Expect lower occupancy and labor rates, shorter transit times to northern customers, and reduced congestion-related variability. You may trade immediate port proximity for lower landed-storage costs and better access to regional carriers. Evaluate SLAs, inbound consolidation options, and WMS integration to quantify total cost-to-serve.

Assess roadway and rail connectivity, frequency of line-haul services to major hubs, and last-mile carrier density for your target markets. Model transit-time impact on inventory levels and safety stock, compare per-pallet handling and storage fees, and factor in fuel and drayage to derive true landed cost.

Request demonstrated capacity for temporary volume spikes, scalable labor agreements, documented returns workflows, and validated temperature-controlled zones with monitoring. Confirm WMS visibility, API connectivity for order routing, documented KPIs for pick accuracy and lead times, plus contingency plans for carrier disruptions.