Prioritize road connectivity to national trunk routes and border crossings, warehouse layout and racking for SKU density, available temperature-controlled zones, IT integrations (WMS + TMS + marketplace APIs), SLA guarantees for pick-and-pack, and workforce availability for peak seasons. Also assess customs handling and bonded storage options.

A local 3PL reduces drayage and outbound transit, enabling consolidation and fewer touches. Benefits include shorter lead times to regional customers, optimized carrier pooling, lower domestic trucking mileage, and potential duty or consolidation efficiencies via bonded facilities, all of which lower landed cost per order.

Critical services include real-time WMS inventory visibility, batch and wave picking, cross-docking, returns processing, and SLA-backed order accuracy. Integrations should cover marketplace connectors, carrier rate shopping, EDI or API order flows, and reporting for inventory velocity and cost-per-order metrics.

Compare storage (per pallet and per cubic meter), inbound receiving and putaway fees, picking and packing rates, outbound cartonization and palletization charges, monthly minimums, and transport lane costs. Include one-time onboarding, IT integration fees, inventory holding days, and potential customs or bonded fees in the total cost model.