Prioritize site proximity to major border crossings and primary road corridors, demonstrated carrier integrations (road and regional rail feeders), available bonded or customs‑adjacent capacity, scalable labor and yard resources, and transparent cost‑to‑serve metrics. Confirm SLA performance, inventory visibility (WMS/EDI), and peak‑season handling capability.

Dornod can offer shorter cross‑border transit for northeastern routes and reduced staging time for shipments to Russia and northern China while potentially increasing domestic line‑haul to southern hubs. Evaluate carrier frequency, scheduled feeder departures, and last‑mile partner density to quantify transit trade‑offs for your lanes.

Key cost drivers: land and labor rates, yard and drayage access, bond/customs fees, inventory holding days, and outbound parcel/line‑haul rates. To optimize, negotiate density‑based pricing, consolidate inbound shipments, use bonded staging, and require transparent activity‑based billing and monthly cost reports.

Confirm WMS functionality (lot/serial, cycle count, reporting), real‑time tracking and EDI/API connectivity, documented customs compliance procedures, temperature control where required, staff training records, insurance limits, and contingency plans for seasonal or cross‑border disruptions.