Prioritize on-time pickup/delivery SLA history, pick/pack accuracy, WMS/API integration for inventory visibility, average throughput and peak scalability, reverse logistics capability, and carrier relationships for regional lanes. Confirm reporting cadence and KPIs for order cycle, inventory turns, and claims handling to align with your service and margin objectives.

Multimodal options—river barge, rail interchange, and highway—allow consolidation of inbound volumes to lower unit costs and reduce reliance on long-haul truck lanes. Using barge or rail for bulk inbound and local truck for last-mile reduces landed cost, but requires coordination on drayage, cross-dock timing, and inventory buffer planning.

Verify real-time inventory APIs, order management and EDI/marketplace connections, pick-path optimization, batch processing for promotions, and returns management workflows. Ask for examples of integrations with your storefronts/carriers, uplift testing procedures, and a roadmap for system updates and support SLAs.

Lower industrial rents and consistent manufacturing labor can translate to more competitive per-pallet and per-hour rates. However, pricing still depends on slotting density, SKU mix, equipment needs (e.g., forklifts, racking), and seasonal labor surcharges. Request a cost model tied to your expected volume profile to compare true landed costs.

Ask prospective 3PLs for carrier contracts, lane coverage maps, average transit times to priority regions, and historical on-time delivery metrics. Evaluate their relationships with parcel carriers, regional LTL providers, and common carriers, plus their ability to route shipments for cost vs. speed trade-offs and handle residential and return flows efficiently.