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3PL and freight broker contract optimization

A 3PL prices your fulfillment and also bills you for the freight it buys on your behalf. We reprice the agreement against the orders you ship today, and put what the carrier charged your provider beside what your provider charged you.

Free contract reviewTalk it through first
Freight markupMeasured from the carrier invoice behind your provider bill
0 fee typesReceiving, storage, pick, pack, ship and accessorials, each repriced
Service creditsWhat you are owed when the provider misses a target
$0In referral fees from any provider, ever
In shortA brief explanation of the service and what it covers.

What is 3PL contract optimization?

The short answer

3PL contract optimization is the process of negotiating the rates and terms of a third-party logistics or freight broker agreement: fulfillment unit rates, storage and minimums, accessorial and value-added charges, peak terms and annual escalators, and how transportation is passed through. It works by repricing the agreement against the orders and shipments you actually run, and by setting what the carrier charges your provider beside what your provider charges you, so each request is backed by a figure from your own operation.

Fulfillment unit rates, storage and minimums, accessorial schedules, peak terms and escalators re-priced against your order profile, with the freight pass-through tested against what the carrier actually charges.

The problemThe terms and billing details we review before estimating savings.

Understand the charges in your 3PL agreement.

A third-party provider may charge you a different amount from what it pays the carrier. We review how transportation costs are passed through and what the agreement says about markups.

We also review receiving, storage, picking, packing, shipping, returns and other service fees. Changes in order size, SKU count, storage turnover and returns can make an older rate schedule less suitable for your business.

Service targets also need clear reporting and remedies. We check what happens when the provider misses an agreed target and whether credits or other protections are available.

The leversWe review the specific terms that affect what you pay.

What we review in a 3PL or broker agreement.

We compare these schedules and terms with your current order profile and actual invoices.

Transportation pass-through and margin
We review cost-plus pricing, flat rates and carrier-charge visibility, then compare the option of using your own carrier account.
Fulfillment unit rates
We calculate receiving, picking, packing and shipping fees using your typical orders, including lines and units per order.
Storage and minimums
We review pallet, bin or cubic-foot charges, how occupancy is measured, and any monthly minimum.
Accessorial and value-added schedule
We review kitting, labeling, inserts, special packaging, quality checks, rework and project labor charges.
Returns processing
We compare inspection, restocking, disposition and disposal fees with your actual return volume.
Peak and seasonal terms
We review peak fees, volume caps, labor premiums and capacity commitments for your busy season.
Annual escalators
We check the basis and cap for annual increases and which parts of the rate schedule they affect.
Service levels and credits
We review shipping, order accuracy, inventory accuracy and receiving targets, including measurement and credits for missed performance.
Volume commitments and true-ups
We check volume commitments, how they are measured and the consequences of higher or lower volume.
Rate transparency and audit rights
We review your right to see underlying carrier invoices and charge calculations so transportation costs can be checked.
Term, termination and transition assistance
We review notice periods, exit fees and the provider's responsibilities during a transition.
Why usWe work for shippers and receive no compensation from carriers.

What makes this different.

01

Transportation charges reviewed

We review flat shipment charges, pricing that does not vary by lane or weight, and fuel charges that do not follow a published index. These patterns help identify questions to raise with your provider.

02

Pricing checked against current orders

We review lines per order, units per line, cartons per shipment, storage turnover, returns and seasonal volume. This shows how the rate schedule applies to your business today.

03

Clear service commitments

We review how service levels are measured, who reports them, and what credits apply when targets are missed. These terms may be negotiable alongside rates.

Why this orderWe review your agreement and shipment data before recommending changes.

How this actually runs.

  1. Read the agreement and the invoices together

    We compare the rate card, schedules and agreement with actual invoices and investigate charges that do not match.

    Week 1

  2. Test the freight pass-through

    We compare transportation charges with applicable published rates or your own carrier agreements to understand provider pricing and potential markups.

    Week 1–2

  3. Re-price the order profile

    We apply the rate schedule to your current order profile to calculate how it fits your business today.

    Week 2

  4. Negotiate or request competing proposals

    We negotiate with your current provider or run an RFP when alternatives are worth considering. We include the cost and disruption of switching in that decision.

