Evaluate dock density, receiving slots per hour, cross-dock capability, WMS/API integrations, slotting and picking methods, cost-per-pick, SLA reporting, capacity for promotional surges, and contingency plans for hurricane season. Confirm carrier contracts and visibility for parcel and LTL lanes to ensure consistent lead times.

Direct port access reduces drayage and inbound handling, lowering landed cost. Proximity to parcel and LTL hubs shortens transit days to key Texas and Gulf markets. Combined, these reduce inventory days and enable faster replenishment cycles; model lanes to quantify savings versus inland alternatives.

Prioritize facilities with flexible storage (bulk and racked), multi-temperature zones, high-throughput packing lines, returns processing, integrated WMS/OMS connectivity, and scalable labor pools. Verify SLAs for same-day or next-day fulfillment and the 3PL’s ability to scale during peak seasons.

Assess hurricane and storm risk mitigation (elevated racking, insured staging sites), backup power and IT redundancy, alternative routing options, and documented disaster recovery procedures. Confirm the 3PL’s historical uptime, insurance limits, and contract flexibility for emergency relocations or surge capacity.