3PL Benchmark

For years, private equity operating partners have approached logistics diligence with the same tradeoff: move fast with directional estimates, or slow down for operational precision. Most choose speed. And understandably so. In a competitive deal environment, operating teams need quick answers to questions like: Is this company overpaying for warehousing? Are fulfillment costs in line with market? Is the current 3PL footprint scalable? How much margin improvement is realistic

For decades, warehouse pricing has operated behind closed doors. A shipper needing fulfillment or storage support would send out an RFP, wait days or weeks for responses, compare inconsistent spreadsheets, negotiate line by line, and still wonder whether the rates were actually competitive. Meanwhile, nearly every other industry has evolved toward instant pricing transparency. You can compare airline tickets in seconds.Book freight digitally.Price insurance online.Even commer

Most shippers track freight and labor—but overlook one of the most quietly expensive line items: pallets. Here’s how hidden pallet costs add up faster than you think.