Evaluate carrier density and transit lanes, dock and staging capacity, WMS integration, SLA enforcement, scalability of labor and racking, temperature-controlled capabilities if required, and transparent cost models (storage, handling, transport). Confirm peak-season staffing plans and KPIs for on-time and error rates before contracting.

Transit times often improve for western coastal and nearby regional deliveries, reducing zone-based parcel costs and enabling zone-skipping strategies. Urban-centric deliveries may see modest increases depending on origin-destination pairs; use freight modeling to compare parcel zones, linehaul rates, and inventory days to quantify total landed cost impact.

Require proven pick-and-pack throughput, flexible labor pools, WMS with marketplace and carrier integrations, returns-processing workflows, kitting and rework capacity, and temperature-controlled storage if handling food or regulated goods. Also verify visibility tools and reporting for exceptions and inventory accuracy.

Build a comparative model that includes inbound and outbound freight, parcel zone rates, storage and handling per-pallet/per-SKU, labor rates, inventory carrying days, and service-level penalties. Scenario-test seasonal peaks, returns volume, and multi-node distribution to understand break-even points and service trade-offs.