Audit highway access, proximity to regional rail terminals, and availability of national express carriers. Evaluate dock density, trailer parks, and local trucking capacity for peak seasons. Also confirm intermodal services linking to coastal ports and inland consolidation points to balance cost and transit time.

Lower rental and labor rates often reduce per-pick costs, but factor in productivity, training, and turnover. Assess how a 3PL prices labor (piece‑rate vs. hourly), seasonal labor plans, and automation options—these variables materially affect total landed fulfillment cost as volumes scale.

Prioritize order accuracy, inventory visibility (WMS with API connectivity), returns processing, pick/pack speed, and vendor compliance. Confirm SLA metrics for lead times, shrinkage, and on-time shipments plus contingency plans for peak events and carrier disruptions.

Look for high-clearance racking, cross-dock capabilities, bulk storage options, quality inspection, kitting/assembly, and flexible appointment scheduling. Verify security, insurance, and hazardous-material handling if applicable to the product mix.

Model transit time reductions, carrier rate changes, inventory carrying costs, and order-to-delivery improvements. Include fixed and variable warehousing costs, potential service-level improvements, and sensitivity to volume shifts to determine ROI and optimal inventory allocation.