Prioritize geography (proximity to customers and carriers), WMS/OMS integrations, SLA guarantees (order accuracy, OTD), cost components (storage, pick/pack, inbound/outbound), labor flexibility, returns processing, and the 3PL’s ability to scale capacity seasonally while maintaining KPIs.

Direct access to highways, rail spurs, and nearby air/port gateways shortens transit lanes and enables more competitive LTL and parcel routing. Strong local carrier density supports consolidation, zone-skipping, and responsive last-mile—lowering per-order cost and improving delivery windows.

Require a modern WMS with real-time inventory visibility, OMS connectivity, carrier APIs, EDI/Webhooks for order flows, automated pick/pack routing, returns management, and reporting dashboards. Integration capability with your ERP and marketplaces is critical for performance and reconciliation.

Issue a detailed RFP with normalized pick/pack scenarios, request historical SLA metrics (accuracy, OTD), run site visits and tech demos, obtain sample rate cards and surge pricing terms, check references for peak season performance, and negotiate trial periods or pilot engagements.