Prioritize location relative to major highways and customer clusters, carrier density, slotting and pick-module efficiency, IT integration (WMS/APIs), and scalable labor. Also evaluate inbound receiving throughput, cross-dock options, and landed cost models to balance inventory carrying vs. transportation spend.

Assess on-site or nearby rail and port intermodal terminals, frequency of LTL and TL carriers serving the facility, dock capacity and queueing metrics, and the 3PL’s freight contracting relationships. Ask for lane-specific transit time data and historical pickup reliability to validate network performance.

Look for racked vs. bulk storage balance, dedicated eComm pick lines, sortation systems, returns processing capability, shipping zone consolidation, and real-time WMS visibility. Also verify peak-season surge plans and the provider’s ability to run promotional or bundle fulfillment without service degradation.

Negotiate transparent billing for storage (per pallet/bin), throughput (receiving/putaway, picking, packing), outbound parcel and LTL accessorials, minimums, and surge pricing. Include KPIs for OTIF, inventory accuracy, and chargeback caps; request regular audit rights and volume-based rate tiers to align incentives.