Assess multimodal transfer experience, customs brokerage partnerships, bonded storage availability, and documented export SLAs. Verify carrier lanes into Brazil and Atlantic ports, WMS integration, cargo security, and historic transit-time performance for your primary SKU profiles.

Prioritize dock capacity and yard space for inbound consolidation, bonded and customs-compliant zones, temperature control where required, carrier-grade security, real-time WMS/WCS integrations, and clear SOPs for returns and peak-season scalability.

Multimodal routing (river plus road) can lower long-haul rates but adds planning complexity — consolidation windows and feeder schedules determine lead times. Carrier density into Brazil and regional hubs influences parcel rates, last-mile choices, and the ability to meet two- to five-day delivery promises.

Key drivers are storage density, pick-and-pack labor, inbound receiving, value-add services, minimums, and seasonality. Negotiate volume tiers, multi-year rates, flexible minimums, SLAs with financial remedies, and shared savings for route consolidation to lower unit costs.