By SnappyCrate | Updated August 2025
When sending inventory to Amazon FBA, you must choose between Small Parcel Delivery (SPD) or Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) freight. The right choice impacts your costs, speed, and compliance. At SnappyCrate, we help sellers make the best shipping decision every time. Here’s how to decide between SPD and LTL for your FBA shipments.
📦 What is SPD (Small Parcel Delivery)?
SPD means shipping individual boxes via parcel carriers (like UPS, FedEx, or Amazon-partnered carriers).
âś… Pros:
- Great for small shipments (less than 150 lbs total)
- Simple to set up in Seller Central
- No palletizing required
- Faster check-in for smaller loads
❌ Cons:
- Higher per-box shipping costs
- Less control over multiple-box tracking
- Prone to delays if many boxes are shipped separately
🪵 What is LTL (Less-Than-Truckload)?
LTL combines multiple pallets on a single freight truck, ideal for bulk shipments.
âś… Pros:
- Lower cost per unit for large shipments
- Safer handling (palletized freight is less likely to be damaged)
- Fewer labels and less box handling
- Streamlined check-in at Amazon
❌ Cons:
- Requires palletizing per Amazon standards
- Appointment scheduling via Carrier Central can delay delivery
- Not ideal for urgent or small shipments
🔑 When to Use SPD vs. LTL
- Use SPD if: Your shipment is under 150 lbs, has fewer than 15 boxes, or needs fast delivery.
- Use LTL if: You’re shipping bulk quantities, palletized inventory, or heavy/oversized goods.
💡 Pro Tip: Hybrid approaches can work—send some units via SPD for immediate stock and the rest via LTL to save costs.
đź“‹ Amazon Requirements for Each
- SPD: Boxes under 50 lbs each (30 lbs for select products), properly labeled.
- LTL: Standard 40×48 pallets, max 72” height, pallet labels on all four sides.
SnappyCrate ensures compliance for both methods.
🚀 How SnappyCrate Helps
Whether you choose SPD or LTL, SnappyCrate manages it all:
- Amazon-compliant labeling and prep
- Carrier booking and BOL documentation
- Pallet building and secure wrapping for LTL
- Fast turnaround for SPD shipments
âś… Final Thoughts
Choosing between SPD and LTL comes down to volume, timing, and cost efficiency. The wrong choice can waste money—or worse, delay your inventory. Let SnappyCrate’s FBA logistics experts help you pick the best option and execute flawlessly.
đź“ž Ready to streamline your Amazon FBA shipments? Send us a message
