This document outlines the "Carrier Appointment Request Portal," a web-based system developed by Amazon.com to streamline the process of scheduling freight deliveries to Amazon Fulfillment Centers (FCs). The portal serves as a central hub for carriers engaged by Amazon vendors, aiming to reduce manual efforts and standardize appointment scheduling across all Amazon FCs.
Function Description:
The Carrier Appointment Request Portal's primary function is to enable carriers to request and manage appointments for delivering freight to Amazon Fulfillment Centers. It replaces a previous manual process involving email-based appointment requests and responses. The portal facilitates a systematic approach to scheduling, providing carriers with a fixed turnaround time for appointment confirmation.
Key functions of the portal include:
- Account Request and Management: Carriers can request new accounts by providing their email address, Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC), username, phone number, and password. Amazon Transportation authorizes these accounts after verification with the terminal. Once logged in, carriers can access the portal's features.
- Appointment Submission: Carriers can submit new appointment requests by providing detailed information about the freight. This includes:
- PRO Number: A mandatory, single-value field for the shipment's PRO number, which cannot contain spaces and must not exceed 30 characters.
- BOL Number: An optional, single-value field for the Bill of Lading number. If provided, it must not contain spaces and cannot exceed 30 characters.
- PO Number (PO List): A mandatory, multi-value field for all Purchase Order numbers associated with the shipment. Values can be separated by spaces or commas, with at least one value required. Each PO ID must be valid, known to Amazon TRAN systems, have a destination FC matching the CARP form, and not be "closed."
- Freight Details: This encompasses various fields describing the freight:
- Standard Carrier Alpha Code: Automatically populated based on the carrier's login.
- Appointment Requester: Displays the user's name and email.
- Destination FC: The specific Amazon Fulfillment Center for delivery.
- Freight Type: Such as "TL (Truck Load)."
- Load Type: For example, "Palletized" or "Non-Palletized."
- Clamp Truck: Indicates if a clamp truck is required (e.g., "Clampable" or "Non-Clampable").
- Trailer #: An optional, single-value field for the trailer number. If provided, it must consist of at least one non-whitespace character and can contain one or more spaces.
- Carrier Requested Delivery Date: The desired date and time for delivery.
- ARN (Amazon Reference Number): An optional, single-value field. If provided, it must be a valid ARN known to Amazon TRAN systems.
- Pallet Count: An optional, single-value field for the number of pallets. If provided, it must be a non-negative number. If "Palletized" is selected as the "Load Type," then at least one pallet must be specified.
- Carton Count: A mandatory, single-value field for the number of cartons, which must be 1 or greater.
- Unit Count: An optional, single-value field for the number of units. If provided, it must be a non-negative number.
- Appointment Confirmation: After submission, the portal provides a confirmation screen for carriers to review the entered data before finalizing the request. Once confirmed, the request is forwarded to the destination FC's dock clerk for resolution.
- Appointment Status Tracking: Carriers can check the status of their submitted appointments within the portal. The status will initially be "Pending confirmation" and will change to "Confirmed" once the fulfillment center grants an appointment.
- Past Appointment Search: The portal allows carriers to search and review past appointment requests, providing visibility into their historical delivery schedules.
- Error Management: The system provides immediate error messages if the data provided during appointment submission fails validation (e.g., an invalid PO number). This helps carriers correct information promptly.
- Email Notifications: Carriers receive an email acknowledgment immediately upon submitting a request. Once the appointment is confirmed by the FC, a confirmation email with full appointment details (including arrival/departure dates, door number, and shipment specifics) is sent. In case of rescheduling, a separate email notification is sent.
Important Technical Specifications:
The portal is a web-based application accessible via a standard web browser (e.g., Mozilla Firefox, as shown in the screenshots). It operates on the Amazon.com domain, specifically through URLs like transportation.amazon.com. The system handles user authentication, data input validation, and communication with Amazon's internal transportation and fulfillment systems.
Usage Features:
- Intuitive Interface: The screenshots suggest a straightforward user interface with clear fields for data entry and navigation options like "Submit Request," "Search Past Appointment," "Home," and "Sign Out."
- Standardized Process: The portal enforces a standardized process for all carriers scheduling appointments, ensuring consistency and efficiency across Amazon FCs.
- Reduced Manual Effort: By automating the appointment request and confirmation process, the portal significantly reduces the need for manual email exchanges and data entry.
- Real-time Feedback: Carriers receive immediate feedback on data validation errors and can track the status of their appointments in near real-time.
- Comprehensive Information Capture: The portal ensures that all necessary details for freight delivery are captured, minimizing potential issues at the FC.
- Support Mechanism: Carriers can contact
carp-support@amazon.com for any queries or issues related to using the portal or concerns about appointments.
Maintenance Features:
While the document doesn't explicitly detail maintenance features for carriers, it implies that Amazon Transportation manages the backend system. For carriers, the "Dos and Don'ts" section provides guidelines that contribute to the smooth operation of the system and minimize issues:
- Data Accuracy: Carriers are advised to provide all POs, correct PRO and BOL numbers, and verify PO numbers with vendors if the portal indicates an invalid entry. This ensures data integrity, which is crucial for system maintenance and accurate scheduling.
- Unique Requests: Carriers should avoid requesting appointments for the same freight via both email and the portal to prevent duplicate entries and system conflicts.
- Proper Freight Segregation: Instructions to avoid mixing Amazon POs with non-Amazon POs in the same PRO help maintain data cleanliness and prevent processing errors.
- Security: Not sharing user IDs or passwords is a fundamental security practice that protects the system from unauthorized access and potential data manipulation.
- Communication Protocol: Directing specific queries to
carp-support@amazon.com and contacting the fulfillment center for exceptions ensures that issues are routed correctly, aiding in efficient problem resolution and system support.
The Carrier Appointment Request Portal is a critical tool for Amazon's supply chain, designed to enhance efficiency, reduce lead times for appointment scheduling, and provide a transparent, standardized platform for carriers.
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