Prioritize carrier density and highway access for transit time, facility types (ambient/cold/bonded), labor availability, and SLA-driven KPIs such as order accuracy and dock-to-stock time. Also compare cost-per-order, minimums, and scalability for peak seasons to assess total operational impact.

Closer proximity to major corridors and a dense last-mile carrier network reduces transit zones, lowers LTL rates, and improves delivery windows. Those factors directly reduce landed cost and returns latency, especially for high-SKU eCommerce assortments or time-sensitive B2B deliveries.

Look for inventory visibility (real-time WMS), efficient pick/pack for small orders, cross-docking for fast replenishment, cold-chain if needed, returns processing, and integration with marketplaces and ERP systems to maintain consistent customer SLAs.

Request item-level cost modeling that includes inbound freight, receiving, storage, pick/pack labor, packaging, outbound transportation by zone, and returns handling. Compare cost-per-order scenarios at your typical and peak volumes to understand breakpoints and surcharge exposure.

Require API or EDI connectivity for order and inventory sync, daily inventory feeds, exception alerts, and dashboarded KPIs (order accuracy, OTIF, dock-to-stock). Clear SLAs and regular operational reports enable continuous improvement and quicker issue resolution.