Evaluate marine and road frequency, intermodal transfer capability, container handling and RORO equipment, cold‑chain controls, and carrier reliability. Review SLA terms for weather delays, access to freight forwarding and customs support, inventory visibility (WMS/portal), and surge capacity for seasonal peaks.

Lower sailing and trucking frequency increases reliance on consolidation and inventory staging, which raises inventory carrying costs but can reduce per‑unit freight. Strong multimodal handoffs and scheduled feeder services minimize dwell time; absent those, plan for buffer stock and higher expedited freight exposure.

Prioritize WMS integration, temperature control, container marshaling and transload space, pick‑pack throughput, reverse logistics capacity, and documented contingency plans. Providers should demonstrate staffing flexibility for seasonal peaks and the ability to manage small‑parcel and palletized dispatch into remote networks.

Negotiate seasonal rate schedules, guaranteed capacity blocks, and lead times for labor augmentation. Agree on inventory prepositioning windows, detention and demurrage terms, and service credits for missed SLAs. Build forecasting cadence and collaborative planning into contracts to limit spot‑rate exposure.