Assess proximity to major highways and intermodal nodes, average transit times to your customer base, dock and cross-dock capacity, and peak labor scalability. Require WMS/API connectivity for visibility, measure cost-to-serve per SKU, and compare committed SLAs for order lead time and accuracy.

Prioritize 3PLs with carrier-agnostic WMS, real-time inventory APIs, EDI or marketplace connectors, and reporting for on-time delivery, order accuracy, inventory turns and returns processing. Confirm cycle-count procedures and security controls for inventory integrity.

Key cost drivers include per-pallet and per-sqft storage rates, order pick/pack labor productivity, inbound/outbound accessorials, and carrier density which affects freight rates. Evaluate seasonal labor flexibility and local carrier competition to forecast scalable pricing.

Yes—many regional 3PLs offer scalable labor pools, temporary racking and overflow options, dedicated returns processing and light assembly/kitting. Validate modeled throughput for peak windows, SLA commitments for returns turn, and pricing for value-added operations.