Prioritize proximity to ports and intermodal links, dock door density, labor availability and cost, racking and automation capability, and carrier hub access. Also require transparent cost-to-serve models, API integration for order and inventory sync, and SLAs for OTIF and inventory accuracy to validate operational fit.

Layout and dock configuration determine handling efficiency: high dock density and cross-dock lanes reduce dwell and turnaround times, optimized slotting and pick zones lower pick cost, and climate-controlled or automated systems enable higher throughput and lower error rates—directly impacting unit cost and delivery speed.

Assess the 3PL’s connections to national parcel hubs, regional LTL lanes, and freight forwarders; availability of zone-skipping and pooled distribution; volume-based carrier contracts; real-time rate-shopping capability; and integration with parcel manifesting systems to control last-mile cost and transit times.

Request KPIs such as OTIF, inventory accuracy, pick and pack cycle time, order lead time, dock-to-stock time, cost per pick/ship, average inventory days, chargeback rates, and billing audit reports. Ask for sample reports and API endpoints to validate metrics against live operations.