Evaluate warehouse capacity and layout (racking, mezzanine), WMS capabilities (real-time inventory, APIs), order-picking technologies, returns handling, and value-added services (kitting, labeling). Assess SLA terms for accuracy, cut-off times, and scalability to match peak season surges.

Shorter trunk distances to southeastern demand centers and rail access can reduce transit days and lower LTL rates. Reliable road connectivity improves last-mile predictability and enables tighter delivery windows, which reduces expedited shipping spend and improves service consistency.

Optimize inventory density, consolidate SKUs, use multi-client storage to share overhead, negotiate variable labor pricing for peaks, and implement cross-dock or flow-through to reduce handling. Transparent billing models and KPI-linked fees help align costs with performance.

Require robust WMS with REST APIs or EDI for order and inventory synchronization, daily reporting, exception alerts, and returns workflows. Confirm support for channel-specific fulfilment rules, batch tracking, and testing windows for rate and label integrations.