Deliveries to Logistics Centers & Time-Slot Bookings

1. What are logistics centers?

Logistics centers (also called central warehouses or distribution centers) are used by large retail companies to consolidate incoming goods and then distribute them to individual stores.

Typical examples include:

Amazon
Rossmann
Hornbach
MediaMarkt & others
Aldi
Kaufland

In most cases, you do not deliver directly to individual stores. Instead, you first deliver to the retailer’s designated central warehouse. From there, the retailer takes over further distribution.

Because these logistics centers handle very high freight volumes, inbound deliveries are tightly controlled - usually through mandatory, pre-booked delivery time windows (time slots).

2. What is a time-slot booking?

A time-slot booking means that a fixed delivery window at the logistics center is reserved for your shipment (e.g., 10:00–11:00 a.m.).

Important:

Without a booked time slot, delivery is usually not possible.
On-site handling typically takes longer than a standard groupage delivery.
Unbooked or missed slots can lead to delays and additional charges.

Important note on time-slot bookings

We strongly recommend that you do not book the time slot yourself, but instead ask us to handle it.

Our delivering freight partner:

has a much better overview of current capacity and conditions on site,
knows the specific procedures and local requirements at each logistics center,
and often already has pre-arranged standard slots in place.

This significantly increases the likelihood of a smooth delivery.

3. Time-slot booking for groupage

3.1 If a time slot has already been booked at the logistics center

If you have already booked a time slot yourself with the logistics center, the shipment cannot be transported as groupage.

Reason: With groupage, the exact delivery time cannot be controlled precisely, since your goods travel together with many other shipments. Therefore, it cannot be guaranteed that the truck arrives within your booked window.

➡️ In this case, you must book the transport as LTL/FTL or a courier service, so that delivery to the booked slot can be ensured.

Note: LTL/FTL shipments can always be delivered to logistics hubs without any issues. This is not necessarily the case for courier runs: some sites – Amazon, for example – only allow certain vehicle types.

If a smaller shipment is booked as a courier run with a curtain-sider van, this can therefore cause problems at delivery.

We’re familiar with the on-site requirements and will flag any issues if needed. Ideally, though, the permitted vehicle types at the location should be checked at the time of booking – that way we save everyone time and effort.

What we need from you in this case

To align your courier transport correctly with the booked slot, please provide the following during booking:

Select the tool or portal through which the slot was booked (e.g., Amazon Carrier Central, Transporeon, Cargoclix, etc.).
This selection determines which fields become mandatory in the booking form.
Select the time and date of the slot
Enter the reference number of the already-booked time slot.
(Note: This is the number you receive after booking the slot—for example, at Amazon this would be the ISA number in the slot confirmation.)
If your booking tool is not listed, select “Other” and enter:
- the name of the tool/portal, and
- the corresponding reference number and, if applicable, further slot details
  (e.g., slot reference / confirmation number already received).

Only with this information can we clearly assign your shipment and ensure delivery in time for the booked slot.

3.2 If no time slot has been booked yet

If no time slot has been booked yet at the logistics center, we can handle the booking for you upon request.

You can conveniently commission the time-slot booking via our platform.
With our Groupage Premium Shipping, the time-slot booking is already included.

What we need from you for the time-slot booking

To book a slot at the logistics center, we particularly need:

the exact receiving point (logistics center / building or gate),
relevant booking references, e.g., for Amazon:

- - PO number (Purchase Order)
  - FBA reference

Process for time-slot booking in groupage:

Your goods are delivered to our delivering freight partner.
Only then do we book the time slot with the receiving logistics center.
It usually takes up to 2 business days for a free slot to be confirmed.

In groupage, we can only book time slots within our regular delivery windows.
Requested times outside those windows are not possible in this mode.

4. Time-slot booking for LTL/FTL

If you need maximum flexibility or already have a fixed slot agreed or booked with the logistics center, transport as LTL/FTL (partial or full truckload) or as a courier service is the right solution.

Compared to groupage, LTL/FTL allows the delivery time to be controlled much more precisely. Our dispatch team has greater flexibility to meet special requirements (e.g., tight delivery windows, specific pre-notifications, ramp bookings, or site-specific rules).

Even with LTL/FTL, very early or extremely tight slots cannot always be guaranteed depending on route and capacity.

If it becomes clear that a slot cannot be met, we will proactively contact you. Together we will plan a realistic alternative delivery time so your goods are delivered safely and in compliance with the rules. Our goal is always to implement your requirements as effectively as possible.

4.1 If a time slot has already been booked

If you have already booked a time slot at the logistics center yourself, we will align the transport exactly with that window.

What we need from you

Please provide the following when booking so we can plan delivery correctly:

Select the booking tool / portal through which the slot was booked
(e.g., Amazon Carrier Central, Transporeon, Cargoclix, etc.).
This selection determines which fields are mandatory in the booking form.
Select the time and date of the slot
Enter the reference number of the booked slot
(the number from your slot confirmation, e.g., Amazon ISA number).
If your tool is not listed, choose “Other” and add:
- name of the tool/portal
- reference number
- any additional slot details if applicable
  (e.g., confirmation number, time window, ramp notes).

Only with this information can we clearly assign your shipment and deliver on time for the slot.

4.2 If no time slot has been booked yet

If no time slot has been booked yet at the logistics center, we will gladly book one for you upon request. Commissioning is easy via our platform.

What we need for the time-slot booking

To book a slot, we particularly need:

the exact receiving point (logistics center / building / site),
relevant booking references, e.g., for Amazon:
- PO number (Purchase Order)
- FBA reference

Process for time-slot booking with LTL/FTL

We organize the LTL/FTL transport based on your shipment data.
The time-slot booking is carried out before pick-up, using the references you provide.
Once confirmed, pickup and delivery are scheduled exactly to that slot.

5. Packaging requirements for deliveries to logistics centers

Many logistics centers have very specific requirements for how goods must be delivered, for example:

pallet type and dimensions (e.g., Euro pallet, one-way pallet)
maximum pallet height and weight
type of packaging (cartons, wrapping, strapping, etc.)
labeling and identification of goods

Important:
Please check the specific requirements of the logistics center or retail company in advance. Repackaging goods by us is not possible. Your shipment must already be packaged correctly and in compliance with all specifications before dispatch. Failure to comply can result in significant additional costs—for example, through returns and re-delivery.