tech disruptor?
Is Amazon building a genuine trucking network or just using its market power to play freight broker?
Amazon’s LTL Revolution: Faster, Cheaper Freight and the Race for Nationwide Coverage in 2026
Overview
Amazon has steadily expanded its logistics presence, starting with the Relay check-in app in 2017 and the load board in 2018, before officially entering the Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) market in 2019. By June 2026, Amazon's LTL service stands out because it operates without a traditional network of cross-dock terminals, raising questions about its operational model. Despite this, some users, like Pattern, have reported faster transit times and lower costs compared to traditional LTL carriers. This shows Amazon's unique approach can deliver real benefits, even as it challenges established industry practices.