UTL

UTL is an operational exception that indicates a mismatch between expected and physically available inventory.
It appears when Amazon systems show that an item should be present, but fulfilment centre staff or carriers cannot locate it during scanning or handling.

This exception can occur at different stages of the supply chain:

• During inbound receiving
• While stowing inventory
• During FC to FC transfers
• At outbound picking
• During customer order processing
• During LTL or TL handoff

Common causes of UTL:

• Mis-scanned or un-scanned cartons
• Incorrect SSCC or PO labelling
• Damaged or missing cartons
• Misplaced pallets in FC
• Inventory location errors in the FC system
• Lost packages in transit
• ASN mismatch between what was expected and what physically arrived

Impact on operations:

• Delays in receiving
• PQV disputes
• Inventory write offs if item cannot be found
• PO shortage chargebacks for vendors
• Customer order delays or cancellations
• Reduced Buy Box availability

Where Amazon uses UTL reporting:

• Vendor Central operational scorecards
• Receiving reports
• Fulfilment centre exception logs
• Carrier exception updates
• Internal inventory reconciliation tools

Example:
A vendor’s shipment shows 48 cartons on the ASN.
At the FC dock, staff can locate only 47 cartons.
The missing carton is flagged as UTL (Unable to Locate) while Amazon teams search the receiving area.

Why It Matters:
UTL helps Amazon quickly identify inventory discrepancies, prevent lost items from entering the supply chain unnoticed, and ensure proper reconciliation with vendors and carriers.
For vendors, reducing UTL means fewer disputes, fewer chargebacks, and smoother operational flow.

In short:
UTL (Unable to Locate) indicates that Amazon or a carrier could not find expected inventory during handling or receiving.