Assess carrier access (parcel, LTL, intermodal), dock and staging capacity, racked vs ambient cube, tech compatibility (WMS/API), average pick-and-pack SLAs, labor availability and seasonal flexibility, and inbound/outbound transit times to your key customer clusters.

Warehouse proximity to ports and major highways reduces drayage and over-the-road miles, lowering landed cost and enabling faster transit. Centralized facilities with good carrier density also reduce routing complexity and support more predictable lead times for regional distribution.

Require real-time WMS connectivity, EDI/API order and inventory sync, track-and-trace, and reporting on accuracy, on-time shipments, dock-to-ship cycle, and inventory turnover. Confirm SLA definitions for order cutoff, chargebacks, and exception handling.

For seasonal eCommerce, choose a flexible, capacity-ready 3PL with scalable labor pools, temporary racking, and short-term contract terms. For stable B2B distribution, prioritize dedicated space, scheduled inbound appointmenting, and optimized pallet-level handling to reduce per-unit handling costs.