Third-Party Logistics (3PL): Dynamic service leaders

Perhaps the most dynamic market segment our editorial staff watches is that of the third-party logistics (3PL) provider. Just three or four years ago it seemed that we were seeing a new merger or acquisition (M&A) take place every week, as the bigger fish swallowed the smaller in an attempt to gain a specific service or technological strength in preparation to handle growing e-commerce complexity.

Fast-forward a few years and the (M&A) activity has cooled. However, shippers are now reaping the fruits of those labors, as we’re now seeing a stronger market capable of providing even more services geared to meet the evolving omni-channel fulfillment demands that e-commerce has brought along with it.

“There’s simply no doubt that e-commerce continues to be the driving force in the development of 3PL service offerings across the board,” says executive editor Patrick Burnson. “And as we’ve been reporting, it’s now up to savvy shippers to assess their needs, find the appropriate mix of 3PLs and then fold these new services into their operations—and now there’s a sense of urgency behind it.”

According to the readers of Logistics Management, the 27 3PLs listed below have not only evolved to meet today’s more fickle demands, but have also provided world-class service along the way to keeping logistics networks moving around the clock and around the world.