Assess road connectivity to the Great Northern Highway, availability of scheduled freight services, local aerodrome capabilities for urgent shipments, and the 3PL’s partnerships with national carriers and regional last-mile providers. Also verify consolidation frequency and intermodal transfer options to control lead times and costs.

Regional storage rents and utility costs are typically lower, but labor pools can be limited and seasonal. Evaluate a provider’s workforce stability, labor training, automation level, and total landed cost (rent plus transport and handling) rather than headline rates alone.

Prioritize real-time inventory visibility (WMS integration), reliable pick-and-pack accuracy, returns processing, kitting, temperature control if required, and clearly defined SLAs for order cycle times given longer regional transit windows.

Use the 3PL for regional consolidation, cross-docking to minimize dwell times, strategic safety stock placement, and coordination with scheduled carrier services to reduce per-shipment costs. Ensure the 3PL can handle oversized and project freight common to mining and industrial customers.