    Weeks 3–4

  5. Verify on the invoices

    We compare new rates, credits and transportation charges with live invoices to check that agreed changes were applied.

    Ongoing
Common questionsContact us if your question is not listed. We can help you assess whether the service fits your needs.

Questions shippers ask first.

What is 3PL contract optimization?
3PL contract optimization reviews fulfillment and logistics pricing against your actual orders and shipments. It covers unit rates, storage, minimums, additional services, peak terms, annual increases, service levels and transportation markups.
How do I know if my 3PL or broker is marking up freight?
We look for repeated flat charges, rates that do not vary with lane or weight, and fuel charges that do not follow a stated index. These patterns raise questions; confirming a markup requires the underlying carrier charge and the terms of your provider agreement.
Can we audit a 3PL invoice the way we audit a carrier invoice?
Fulfillment charges can be checked against the rate card and order records. A full freight audit also needs the underlying carrier charges. Without them, we can estimate comparable shipment costs and identify questions for the provider.
What is a fair margin for a 3PL on transportation?
There is no single fair markup for every service and lane. We review whether the margin is disclosed, how it is calculated, what services it covers and how the total compares with alternatives.
Should we ship on our own carrier account instead?
Using your own carrier account may remove a transportation markup and provide direct access to billing data. You would also manage the carrier relationship and agreement. We compare the full costs and responsibilities before recommending a change.
What parts of a 3PL contract are negotiable?
More than the rate card. The main ones are storage measurement and minimums, the accessorial schedule, returns pricing, peak terms and caps, and the annual escalator and what it is indexed to. Beyond those: service levels and the credits attached to them, volume commitments, rate transparency and audit rights, and the termination and transition clauses.
Should we run a 3PL RFP or renegotiate with the incumbent?
Renegotiate first in most cases. Moving a fulfillment operation carries real switching cost and risk, both sides know it, and a credible alternative is usually more valuable as leverage than as an outcome. Where service has genuinely failed, or the profile has changed enough that the current site is wrong, a structured RFP is the right answer.
What data do you need to benchmark our fulfillment rates?
Twelve months of order and shipment detail, the current rate card and master agreement, and the invoices as billed. Order detail is what makes the comparison real: lines per order, units per line, cartons per shipment, SKU count and storage occupancy, plus returns volume and seasonality.
How do storage minimums go wrong?
We check how storage is measured, including peak versus average occupancy, partial pallet positions and minimum charges. We also review slow-moving inventory and whether the pricing still fits your storage needs.
Can we get service credits into a 3PL contract?
Often, yes, especially at renewal or when volume changes. Useful service-level terms specify the metric, measurement method, reporting responsibility, target and credit for missed performance.
How does peak season pricing work with a 3PL?
Peak terms may add labor-related fees or limit guaranteed capacity above a volume threshold. We review both the pricing and the capacity commitment against your forecast.
Do you take referral fees from 3PLs?
No. We receive no referral fees from providers. Our compensation is based on documented savings for the shipper.
Next doorThese related services may also be useful for your business.

Related work.

01

Warehousing

Warehouse and fulfillment partner sourcing, evaluated against your order profile and outbound shipping economics.

For shippers outgrowing their current footprint02

LTL freight audit

Our LTL freight audit checks rates, minimum charges, freight class, NMFC, billed weight, reweighs, fuel and accessorials. Every discrepancy is documented with the contract term and the calculation behind it, and our team files the claim that holds the carrier to the terms you agreed.

For shippers who want their LTL invoices checked03

Contract negotiation

We review twelve months of your shipping invoices and compare your contract terms with those available to similar shippers. This parcel rate benchmarking helps us identify changes worth requesting. We then negotiate directly with your carrier.

For shippers reviewing or renewing carrier agreements

Request a free contract review.

Send your agreement for a written review of potential savings and recommended next steps.

Get a free contract evaluationSee a sample audit firstEmail info@ebblogic.com

Or call 888-356-4421

Free, and no obligation. A written evaluation back inside 48 hours. No fee unless we find documented savings. How we handle your documents

  • Your current agreement, any carrier
  • One recent invoice, if you have one
  • A written evaluation back inside 48 hours