Prioritize road access (proximity to N4 and primary regional routes), dock and yard capacity for high-turn trailers, and documented carrier relationships for local and long-haul lanes. Evaluate declared transit times to Gauteng, cross-dock capabilities, and the 3PL’s use of TMS/WMS for carrier orchestration and shipment visibility.

Industrial rents and certain labour costs in Brits are generally lower than inner-Gauteng locations, which can reduce fixed warehousing spend. Negotiate cost-to-serve clauses, minimum throughput commitments, and review handling tariffs, fuel surcharges, and accessorials to align pricing with expected volumes and service levels.

Look for configurable pick-pack operations, batch and single-order processing, real-time inventory sync (WMS integrations), returns handling, and scalable labor plans. Confirm SLA metrics (order cut-off, same/next-day options), accuracy rates, and contingency plans for peak season surges and equipment failures.

Assess road corridors to Gauteng and northern provinces, transit to key border posts and customs processing times, and the 3PL’s experience with cross-border documentation and bonded solutions. Consider export routing to ports or neighboring countries and verify lead-time variability for international lanes.