Focus on lane‑level transit time data, carrier pool depth, and zonal pricing. Request historical transit maps, average order‑to‑delivery days by region, and pickup frequency. Compare contract terms for volumetric discounts, fuel surcharges, and guaranteed SLA penalties to quantify landed cost and delivery predictability.

Prioritize WMS/OMS integration, dock and staging capacity, racking and mezzanine flexibility, climate control where needed, returns and refurbishment workflows, and availability of value‑added services (kitting, labeling). Verify peak‑season throughput and automation options aligned to SKU velocity.

Location near highways, rail spurs, and port corridors reduces drayage and transit time, lowering landed cost and improving predictability. Proximity to customs and bonded facilities speeds export/import processing. Model duty, transit, and last‑mile costs for target customers to optimize footprint.

Negotiate KPIs such as OTIF, pick accuracy, inventory accuracy, order cycle time, and return processing times. Include capacity commitments, surge pricing caps, SLA remedies, audit and data‑access rights, and integration milestones for real‑time inventory visibility and exception reporting.