Prioritize carrier connectivity (parcel/LTL), warehousing types (ambient vs cold), throughput capacity, peak-season labor plans, technology integration (WMS and EDI/API), SLA guarantees, and proximity to key customer clusters to minimize transit time and costs.

Location influences lane distance, fuel and driver time, and carrier scheduling. Rhinelander typically offers shorter transit to Upper Midwest and Great Lakes endpoints, which can lower LTL and parcel premiums and tighten delivery windows—especially for next-day and two-day regional service.

Verify cold-chain capacity and temperature monitoring, pallet racking and slotting flexibility, cross-dock areas, dedicated receiving bays, and documented contingency plans for peak volumes or equipment failure. Review historical uptime and performance KPIs.

Focus on order accuracy rate, on-time shipment percentage, inventory turnover, average dwell time, receiving-to-available hours, cost per pick/ship, chargeback policies, and detailed rate transparency for storage, handling, and accessorials.