Prioritize highway and rail accessibility, carrier-neutral loading bays, bonded or temperature-controlled storage if needed, and proximity to major regional markets. Also evaluate on-site cross-dock capabilities, pallet capacity, and integration options (EDI/API) so the 3PL can plug into your order management and carrier-routing workflows.

Key drivers are land and labor rates, cube utilization, racking density, and handling complexity (kitting, value-adds). Lower regional rents often reduce fixed warehousing costs, but pick density, inventory velocity, and required value-added services will be the primary determinants of per-unit pricing.

Track order lead time, on-time delivery rate, pick accuracy, inventory accuracy, dock-to-stock cycle time, and cost-per-order. Monitor carrier performance and freight spend by lane to identify routing or consolidation opportunities that lower landed costs and improve predictability.

Evaluate available warehouse footprint for short-term expansion, temporary racking and staging capabilities, and local labor pool flexibility. Confirm the 3PL’s temp staffing model, training processes, and warehouse management system support for surges to maintain pick accuracy and throughput during peaks.