Assess carrier density, published transit maps, and historical delivery windows to your zip-code matrix. Request zone-based transit-time reports, parcel and LTL lane pricing, and sample manifests. Validate carrier integrations and on-time performance SLAs, and require a remediation plan for consistent exceptions.

Focus on per-pallet and per-SKU storage rates, inbound receiving fees, pick-and-pack fees, labor surcharges, equipment charges, minimum monthly volumes, and transportation passthroughs. Factor in onboarding, WMS/API fees and seasonal labor premiums to model true landed cost.

Include order accuracy, inventory accuracy, average pick-to-ship time, dock-to-stock cycle time, on-time shipment rate, chargeback thresholds and resolution windows. Define penalties, performance review cadence, and escalation paths tied to measured KPIs.

Facility placement relative to dense consumer clusters reduces zone-based transit and parcel zone spreads, lowering two-day coverage costs and regional surcharges. Use multi-site footprint planning to balance inventory fragmentation against increased delivery speed and lower surcharges.

Require real-time inventory visibility (API/EDI), WMS and OMS integration, automated shipment notifications, batch-processing for high-volume peaks, and an RMA/returns portal. Confirm support for automation, multi-carrier shipping rules, and scalable staffing models for peak surges.