Prioritize connectivity to major highways and intermodal links, facility layout and racking/automation capabilities, available workforce and wage rates, carrier and LTL network density, storage density and throughput capacity, plus value-added services (kitting, returns) that align to your SKU velocity and seasonality.

Pricing commonly includes per-pallet or per-cubic-foot monthly storage, per-pick and per-order handling fees, inbound receiving and putaway charges, and discrete fees for value-added services (kitting, labeling, returns). Expect accessorials, minimums, and tiered rates tied to volume and service-level commitments.

3PLs in the area leverage proximity to regional transport corridors and dense carrier lanes to provide competitive LTL and parcel consolidation, reduced drayage options to nearby ports, and shortened transit times to adjacent metropolitan markets—helping lower transit variability and improve on-time delivery rates.

Key metrics include order accuracy, on-time shipments, pick-and-pack throughput (lines per hour), inventory accuracy (cycle count variance), dock-to-stock lead time, returns processing time, and claims rate. Define measurement cadence and remediation SLAs during onboarding to align expectations.