Expect reduced transit times to regional markets, multimodal routing to lower freight costs, access to bonded facilities for duty optimization, and service flexibility (kitting, returns, cold chain). Evaluate WMS compatibility, throughput SLAs, peak staffing plans, and dispute resolution processes.

Strong road, rail and nearby port connectivity lowers transit variability and freight spend. Higher carrier density increases tendering options and rate competition, enabling route optimization that shortens lead times and reduces per-shipment landed costs.

Prioritize bonded storage, dedicated cold chain capacity if needed, cross-dock lanes, scalable racking, and automation readiness. Ensure native WMS features or reliable API/EDI integrations for inventory visibility, order routing, and real-time reporting.

Negotiate clear SLAs for on-time shipments, order accuracy, shrinkage, and pick/pack cycle times. Include volume-tiered pricing, peak season flex, chargeback rules, liability limits, and defined change-order processes to control cost volatility and inventory exposure.