
3PL companies can be broken down into several categories:
- Distribution-based: These 3PL companies store your products until you send them orders. ...
- Financial-based: These 3PL companies specialize in the finance side of e-commerce logistics, such as freight payment, audits, and accounting and financial management of inventory.
- Forwarder-based: These 3PL providers focus primarily on directing your stock from your warehouse to a mail carrier that handles delivery.
- Information-based: These 3PL companies are based online and focused primarily on B2B operations. They leverage electronic markets to power their logistics and transportation services.
- Transportation-based: These 3PL teams focus on transportation from factories to warehouses and then to customers.
- Standard 3PL Providers. At this level, the 3PL company provides only basic logistics. ...
- Service Developer 3PL. ...
- Customer Adapter 3PL. ...
- Customer Developer 3PL. ...
- Transportation. ...
- Warehouse/Distribution. ...
- Forwarder. ...
- Shipper/Management.
What are the different types of 3PLs?
1 Services extend beyond transportation to offer a comprehensive set of logistics offerings. 2 Leveraged 3PLs use assets of other firms. 3 Non-leveraged 3PLs use assets belonging solely to the parent firm. 4 Examples: Ryder, Schneider Logistics, FedEx Logistics, UPS Logistics
What is 3PL or third party logistics?
A 3PL or Third Party is a service that allows you to outsource operational logistics from warehousing, all the way through to delivery, and enables you to focus on other parts of your business. Third-party logistics companies provide any number of services having to do with the logistics of the supply chain.
What are the different types of third-party logistics services?
The following are the characteristics of the different types of third-party logistics services: Services extend beyond transportation to offer a comprehensive set of logistics offerings. Leveraged 3PLs use assets of other firms. Non-leveraged 3PLs use assets belonging solely to the parent firm.
What are the best 3PL companies for small businesses?
Key takeaway: C.H. Robinson, DB Schenker, Kuehne+Nagel, ShipBob and Warehouse Anywhere are some 3PL companies that can work with small and midsize businesses. Max Freedman is a content writer who has written hundreds of articles about small business strategy and operations, with a focus on finance and HR topics.

What are the 3 basic types of 3PL firms?
What are the different types of third-party logistics services?Transportation-based third-party logistics services. ... Warehouse/distribution-based third-party logistics services. ... Forwarder-based third-party logistics services. ... Managed transportation services. ... Financial-based third-party logistics services.More items...
What are the basic types of 3PL firms and which are most prevalent?
What are the basic types of 3PL firms, and which are in most prevalent use? Basic types: transportation based, warehouse/distribution based, forwarder based, shipper/management based, financial based, and information based.
What are the types of 3PL providers?
4 Types of 3PL CompaniesStandard 3PL Providers. eCommerce retailers needing only the most basic logistics would turn to a standard 3PL company. ... 3PL Service Developers. ... 3PL Customer Adapters. ... 3PL Customer Developers.
What is 3PL 4PL and 5PL?
When looking for a logistics provider, there's a good chance you'll come across the terms 3PL, 4PL and 5PL. Short for third-party logistics, fourth-party logistics and fifth-party logistics respectively, they are essentially used to describe the breadth of services offered by an external logistics provider.
What are different types of logistics?
Logistics can be split into five types by field: procurement logistics, production logistics, sales logistics, recovery logistics, and recycling logistics. Each of these is explained in detail, but first we should learn about logistics fields and types.
What industries use 3PL the most?
Top 3 Industries That Depend on 3PL ServicesManufacturing. Downtime is deadly in the manufacturing industry. ... Hospitality. The U.S. had more than 85,000 hotels and motels in 2021, according to data from IBISWorld. ... Retail. Seasonal demand leaves retail companies in a constant state of flux.
What is third-party logistics explain its types?
A 3PL (third-party logistics) provider offers outsourced logistics services, which encompass anything that involves management of one or more facets of procurement and fulfillment activities. In business, 3PL has a broad meaning that applies to any service contract that involves storing or shipping items.
What is a 3PL model?
3PL - Third-Party Logistics. In a 3PL model, an enterprise maintains management oversight, but outsources operations of transportation and logistics to a provider who may subcontract out some or all of the execution.
What types of logistics service providers do you know?
There are five main types of logistics provider:1PL – First Party Logistics Providers. ... 2PL – Second Party Logistics Providers. ... 3PL – Third Party Logistics Providers. ... 4PL – Fourth Party Logistics Providers. ... 5PL – Fifth Party Logistics Providers. ... Supply chain management. ... Freight forwarding. ... Warehousing and distribution.More items...
What is 1PL 2PL 3PL 4PL and 5PL?
1PL - First-Party Logistics. 2PL - Second-Party Logistics. 3PL - Third-Party Logistics. 4PL - Fourth-Party Logistics. 5PL - Fifth-Party Logistics.
Is DHL 3PL or 4PL?
DHL once again topped the rankings of the world's leading third-party logistics providers (3PLs) in gross revenue terms last year, followed by Kuehne + Nagel, DB Schenker, Nippon Express and C.H.
