Amazon Vendor Truckload Trailer Seal Policy - What You Need to Know
Amazon Vendor recently sent out an email with the subject "Update to full truckload and intermodal trailer seal policy", outlining the importance of Seal Numbers for all shipments.
Seal Numbers were introduced as a requirement for Full Truck Load (FTL) shipments in Q2 2023, but are now being more and more enforced.
Let's break their email down.
Main headline: Tags need to be RFID enabled, not just wire crimped.
Beginning September 1, 2024, Amazon will enforce new requirements for full truckload (FTL) and intermodal shipments. These shipments must be sealed with radio-frequency identification (RFID) seals that comply with ISO 17712 standards and are approved by Amazon. The RFID seals must be applied at the point of pickup. For less than truckload (LTL) and small-parcel carriers, seals must be applied at the carrier consolidation terminal before arriving at an Amazon facility.
If you're new to RFID Tag Seals, you can see an example here (we are not making any money from any purchases you make, it's just for an example)
Prior to this new requirement, FTL or intermodal shipments under Amazon's Collect program were only required to have an ISO-17712-compliant metal, plastic, or wire seal applied before leaving the shipping facility. This policy change emphasizes the importance of using RFID seals for better tracking and security. Vendors were already informed of this seal policy in the spring of 2023, and it has been mandatory for FTL and intermodal Collect shipments since then.
To comply with these requirements, vendors should ensure that the trailer’s door is secured with an ISO-17712-compliant, Amazon-approved RFID seal before the shipment leaves the facility. Additionally, the seal number must be printed or noted on the bill of lading and included in the advance shipment notification sent through EDI 856 or Vendor Central.
Importance of Seal Numbers
Seal numbers play a crucial role in maintaining the security and integrity of shipments. The use of RFID seals ensures that shipments are tamper-evident and can be tracked more efficiently through the supply chain. This added layer of security is especially important for high-value goods, as it helps prevent theft and unauthorized access during transit. By requiring RFID seals, Amazon enhances its ability to monitor shipments in real-time and detect any discrepancies that might occur before the shipment reaches its destination.
Seal numbers must be accurately recorded and communicated through the proper channels to maintain the shipment’s security and integrity. This includes listing the seal number on the bill of lading and including it in the advance shipment notification. Proper documentation of seal numbers allows Amazon and its vendors to track shipments effectively and provides a reliable means of verifying that a shipment has not been tampered with during transit.
What this means in practice:
Firstly, you may need to buy new RFID tags to have when booking out FTL shipments. When booking out a FTL shipment you will need to seal the truck, and crimp the seal closed. Note the Seal number and make sure the dispatch team add this into the shipment information before you send the ASN. Failure to do this might result in any losses being harder to pin down and more difficult to prove that theft did not occur. The introduction of RFID seals is a step towards enhancing shipment security and monitoring, ensuring the integrity of goods during transit.
KhooCommerce is a all-in-one system to manage your shipment process to Amazon Vendor
The whole PO journey involves lots of steps; confirmation, routing, response, ASN, labels, pallet labels, seal numbers and invoices. We help you manage that entire process from start to finish.
An example BOL document below produced by KhooCommerce lists the Seal Number here.
