Prioritize transit-time studies, inventory accuracy, picking performance (orders per hour), warehouse slotting flexibility, temperature-control capability if needed, IT integration (WMS/API), labor scalability, and demonstrated carrier relationships for inland and coastal movement.

A local 3PL can lower last-mile and regional transport costs through zone-skipping, consolidated cross-dock flows, negotiated regional carrier rates, optimized pallet and cube utilization, and inventory placement that shortens route distances to primary customer clusters.

Confirm certified cold-chain storage, temperature monitoring and reporting, documented SOPs for handling regulated SKUs, traceability in the WMS, staff training records, and procedures for quarantine, returns, and product recalls to ensure regulatory compliance.

Look for real-time WMS APIs or EDI, order and inventory synchronization, barcode/RFID support, customizable pick/pack workflows, returns management, and reporting dashboards that provide SLA, inventory, and transit visibility for omnichannel channels.

Evaluate land and labor rates, inbound carrier frequency, average transit times to your major customer clusters, storage density and racking options, utility and permit costs, and any incentives that reduce total landed cost while preserving service requirements.