Choosing a Logistics Partner: Location, Location, Location

Where your 3PL makes its home can definitely have an impact on things like regulations and drayage costs. But that impact might not be what you think.

For example, a California 3PL can provide significant advantages in terms of access to retailers and ports, as well as helping you keep costs down. However, with shifting regulations can come misconceptions about how location does and doesn’t affect fulfillment logistics.

If you’re considering partnering with a California 3PL, here are some details to keep in mind.

Convenient Location

A California location means proximity to the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports. (In our case, our warehouses are about 40 minutes away from these ports.) This is advantageous for multiple reasons. West Coast ports can help you avoid bottlenecks in places such as the Suez and Panama Canals, which means fewer delays for your customers. This location also puts your operation closer to manufacturing hubs like China, which can mean faster inventory delivery times.

Then there are the advantages for shorter-distance transportation. Drayage costs are likely to be lower, thanks to the multiple highways and railroads available for use in this area.

Access to Local Retailers and Customers

As of 2024, California’s population was over 39 million. This means that there are lots of businesses and potential customers in the area. Whether you focus on retail fulfillment, D2C fulfillment, or both, being closer to popular retailers can make the fulfillment logistics process easier and more cost efficient. And, of course, being closer to more customers means more opportunities to share your offers and create lasting relationships.

This also means a larger labor pool, which means your omnichannel fulfillment partner will be able to efficiently scale to support your business as your grow.

Beneficial Regulations

California does have a significant number of regulations to follow—but that’s not a bad thing! In fact, regulations are important for minimizing environmental impact and making sure labor relations stay positive and mutually beneficial. Plus, complying with California regulations can make it easier to meet other states’ regulations. If you comply with California rules, you’re less likely to have trouble anywhere else.

It's also worth noting that complying with labor and environmental laws are often top priorities for potential business partners and customers.

Problem-solving with Value-Added Services

As tariffs and regulations change, many businesses are turning to light manufacturing as a way to minimize shipping costs. If your 3PL partner is located near a port, it’s possible to ship products in a variety of classifications and assemble them domestically. This is something Motivational Fulfillment can do, thanks in part to our California warehouse locations.

Problem Solving with Light Manufacturing

Addressing Potential New Tariffs

It’s worth noting that tariffs are determined by country of origin, product classification, and the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). This means that the location of the port of entry won’t affect tariffs, even with the higher volume of imports in California.

At Motivational, we help you navigate tariffs and stay on top of any relevant changes for your business, including strategizing new ways to approach your products and services based on location. This might mean adjusting your supply chain, diversifying your offerings, or working together to come up with other options.

Coast-to-Coast Capabilities

While our roots are here in Southern California, our reach expands far beyond the West Coast. We have great relationships with our East Coast partners, and we are experts at sourcing and standing up new facilities as needed. Whether it’s a regional hub or a specialized operation, we bring the same dedication, expertise and efficiency to every location.

For example, when one of our customers needed a dedicated facility closer to the East Coast, we rolled up our sleeves and established a new fulfillment center for them in the Memphis area. We provide omnichannel fulfillment out of this facility for them: D2C fulfillment, retail distribution, e-commerce drop ship, Amazon fulfillment, and value-added services.

Upgrade Your Logistics with a West Coast Partner

You have a lot of fulfillment logistics to oversee in your business, and the location of your 3PL can be a significant part of your strategy. Working with a California 3PL puts your business at the center of a larger fulfillment and logistics network that can provide better access to ports, customers, and more.

When you partner with Motivational, you get more than a California advantage – you get a true logistics partner that is ready to adapt and support your business, wherever your success may take you.

Wondering if a California 3PL is right for you? Get in touch with us so we can chat about your business’s specific needs and how we can help!

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The Advantages of a California 3PL