Evaluate transportation links (highways, rail, port access), proximity to customer clusters, SKU velocity and storage mix, available labor skillsets, and flexibility for seasonal scaling. Also assess 3PL systems (WMS/TMS), SLAs for pick-and-pack, returns processing, and cross-border compliance if you serve Mexico.

A local 3PL can consolidate parcel and LTL shipments, leverage regional carrier contracts to reduce rates, locate inventory closer to end customers to cut transit days, and use zone skipping or cross-dock strategies to lower per-unit freight spend.

Require documented cold-chain protocols, temperature-monitored storage and transport, validated HVAC and backup power, traceability via WMS, documented SOPs for handling deviations, and relevant certifications or audits for regulated goods.

Compare billing models (storage, receiving, handling, pick/pack), minimum volume commitments, frequency of invoicing, and accessorials. Track KPIs such as on-time shipment rate, order accuracy, inventory accuracy, dock-to-despatch time, and chargeback frequency to measure performance.