Comparing the Top 3PL Warehousing Companies in Los Angeles: What You Need to Know

If your company is seeking out 3PL warehousing solutions for the first time, you may be thinking all of the vendors on the market are the same and that price is the only factor worth considering. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

An unreliable 3PL provider can drive up your company’s operational costs and cause customer satisfaction to plummet due to deliveries—especially in a region as large and complex as the Greater Los Angeles area. Top 3PL warehousing companies, on the other hand, can streamline your supply chain and logistics function. 

If your company is comparing warehousing vendors in Southern California, here are some questions worth asking. 

1. Does the Vendor Prioritize Customer Service? 

Look at the website of any warehousing company—or any company, for that matter—and you’ll likely see a mention of how they’re dedicated to customer service. Few, however, can explain how they actually deliver this service. 

For example, many vendors struggle to answer basic questions, such as how much inventory your company has on hand at any time or when your next order will arrive. As a top 3PL warehouse company in Los Angeles, the team at Cummins Logistic can tell you exactly why we’re widely regarded as leaders in customer service. 

Unlike many other providers, who talk about the wide range of 3PL services they offer, we focus exclusively on 3PL warehousing. This allows us to focus on designing tailored 3PL warehousing solutions for each of our customers, and ensuring they always have a direct line to our management team. 

2. Can I Easily Access My Company’s Inventory Data?

In the past, it was challenging to access data about your company’s inventory levels at a moment’s notice. Today, top 3PL warehouse companies have made it simple for their clients to pull inventory level reports—and so much more. 

The ability to access this type of data is powered by inventory management software. Every item of inventory exists as a data point within these systems. So, as shipments arrive at the warehouse and then leave for orders, the system automatically updates overall inventory levels. Companies can access this data at a moment’s notice using an application on the phone or computer. Unfortunately, not every 3PL company can offer this capability. 

As one of the top 3PL warehousing companies in Southern California, we consider technology one of our key areas of strength, which is why we use cloud-based inventory management software from Extensiv, one of the market leader’s. Our clients can access reports customized based on their business needs through any device 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

3. Are the Vendor’s Facilities in Close Proximity to Major Ports?

Southern California is home to two of the nation’s busiest ports. The region is a hub for international commerce, and many businesses within it want to take advantage of its access to overseas markets. 

Top 3PL warehousing companies are aware of this fact and strategically locate their facilities a short distance away from major ports. Whenever shipments arrive, trucks can quickly transport items to nearby warehouses before they’re sent off to customers. 

Cummins Logistics’ 3PL warehousing solutions take it a step further. We’re located in City of Commerce, CA, which is not only a short distance from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, but also major markets in the area, including Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange Counties. 

As a top 3PL warehousing company, we also offer cross-docking and transloading services. When items arrive from overseas, we can quickly process them in our warehouse and send them off to your customers using the optimal transportation method. 

4. Does the Vendor Require Your Company to Sign a Long-Term Lease? 

Many warehousing vendors attempt to lock their clients into long-term leases that offer them little flexibility. This can be a major problem if the business needs change or if they’re unsatisfied with the services provided to them by the warehousing vendor. 

At Cummins Logistics, we believe top 3PL warehousing companies should be responsive to the needs of their clients. We don’t force our clients to sign annual or multiple-year leases. Instead, agreements are formed on a month-to-month basis. If you need more or less storage space, or if you’ve simply found a 3PL warehousing solutions vendor willing to offer you better rates on storage, we are willing to amend your agreement immediately rather than waiting a year or longer. 

Find Out What Makes Cummins Logistics Different Today

Get started today by contacting a warehousing expert from Cummins Logistics today!