Evaluate port and feeder access, bonded/free-zone capability, multimodal road connectivity, dock capacity and racking, cold-storage if needed, local labor availability, and WMS/API integration. Prioritize 3PLs that provide visibility, measurable SLAs, and scalable footprint to handle seasonal volume shifts and cross-border flows.

Bonded and free-zone facilities can defer duties, enable consolidation of inbound shipments, and reduce customs touchpoints. This improves cashflow and can shorten clearance times, but requires aligning inventory ownership rules and timing to duty payments; assess 3PL processes for declarations, consolidation, and inventory segregation.

Expect a mix of short-sea feeder services and regional trucking. Domestic transit to major DR hubs is typically driven by road connectivity and highway frequency; cross-border deliveries to Haiti depend on border crossing times and last-mile networks. Confirm carrier schedules, cutoffs, and contingency routing with prospective 3PLs.

Require documented KPIs for order accuracy, on-time dispatch, dock-to-stock time, inventory accuracy, and pick/pack throughput. Include SLA terms for system uptime, reporting cadence, average lead times, claims handling, and minimum notice for capacity changes to ensure predictable omnichannel performance.