If you’re an Amazon FBA seller, you know that slow receiving times can be a nightmare — leading to stockouts, lost sales, and cash flow headaches.
So when I heard about a seller who cut their FBA receive times from 24 days down to just 4 days, I had to dig deeper.
It turns out, there are two ways to get inventory received into Amazon’s fulfillment centers (FCs):
1️. Drop Trailers
2️. Live Unloads
Understanding which one you’re using could be the key to speeding up your inventory check-in times—and keeping your products available when customers are ready to buy.
Why Fast FBA Receiving Matters
Amazon made major changes to FBA logistics in 2024, and Q4 receiving times were notoriously slow.
For sellers, long check-in delays can have serious consequences:
✅ Avoiding Stockouts – Faster receiving means fewer lost sales.
✅ Better Inventory Availability – Helps balance inventory across Amazon’s network.
✅ Lower Cost of Capital – Your money isn’t tied up in inventory sitting in a parking lot.
So how do you speed things up?
Drop Trailers vs. Live Unloads: The Two Ways Amazon Receives Inventory
I had a conversation with Kayvon from ZonPrep, and in just one image, he explained the two different methods Amazon uses to receive inventory.
1. Drop Trailers (The Slow Method)
🚛 A truck drops off the trailer at an Amazon fulfillment center (FC).
🕰️ Amazon unloads it whenever they have time—which could be days or even weeks later.
📍 Used by Amazon Freight and LTL providers because it’s more flexible on scheduling.
If you’ve ever wondered why your shipment is sitting at an FC for weeks with no movement, this is why — it’s literally just sitting in the parking lot, waiting for Amazon to unload it.
Drop trailers are unpredictable, making them risky for sellers relying on fast inventory turnover.
2. Live Unloads (The Fast Method)
🚛 A truck arrives at the FC, and Amazon unloads the inventory immediately.
⏳ Much faster, but appointment times can be harder to book.
📍 Requires a Carrier Central account to schedule live unloads.
One of Kayvon’s clients switched from drop trailers to live unloads — and their FBA receive times dropped from 24 days to just 4 days.
That’s a game-changer for sellers trying to stay in stock.
How to Check If Your Inventory Is Stuck in Drop Trailer Limbo
If your FBA inventory takes weeks to get received, it’s worth checking:
✅ Ask your 3PL or logistics team which method they’re using.
✅ Look into Carrier Central to see if live unloads are an option for your shipments.
✅ Experiment with live unloads — you could see a massive improvement in turnaround time.
Final Thoughts: Unlock Faster FBA Check-Ins
Amazon isn’t slowing down, and sellers need to optimize every part of their supply chain to stay competitive.
Switching from drop trailers to live unloads could be a huge unlock — helping you:
✔️ Stay in stock and avoid lost sales
✔️ Improve cash flow and reduce inventory delays
✔️ Get inventory available across Amazon’s network faster
📌 If you’re an FBA seller, check how your shipments are being handled — it could be the difference between 4 days or 24 days of waiting.
