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How to actually pick a 3PL: the 12-question scorecard
Twelve real questions to ask any 3PL on the first call. Scored answers, red flags, contract terms to negotiate.
The 12 questions
- Show me your SLA-miss numbers for the last 90 days
- Walk me through how you rate-shop carriers
- Send me a full glossary of every billable line item
- What's the cycle-count cadence and the inventory variance threshold?
- Who is my account manager and what's the SLA on email?
- How do you handle peak rate increases in November/December?
- What's the data export format and frequency?
- What's the integration list and update cadence?
- What's the returns flow and the turnaround SLA?
- What's the kitting capability and cost?
- What carriers do you ship with — and do you own those rates?
- What's the contract length and termination clause?
How to score
A 3PL that answers all 12 with specifics, in writing, within 48 hours, is the kind of 3PL that runs a tight ship. A 3PL that asks 'why are you asking that?' on any of them is the kind that's hiding something.
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