Look for combined road and rail connectivity, bonded warehousing, and documented carrier partnerships into Romania and EU markets. Require customs brokerage, real‑time TMS/WMS integrations, SLA definitions for transit and handling, and contingency plans for seasonal peaks to ensure predictable cross‑border performance.

Compare unit costs (pick/pack, storage, inbound handling), accessorial fees, minimums, and billing cadence. Model landed cost including carrier rates and customs duties. Assess SLA penalties, value‑added service fees, and scalability options to avoid hidden costs as volume grows.

Prioritize inventory accuracy, order cycle time, on‑time delivery, and return processing time. Ensure the 3PL supports API or EDI connectivity to your ERP, real‑time inventory feeds, barcode/RFID operations, and reporting dashboards for actionable supply‑chain visibility.

Verify the 3PL’s customs brokerage licensing, experience with HS classification and duty optimization, bonded storage options, and proven export documentation workflows. Confirm they can manage transit declarations and provide audit trails for compliance and duty recovery programs.