A logistics outsourcing relationship should run like a well-constructed machine. You need gears that turn smoothly; electronics that hook up correctly; and moving parts that never rattle, squeal, or jam. You also need tools to keep all the parts in good repair, so you never have to worry about breakdowns. Just as machines come in every size and shape-from coffee grinders to Super-post-Panamax cranes-so do partnerships between shippers and their third-party logistics (3PL) providers. Let's examine the nuts and bolts of four successful 3 PL relationships, and see what keeps the apparatus running.
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