Evaluate transit-time improvements, carrier density, and lanes served; verify WMS and OMS integrations for real-time inventory; confirm throughput capacity, dock and racking infrastructure, and seasonal labor plans; review SLAs for order accuracy, pick-and-pack times, and returns processing.

Central placement on I‑80/I‑380 shortens average miles to major population centers, enabling lower LTL rates, more direct TL lanes, and better zone-skipping economics. Proximity to intermodal facilities and regional carriers supports consolidations that reduce overall freight spend and improve delivery consistency.

Require a modern WMS with API connectivity, support for batch and wave picking, and real-time inventory. Ask for scalable labor and automation (conveyors, sortation, basic AS/RS where applicable) and documented reverse logistics workflows:

Request detailed rate cards that separate storage (per pallet/sq ft), pick-and-pack fees, receiving charges, returns handling, and accessorials. Compare volume tiers, minimums, billing cadence, and freight pass-through practices; model total landed cost per SKU across projected order profiles to reveal true cost differences.