Third-party logistics providers (3PLs) are the key to running a successful supply chain. Their industry partnerships and expertise allow them to handle far more than simple shipping services.
From strategy to end-to-end fulfillment and more, here are five invaluable services that 3PLs provide to shippers:
#1: LTL shipping
3PL’s form and cultivate relationships with many LTL carriers. They can leverage their overall volumes with these partner carriers to provide pricing that is better than a shipper may be able to get when working direct with carriers.
Your 3PL partner will know which carrier to utilize in order to get the desired results you are looking for. Whether you need a regional or national carrier, your 3PL can make recommendations on which provider performs the best or is the most cost effective.
3PL’s can also measure and manage the LTL partner’s performance and work with the providers to improve delivery services. By measuring performance, a 3PL can determine if a carrier should be avoided until their performance and safety numbers increase.
#2: Domestic and international logistics
Whether freight is full truckload or LTL, domestic or international, expedited or parcel, your 3PL partner will handle the logistics, allowing company to focus more on building their business and servicing their customers.
With coast-to-coast delivery, 3PLs will ship freight to every major market across the nation. And with international freight forwarding services, there is no place on the planet that is out of reach.
#3: Warehousing
Simply owning a warehouse means diverting a lot of resources to management, not to mention everything else that goes into the fulfillment process, including:
- Picking
- Packing
- Kitting
- Assembly
3PLs manage secure warehouses that store and ship freight 24×7. They can manage the storage and logistics using their resources and connections.
#4: Project management
From trade show distribution to new store openings, 3PLs can take on any special project and create a custom solution based on a company’s needs. Each project is met with a custom blueprint and strategy that ensures success.
#5: Shipping strategy
Not only do 3PLs handle the implementation of logistics, they also specialize in shipping strategy and planning. A good 3PL will help you revamp your shipping strategy to better service your customers, reduce your costs and move your freight in safer, faster and more efficient ways.
Find the right partner
The services King Solutions provide may be similar to other 3PLs, but the customer service we provide is not. We work closely with our clients to fundamentally transform their logistics strategy into a system that works for their business.
To learn more about how we care for our customers, contact our team today.
Joel Rice