What is 4PL example?
For example, a company might contract with logistics supplier X to handle shipping and remote storage of an organization's products across the southern United States. If supplier X then contracts with another company for warehousing the goods, that supplier becomes a 4PL.
What are some example types of services that may be available from a 4PL provider?
4PL services typically encompass 3PL services as well as:Logistics strategy.Analytics including transportation spend, analysis, capacity utilization, and carrier performance.Freight sourcing strategies.Network analysis and design.Consultancy.Business planning.Change management.Project management.More items...
What are the steps involved in developing a 3PL relationship?
The book goes into detail on each of the five crucial steps companies and service providers can take to create a successful 3PL relationship:lay the foundation; ... Step 1: Lay the foundation. ... Step 2: Understand the business. ... Step 3: Align interests. ... Step 4: Establish the agreement. ... Step 5: Manage performance.
Which of the following modes of transportation is considered the most viable for global movements?
Maritime transportation. With physical properties such as buoyancy and limited friction, maritime transportation is the most effective mode to move large quantities of cargo over long distances.
What is Modal Selection What are the key determinants in choosing a mode?
Numerous studies have been conducted over the years to identify the most important performance capabilities in modal selection. These studies commonly identify accessibility, transit time, reliability, and product safety as the key determinants in choosing a mode.
What is a 3PL company?
Along with the basic logistics services offered at the standard level, the service developer 3PL company offers support in IT, security, and product tracking. This means they can further ensure the delivery of your package is safe and on time.
What is a 3PL?
3PLs have become a primary component in the supply chain of many brands. You take the orders. Your third-party logistics provider (3PL) fulfills them for you. It’s that simple and if it’s seamless, customers never think twice about the handoff between received orders and its fulfillment.
What is a 3PL developer?
Customer Developer 3PL. Customer developer 3PL will not only inherit the logistics operation of their partner company, but they will also adapt their own systems. That means that the 3PL in essence becomes the entire logistics department instead of simply offering services.
What is a 3PL?
Third party logistics companies , or 3PLs, are not new. However, there are many types of logistics providers to choose from. When seeking one out, it is important to be clear about your business goals and priorities. For some companies (ex. startups that have limited capital), cost may be the single deciding factor — but keep in mind that a cheaper solution may not offer much in the way of customer experience and you may make concessions around quality. In other words, you often get what you pay for, and this is particularly important to evaluate given that customer satisfaction is directly tied to fast shipping speeds, delivery options, and returns capabilities (all of high importance to ecommerce customers).
What is a 3PL provider?
The 3PL provider and customer both invest in the relationship. The 3PL knows its customers’ long-term ROI and growth goals. The 3PL is integral to the customer’s business. Frequent collaboration takes place between the 3PL partner and customer.
First, What are Third Party Logistics Services and the Definition of 3PL?
To many, the definition of third-party logistics services or the definition of 3PL is rather fuzzy and can be ambiguous as there are many definitions, depending on who you ask. Some say “all or a significant part”, while others say “at least one part.”
Now That You Know the Definition, What are the Different Types of Third Party Logistics Services
Again, depending on who you ask, you will get several different answers on what types of third-party logistics services are out there. To make it even more confusing, different 3PLs can be in only one of these types, or bleed into others.
Levels of Outsourcing in Third Party Logistics Services
Not all third-party logistics services are created equal when it comes down to the relationship in the way you as a shipper will outsource to them. So, after you understand what a 3PL is and the types of third party logistics services, the following are the different types of levels of outsourcing you can see:
What is 3PL in logistics?
Third-party logistics, commonly known by the abbreviation 3PL, is the outsourcing of e-commerce logistics processes to a third-party company. These processes may include warehousing, inventory management and order fulfillment. If you own an e-commerce business, outsourcing your logistics processes to a 3PL provider can allow you to focus on other ...
Why do 3PL companies have their own warehouses?
That's because 3PL companies have their own warehouses, stock, forklifts, inventory management software and other tools that would likely be a headache (not to mention a financial burden) for you to obtain . You'll also get time back to focus on tasks that might better suit an entrepreneur, such as marketing.
What is a 4PL company?
This is why these companies are called 4PLs: They're the fourth party in your e-commerce logistics chain after your company, your customers and your 3PL provider. Key takeaway: 4PLs are companies you can hire to find 3PLs and oversee their work on your behalf.
Why is 3PL important?
That's because 3PL providers have warehouses all over the country, so they have extensive control over delivery times. Less risk.
What is 3PL in ecommerce?
3PL refers to the outsourcing of e-commerce processes. How could 3PL improve your e-commerce business? 3PL is the outsourcing of e-commerce logistics processes – including inventory management, warehousing and order fulfillment – to a third-party company. Some advantages of 3PL outsourcing are quicker and more affordable delivery, easier scaling, ...
Do Fortune 500 companies use 3PL?
That said, some 3PL providers that Fortune 500 companies use also offer services suitable for SMBs. The first three providers on the list below fall into this category, whereas the final two may be more obvious fits for SMBs.
