Evaluate carrier lane density, proximity to major highways or intermodal terminals, dock-door and cross-dock capacity, available labor pools and racking footprint. Verify WMS capabilities, SLA history, returns processing and the 3PL's experience with similar SKU velocity and seasonal variability.

Pricing often combines per-pallet or per-bin monthly storage fees, pick-and-pack or per-order handling charges, receiving and put-away fees, plus separate rates for kitting, quality inspection and returns. Expect minimums, volume tiers and separate billing for special equipment or inventory reconciliation.

Require order-to-ship windows (same-day, next-day), on-time pick-and-ship SLAs, order accuracy %, inventory accuracy targets, average dock turnaround times and defined escalation paths for exceptions. Include penalties or remediation steps for repeated SLA misses.

Request carrier lane maps, a list of contracted carriers, photos or layouts of dock and cross-dock areas, WMS feature lists and API/EDI integration demos. Ask for reference customers, proof of successful integrations and a test shipment or pilot period to validate connectivity and processes.

Onboarding typically ranges 45–90 days depending on systems integration and complexity. Key steps: data mapping and cutover planning, WMS/API integration, facility setup and racking, staff training, test shipments and parallel operations. Build contingency time for inventory reconciliation and peak-season readiness.