Evaluate port proximity and container handling capacity, airport freight volume, and highway access for road feeder services. Check the 3PL’s carrier contracts, frequency of departures, cross‑docking capability, and IT integrations for EDI/WMS to ensure reliable lead times and export documentation support.

Review warehouse layout, pick path efficiency, automation level, temperature control, and returns handling. Ask for KPIs: average pick time, order accuracy, cost per pick, and inventory turns. Ensure the 3PL can scale seasonal peaks and provide SLA guarantees aligned with your customer delivery promises.

Compare landed cost implications (inbound freight and duties), land and labor rates, storage density (usable cubic meters), and minimum throughput fees. Model total cost per order—including receiving, pick/pack, and outbound freight—to understand tradeoffs between location, service level, and inventory holding costs.

Require real‑time WMS access, EDI/API order and inventory syncing, standardized daily and exception reporting, and visibility into carrier tracking. Confirm the 3PL supports ASN workflows, batch processing for pallets, and customizable KPIs to meet B2B invoicing, compliance, and audit requirements.