What is a 3PL?
A 3PL or Third-Party Logistics is a company that offers Supply Chain services to a variety of industries, such as in retail or manufacturers. Third-Party Logistics are hired by their customers to handle the delivery and shipment of freight from one place to another, most commonly via trucks.
The customers could either be shippers or receivers or even a 3rd Party Logistics company itself. These companies often work with a wide range of clients, moving the goods across the country or even throughout the world.
A third-party logistics company can handle any number of clients simultaneously; however, they may specialize in different commodities in certain industries. For example, transportation providers who specialize in shipping pharmaceuticals will probably not handle hazardous materials.
Third-party logistics companies may also be responsible for arranging the shipment of goods from a producer to a retailer. They may also deal with warehousing, picking and packing, tagging and tracking, insurance, and data management services.