Prioritize multimodal access (port, road, air), service levels for parcel and LTL, inventory visibility (WMS integration), scalable racked and bulk space, and experience with customs/bonded operations. Evaluate SLA metrics, lead times to your customer base, and carrier partnerships to control freight spend and delivery reliability.

Positioning stock in the region shortens road-haul to southern Mexican markets and Guatemala, reducing last-mile and cross-border transit times. It can lower TL/LTL costs for nearby lanes and enable consolidation at Puerto Chiapas for ocean export, improving total landed cost for regional distribution.

Seek providers with temperature-controlled storage, traceability via WMS, bonded warehouse options, and experience with phytosanitary/export documentation. Confirm temperature monitoring, contingency power, and accelerated handling for export pickup windows to protect shelf life and compliance.

Assess the 3PL's relationships with national parcel and LTL carriers, customs brokers, and cross-border freight forwarders. Verify transit reliability on key corridors, documentation accuracy, duties management, and the partner's ability to execute scheduled daily departures for time-sensitive B2B deliveries.