3PL warehouse services cover everything a third-party logistics (3PL) warehouse does with your inventory, from the moment it arrives until it leaves for your customers. Instead of leasing space, buying racking and hiring staff, you use a 3PL’s warehouse, systems and people and pay for what your business uses. This guide explains the core 3PL warehouse services, the extra services most providers offer and how to compare them.
Core 3PL warehouse services
| Service | What the 3PL does |
|---|---|
| Receiving | Unloads trucks and containers, counts and checks stock against your ASN or purchase order |
| Put-away | Moves received stock into bins, shelves or pallet racking and records its location |
| Storage | Keeps your inventory safe and tracked by SKU, lot or expiry date |
| Inventory management | Gives you live stock levels, cycle counts and reports through an online portal |
| Order fulfillment | Picks, packs and labels each order, from single parcels to full pallets |
| Shipping | Hands orders to parcel, LTL and FTL carriers and shares tracking |
| Returns | Receives, inspects and restocks returned items |
Value-added warehouse services
- Kitting, bundling and light assembly
- Labelling and relabelling, including barcodes and retail labels
- Amazon FBA and Walmart WFS prep
- Cross-docking for goods that move straight through
- Container destuffing and palletizing
- Retail compliance and SSCC labels for B2B orders
How 3PL warehouse services are usually priced
| Cost area | Typical basis |
|---|---|
| Receiving | Per pallet, carton or container |
| Storage | Per pallet, bin or shelf per month |
| Pick and pack | Per order plus per additional item |
| Value-added services | Per unit, per kit or per labour hour |
| Account | Setup, integration and a monthly minimum, depending on the provider |
Ask every provider for a full rate card so you can compare like for like. See 3PL costs in Canada and pallet storage pricing.
Choosing a 3PL warehouse
- Location: close to your customers, ports and highways
- Fit: set up for your product size, weight and handling needs
- Systems: live inventory visibility and integrations with your store or ERP
- Speed: clear receiving times and same-day shipping cut-offs
- Service: a real contact who answers quickly
Our checklist for comparing 3PL warehousing companies in Canada goes into more detail.
3PL warehouse services with Newsom 3PL
Newsom 3PL provides warehousing and fulfillment from our warehouse in Mississauga, Ontario, near Toronto Pearson and Highways 401, 427 and 410. We receive, store, pick, pack and ship your orders, and add kitting, labelling, marketplace prep and returns. Storage is part of our fulfillment service, and pricing is based on your volume. Request a quote or book a warehouse visit.
Frequently asked questions
What are 3PL warehouse services?
They are the receiving, storage, inventory management, order fulfillment, shipping and returns services a third-party logistics warehouse provides for your products.
What is the difference between a 3PL warehouse and a storage warehouse?
A storage warehouse mainly holds goods. A 3PL warehouse also manages inventory and fulfills orders, shipping your products to customers, stores and marketplaces.
Do 3PL warehouses offer storage only?
Some do, but many, including Newsom 3PL, offer storage as part of fulfillment, so your inventory is stored to be picked, packed and shipped.