Assess bonded warehousing and customs brokerage capabilities, transit-time reliability to key U.S. markets, temperature-controlled storage if required, integration with carrier APIs for cross-border lanes, and experience handling NAFTA/USMCA documentation. Prioritize 3PLs with validated SOPs for inspections and rapid release to minimize dwell.

Expect lower land and handling rates but factor in border-specific fees, customs brokerage, and potential dwell charges. Savings on ocean and overland transport from Mexican suppliers can offset cross-border costs. Model total landed cost including duty, trucking, and potential bonded storage to compare accurately.

Key metrics: direct highway connectivity (I-19/I-10 pre-connections), rail interchange availability, hours-of-operation at the port of entry, carrier lane density to major metro hubs, and SLA performance for customs release. Also review carrier partnerships for LTL, TL, and parcel final-mile integration.

Require bonded/FTZ handling, temperature control where applicable, documented chain-of-custody, ISO or comparable quality certifications, hazardous-material handling if needed, and robust EDI/API integrations for ASN and invoice reconciliation. Verify customs brokerage experience with USMCA filings.

Measure reduced transit days to target regions, lower transportation costs for Mexico-origin shipments, inventory turnover improvement, and decreased stockout rates. Track landed cost per SKU, return-processing efficiency, and service-level impact on delivery promise times to quantify ROI.