Choosing a Third-Party Logistics (3PL) partner
Bord Bia has assembled a logistics partner database with the contact details of third-party logistics - international carriers, domestic carriers and freight forwarders in key European markets.
The database allows filtering of potential partners by country, and it also allows for filtering for temperature requirements and specific capabilities required for shipments. In most cases, this will produce multiple results that match the high-level criteria selected.
From there it is best to do some desk research and to prepare for an initial discussion. If you have the opportunity, ask for inputs from other local businesses which logistics partners they use in your locality for similar products.
In preparation for initial discussions with carriers, there is some information to be collected that will be required in any discussion with carriers and may also inform the choice:
- Details of pick-up location for shipments including Eircode
- Restrictions on the type of vehicles and opening hours for access to the pick-up point
- Type of shipments that are expected – truckload, full pallet, mixed pallet or parcel shipments
- Volume projections – number of shipments per week, details of key shipping days and details on seasonality.
- Details of key customer locations – country, city, zipcode
- Details of any restrictions that exist on the customer side – access considerations, opening hours, requirement for pre-alert and booking, timed window for deliveries.
- Temperature or other special handling requirements
- Potential returns volumes – if relevant
- Consider what additional services you may require for your products and use this to narrow the search.
- Customs clearance
- Warehousing
- Specialist transportation requirements
Having this information will help you and any prospective logistics provider quickly establish whether there is a business fit.
In your conversation, consider whether they already deliver to your targeted customers (or similar) for other clients, whether they have pick up routes that serve your area and what time would be cut off for pick up. Ask about how you would book shipments, what information they would need from you, what customer services and visibility tools they have available – and of course ask about the price of shipments and any ancillary charges that they may have.
Like any business relationship, it is important that you get a feel that the provider you choose understands your business and requirements and that you are comfortable that they are a company with whom you can do business.
If you have more specialist requirements or if you cannot find a logistics provider that meets your needs, reach out to your Bord Bia contact to see if additional support is available.
