Evaluate multimodal carrier access, dock-door and staging capacity, labor models and scalability, integration with your WMS/TMS, and SLA commitments for lead times and order accuracy. Prioritize partners with transparent reporting, contingency plans for peak demand, and demonstrated last-mile options to your primary customer zones.

Use a landed-cost model that includes occupancy, pick/pack labor, inbound/outbound transport and handling fees. Factor in labor availability and wage trends, utilities and local taxes. Compare fixed vs variable fee structures and include scenario modelling for seasonal peaks and service-level penalties to identify true total cost.

Require KPIs such as OTIF (on-time in-full), order and inventory accuracy, dock-to-stock cycle time, and returns turnaround. Insist on WMS connectivity (API/EDI), real-time scan-based visibility, exception alerts and reporting cadence that supports SLA governance and continuous improvement.