Prioritize highway proximity, transit times to major customer zones, carrier presence (regional LTL, parcel, and dedicated fleets), dock capacity, and intermodal/port drive times. Also evaluate cross‑dock capability, transload services, and peak handling capacity to ensure reliable throughput during seasonal surges.

Compare fully loaded cost models (storage, pick/pack, receiving, returns, and accessorials), minimums, and billing cadence. Match SLA guarantees for OTIF and inventory accuracy, review tech integrations (WMS/TMS/API), and assess VAS like kitting, temperature control, and reverse logistics to quantify total cost to serve.

Use a market‑tiered network: place nodes near major highways and population clusters, combine a central hub for bulk inventory with regional sortation sites for last‑mile efficiency, and leverage zone skipping from port-accessible facilities to cut parcel costs and transit time.

Track inventory accuracy, order cycle time, OTIF, dock‑to‑stock timing, and claim rates. Require near‑real‑time inventory APIs or EDI, ASN and PO workflows, daily reporting, and collaborative incident management to maintain service levels and rapid exception resolution.