Independent 3PL selection guidance

Build a 3PL RFP that produces comparable answers

The quality of a 3PL search depends on the quality of the operating brief. A vague RFP produces attractive promises and rate cards that cannot be compared.

Demand and inventory profile

Document historical and forecast orders, peak-day and peak-week volume, items per order, active SKU count, inventory units, pallets or bins, inbound cadence, product dimensions, shelf-life rules, lot or serial tracking, and storage conditions.

Channel and compliance requirements

List every channel the provider must support: DTC, Amazon, marketplaces, wholesale, and retail EDI. Include routing guides, labeling, ASN, carton, pallet, appointment, case-pack, and chargeback-prevention requirements for key accounts.

Technology, reporting, and controls

Specify ecommerce, ERP, EDI, marketplace, and reporting integrations. Ask how orders, inventory, exceptions, billing, user permissions, cycle counts, and service performance are monitored and reconciled.

Pricing and implementation

Require providers to use a shared pricing template and disclose assumptions, minimums, annual increases, materials markups, project work, implementation fees, termination terms, and inventory-transfer support. Set a response calendar and a consistent question process for every bidder.