Prioritize multimodal links (road and rail), proximity to border crossings, local carrier density, transit time reliability, and bonded facility availability. Confirm customs brokerage experience, average dwell times, and redundancy of lanes to manage disruptions and optimize delivery windows.

Model total landed cost including storage, handling, pick-and-pack, value-added services, and transport to major destinations. Factor in labor productivity rates, occupancy vs throughput pricing, seasonal labor surcharges, and the cost of service failures (stockouts, expedited freight).

Require real-time inventory visibility, WMS with API/EDI connectivity, scalable pick-pack operations, returns and reverse-logistics handling, SLA-backed transit times, and temperature-controlled options if applicable. Integration ease with your OMS and carrier systems is critical for automation.

Run a staged pilot with representative SKUs, measure on-time fulfillment, order accuracy, average pick-to-ship time, customs clearance times, and claims rates. Include site visits, SLA negotiation, contingency planning, and a 60–90 day pilot to validate ramp and peak responsiveness.