Evaluate road and carrier connectivity to regional hubs, on-site cold storage and temperature monitoring, segregation for perishables vs general stock, equipment for pallet handling and refrigerated transport, and WMS capabilities for batch/expiry tracking and real-time inventory visibility.

Choose 3PLs with documented customs clearance experience, established carrier relationships for regional LTL/FTL lanes, pre-clearance processes, and local freight-forwarding partnerships. These capabilities reduce paperwork delays and improve schedule reliability for cross-border B2B flows.

Look for WMS with API-based integrations to your eCommerce platform, order management for split-ship and returns processing, barcode/scan-based picking accuracy, multi-warehouse inventory allocation, and reporting for SLA and cost analytics.

Assess transparent pricing (storage, handling, pick/pack, value-added services), seasonal capacity availability, contingency plans for peak surges, options for temporary storage or distributed inventory, and SLAs tied to service levels to avoid hidden surge costs.