Key evaluation points include transit time to primary customers, proximity to major highways or rail feeders, warehouse footprint and scalability, carrier lanes served, labor availability, automation level, and cost per order. Consider SLA minimums for receiving, pick/pack, and returns handling to match your service commitments and inventory turnover targets.

Request carrier lane reports, average transit times by zone, and proof of existing carrier contracts. Evaluate 3PL KPIs: on-time dispatch rate, failed delivery percentage, and average time-to-first-mile. For clarity, ask for:

• Zone-based transit maps
• Service-level scorecards

Typical models include space/rack charges, per-pick fees, order handling, inbound processing, and returns handling. Compare by modeling total cost per order including transportation to customer, pick/pack, storage by inventory days, and peak surcharges. Request sample invoices and a quarterly cost projection based on your SKU velocity.

Look for a 3PL with a modern WMS offering real-time inventory visibility, API-based OMS/WMS integration, EDI support for B2B orders, scalable barcode/RFID workflows, and reporting dashboards. Confirm availability of returns management workflows and multichannel fulfillment rules to prioritize channels and reduce stockouts.

Establish measurable SLAs for receiving accuracy, pick accuracy, order cycle time, and inventory reconciliation. Verify insurance limits, disaster recovery plans, and audited security controls. Request historical KPI reports and include performance-based clauses in contracts with remediation steps for missed targets.