Navigating the "CBT" Program: Is Your Warehouse Eligible for Free Pickups?

Stop driving to the post office. Does your warehouse qualify for TikTok’s new free 'Collections' service?

What is Collections by TikTok (CBT)?

Collections by TikTok, commonly called CBT, is a merchant pickup service launched to simplify outbound shipping for sellers who use TikTok as a sales channel. At its core it offers free, scheduled daily pickups of packaged orders from eligible warehouses or fulfillment centers so merchants don’t have to drop shipments at carrier counters. For warehouses and logistics managers, CBT can reduce last-mile overhead, eliminate daily driver trips to parcel drop-off points, and improve fulfillment throughput when available in your region.

Why CBT matters — practical benefits

• Direct cost savings: Remove driver mileage and time spent dropping parcels at post offices or parcel centers.
• Operational simplicity: Daily scheduled pickups reduce the administrative burden of arranging ad-hoc collections.
• Improved customer experience: Faster handoff to carriers can shorten delivery lead times and reduce shipment delays.
• Scalability: As order volume grows, predictable pickups support smoother warehouse workflows.

Geographic eligibility — where CBT is currently available

• Los Angeles area (current): CBT is available to warehouses and fulfillment centers within the Los Angeles metropolitan area. If your facility is located in LA County or adjacent service ZIP codes, you may qualify — check the CBT portal for exact ZIP-code coverage.
• East Coast expansion (rolling out): TikTok has announced an East Coast expansion. This means coverage will be extended incrementally to major East Coast hubs; availability will vary by city and ZIP code during rollout. TikTok typically opens registration for specific metro zones as the program expands.

How to check if your warehouse is eligible

• Log in to your TikTok Seller Center account and look for the Collections/CBT enrollment page — it usually provides a coverage checker by ZIP code.
• If you work with a third-party logistics partner (3PL) or marketplace integrator, ask them to confirm regional CBT participation for the warehouse address.
• Watch for announcements from TikTok about new city rollouts; they often publish lists of eligible ZIP codes or offer a signup waitlist for upcoming regions.

Step-by-step: How to apply for CBT

1. Confirm regional availability: Use the CBT coverage checker inside the Seller Center, or contact TikTok logistics support to confirm your facility ZIP code is included.
2. Prepare your account details: Ensure your business account is verified in Seller Center with accurate warehouse addresses, tax or business registration numbers, and a contact phone number for pickup coordination.
3. Register for Collections/CBT: On the Collections enrollment page, select your warehouse location and submit an enrollment request. Some regions may require a brief onboarding questionnaire about expected daily parcel volume and operating hours.
4. Provide required documents: Attach or upload any required documents — common items include proof of warehouse address, business registration, and a contact person authorized to approve pickups.
5. Set pickup parameters: During onboarding you will choose preferred pickup windows, minimum daily parcels (if applicable), and specify the loading area or dock the driver should use.
6. Confirm label and packaging standards: Ensure your fulfillment process applies the carrier-compliant labels and manifests CBT requires. You may need to adopt a specific shipping label template or scannable manifest format.
7. Test a pilot pickup: Many programs run an initial test pickup to validate addresses, labeling, and driver access. Use the pilot to refine staging locations and internal processes.
8. Go live and monitor: After acceptance, monitor the first several daily pickups and capture any exceptions to adjust operations.

Common onboarding requirements and documents

• Accurate warehouse address and operating hours
• Proof of business registration or tax ID
• Contact details for the pickup coordinator
• Estimated daily parcel volumes (used to schedule vehicle size and frequency)
• Acceptance of CBT’s terms of service and any liability provisions

Operational considerations and best practices

• Staging area: Designate a clearly marked staging area near the loading dock for CBT drivers. Label pallet positions to speed scanning and minimize pickup time.
• Labeling and manifests: Use the shipping label and manifest formats CBT requires so drivers can scan and accept shipments quickly. Avoid handwritten labels for bulk pallets.
• Volume planning: Know your average daily parcel count. High-volume days may require additional truck capacity or split pickups.
• WMS/TMS integration: If you use a WMS or TMS, ensure it can produce compatible manifests and communicate pickup readiness to the CBT platform or driver portal.
• Security and access: Confirm driver access rules and any gate codes or scheduling windows to prevent missed pickups.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming coverage — always verify your exact ZIP code, not just the city name.
• Incomplete account setup — missing business or contact info can delay enrollment.
• Poor labeling — incorrect or non-scannable labels cause pickup exceptions and delays.
• Unstaged shipments — parcels that aren’t consolidated or staged create longer pickup times and driver refusals.

Example: LA warehouse use case

A small fulfillment center in the Los Angeles metro that ships 200 parcels per day could enroll in CBT. By switching from daily driver drop-offs to a single scheduled CBT pickup, the warehouse could free an employee half a day of labor, reduce fuel and vehicle costs, and improve carrier handoff reliability. Onboarding requires confirming the LA ZIP code is covered, uploading business verification, and running a one-day pilot pickup to validate labels and staging.

What if you’re outside eligible regions?

If your warehouse is not in the LA or current East Coast coverage, you can:

• Join the CBT waitlist or request rollout notifications inside Seller Center.
• Talk to your 3PL or logistics partner about alternative consolidated pickup programs or carrier-negotiated pickups.
• Review carrier pickup services and local parcel consolidation providers to replicate similar savings.

Final tips



CBT can be a significant operational win where available, but it’s regionally limited. Start by checking coverage for your exact warehouse ZIP code, prepare your business documentation, and plan a short pilot to validate labeling and staging. Keep communication lines open with TikTok logistics support during rollout windows — regional expansions often happen city-by-city, so being proactive on waitlists can get your facility enabled sooner.

For the latest coverage map and enrollment portal, log in to TikTok Seller Center or contact TikTok logistics support for official ZIP-code level eligibility and application steps.