Focus on transit-time impact to primary customer zones, carrier lane coverage (parcel, regional LTL, TL), inventory accuracy and visibility, service-level agreements and penalties, labor scalability and automation options, and transparent cost-per-order modeling. Prioritize providers with documented on-time metrics and clear surge staffing plans.

Prioritize dock-high doors and trailer parking capacity, yard depth, pallet racking and mezzanine options, proximity to LTL consolidation hubs or transload points, and documented carrier pickup frequencies and cutoffs. Verify handling equipment (forklifts, dock levelers) and any rail/transload capabilities relevant to your inbound flows.

Yes, provided inventory is zoned and carrier commitments align with demand pockets. Expect trade-offs between slightly longer transit to some coastal markets versus lower storage and handling costs. Confirm cutoff times, expedited lane availability, reverse-logistics workflows, and SLA penalties before committing to next-day promises.

Lower facility rents and operating costs typically improve per-unit storage economics, but ROI depends on total landed cost including transit and freight premium for longer lanes. Model labor seasonality, equipment and racking investments, and potential carrier surcharges to compare net operating margin and service impact versus coastal alternatives.