It’s tough to compare competitive warehouse bids. Precise warehouse rates require a more detailed analysis. Companies often cannot provide all the data requested, so 3PLs have to make assumptions in order to complete the pricing profile. Different 3PLs make different assumptions, and these differences are reflected in different rates for the same exact volume and services you need to ensure you are getting an apples- to-apples comparison.

When it comes to warehousing services, the best price doesn’t always result in the best value. Find a logistics partner you can trust that sets a high bar for quality.   

Here are some questions to ask providers when evaluating pricing:

• What time values are you using to pick and ship an average order?
• What is the travel time to pick a typical order?
• Did you account for picking multiple orders on one trip?
• How many cases per hour do you anticipate picking?
• Is every order physically checked?
• How much time have you allowed to load outbound orders
• Does your warehouse have Radio Frequency (RF) capabilities?

Warehouse costs can make up a large part of your logistics budget, so evaluating accurate and competitive warehouse pricing is critical.  To read more about the cost of warehousing, read our eBook: “Understanding Commercial Warehouse Pricing.” In it, we go into some detail on how warehousing rates are calculated and, more importantly, what you can do to impact and reduce these costs.