Who is This List For?
Last updated in June 2024
When it comes to logistics services, there is no one-size-fits-all. Small-to-mid sized businesses (SMB) may find the search for a good match to be challenging because there are literally hundreds of thousands of companies that are classified as logistics providers.
Services range from strictly the transportation of goods from point A to point B to fully integrated operations, including inventory management, warehousing, and final distribution of your product to the individual consumer (B2C).
Industry publications often focus on large, global logistics providers that most likely won’t provide the personalized service that smaller businesses often need and most online directories are pay-to-list forms of advertising.
This list aims to narrow down the field of reputable 3PL companies to help small and medium sized business looking for an outsourced solution to all or part of their fulfillment and distribution needs based on where their customers are located and what type of business they run.
Other Considerations
Once you narrow the list down to providers of the services you require with a network that serves your customer base, these are some other considerations that can help you determine the best fit for your business.
- Storage fees
- Min/max number of skus
- Min order requirement
- Added value services such as kitting and assembly
- Personalized services
The List
(In alphabetical order by region.)
NORTHEAST
Barrett Distribution Centers
Headquartered in Massachusetts, Barrett Distribution Centers operates over 3 million square feet in warehouse space in several locations in the Northeast and stretching to Tennessee and Southern California. Tailored solutions include food grade storage, industry compliant labeling, and electronic data interchange. Clients include Vibram Fivefingers, The Lagoon Group and Tivoli Audio.
Website: www.barrettdistribution.com
Capacity LLC
With three facilities in North Brunswick, New Jersey and another in the City of Industry, California, Capacity LLC has been offering warehousing, assembly and order fulfillment services since 1999. The company is cGMP certified, operates FDA registered facilities, and is State Board of Health approved food grade in both states. Clients include Weleda, The Laundress, Capital One and ADP.
Website: www.capacityllc.com
ID Logistics
A leading European logistics company acquired Pennsylvania-headquarted Kane Is Able in 2022. With multiple locations throughout the Northeast and nationwide, Kane Is Able provided mid-market companies in a variety of industries with the national distribution infrastructure they need. The acquisition of Kane now provides current and new clients access to a world-wide logistics network.
Website: www.id-logistics.com/us/
SOUTH
Kenco
Chattanooga, Tennessee based Kenco is the largest woman-owned third-party logistics company in the U.S, with over 90 distribution facilities and more than 30 million square feet of space. For the last five years in a row (including 2017), Kenco was voted to Inbound Logistics Magazine’s “Top Ten Logistics Providers.” Although capable of serving enterprise-level companies, Kenco offers customized small parcel services for any size company.
Website: www.kencogroup.com
Red Stag Fulfillment
Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, Red Stag Fulfillment offers a 100% accuracy guarantee and a 30-day no obligation, risk-free trial. Pricing is transparent with no set-up fees, sku-management fees or hidden fees and no long-term contracts. The 3PL company also offers eCommerce integrations with many popular shopping carts and boasts high accuracy rates with a zero shrinkage allowance.
Website: redstagfulfillment.com
Saddle Creek Logistics Services
Headquartered in Lakeland, Florida, Saddle Creek’s network of strategic locations span coast to coast, with many locations in the South and Midwest offering a full range of 3PL services, warehousing, omnichannel fulfillment, transportation, packaging and more. Clients include Arizona Beverages, Jurlique, Nu Skin and Xterra Wetsuits.
Website: www.sclogistics.com
Stord
Founded in 2015, Stord is one of the fastest growing companies in the industry. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Stord acquired Connecticut-based Fulfillment Works in 2021 to combine its facilities located in key regions, with with Stord’s supply chain software and end-to-end logistics capabilities to offer businesses one of the most powerful supply chain network on the market. Clients include BODYARMOR, Fly by Jing, Jolie, and Native.
Website: www.stord.com
MIDWEST
Distribution Alternatives
Based in Lino Lakes, Minnesota, retail fulfillment and distribution is their primary service, with full EDI services available and experience shipping to most major retailers in the U.S. and Canada. Distribution Alternatives’ approach to customer service draws from the small, family owned culture of its roots, dating back over 80 years. Though today they are large enough to draw industry discounts and operate over 2 million square feet of warehouse space in four facilities located in Minnesota and Southern California.
Website: www.daserv.com
Hub Group
Founded in Chicago in the ’70s, Hub Group’s recent acquisition of TAGG – which had just acquired Le Saint Logistics – has really expanded its network across the country and even into Canada. This puts Hub Group in a position to service a wide range of industries with flexible, end-to-end supply supply chain solutions.
Website: www.hubgroup.com
Wagner Logistics
Based in North Kansas City, Missouri, Wagner has over a dozen locations spread mainly throughout the Midwest and into Southern states and Texas. Having served businesses of all sizes for over 70 years, Wagner’s experience is behind their willingness to take on whatever your supply chain challenges may be. Clients include Excel Industries and S&M NuTec, LLC pet products.
Website: www.wagnerlogistics.com
SOUTHWEST
American Western Distribution
American Western Distribution operates out of its climate controlled warehouse and distribution center located in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to a full range of added-value services, they provide nationwide interior installation services, specializing in assisted living and medical facilities and hospitality spaces.
Website: awdaz.com
SKU Distribution
One of the smaller logistics providers in the U.S., but named one of the fastest growing private companies on INC magazine’s 5000 list, SKU made our list due to its strategic location in the country as an approved Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ). Businesses that import a lot of their goods can realize significant cost and time savings by choosing a 3pl provider that offers FTZ services. SKU’s warehouse is also approved for lithium batter cell storage, which along with their Southwest location puts them in a unique position to serve tech manufacturers and retailers.
Website: skudistribution.com
WEST
Bender Group
Bender’s primary operations and headquarters are located in Reno, Nevada. Combined with two other locations in California and Virginia, Bender operates over 1 million square feet of space, including food-grade facilities, certified by the American Institute of Baking (AIB). Founded in 1945, the Bender family has combined a small business approach with innovative technology to provide regional and international logistics solutions to businesses of all sizes.
Website: www.bendergroup.com
Its Logistics
With corporate offices, warehousing, and transportation consolidated in a 630,000 square foot campus in Sparks, NV, and additional 3pl facilities in Texas and Indiana, businesses looking for innovative logistics solutions with a focus on sustainability will find a dedicated partner with ITS. Their in-house tech team harnesses the power of AI to improve efficiencies and offers clients real-time visibility. Clients include Nature’s Bakery, AHF Products®, West Pak Avocado.
Website: www.its4logistics.com
PACIFIC
Alaska and Hawaii are typically bundled into the “Pacific Region” but in the world of logistics, due to their distance and geographical characteristics, they have unique challenges that make them each stand out on their own. Therefore, this region has been broken down into three subregions: contiguous U.S., Alaska and Hawaii.
PACIFIC – CONTIGUOUS U.S.
AMS
Advantage Media Services (AMS) operates over 800,000 square feet of space in multiple fulfillment centers in area surrounding Santa Clarita Valley in California. In addition to traditional 3PL services and a host of added-value services, AMS has recently added a service called “All Things Amazon” to help businesses that sell on Amazon manage their fulfillment whether done as FBA or merchant-fulfilled.
Website: www.amsfulfillment.com
Taylored Services
With an Executive office in Los Angeles, California, Taylored Services has multiple locations in California as well as a location in New Jersey and in Canada totaling 1.5 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space. Specializing in wholesale, retail and direct-to-consumer, Taylored Services offers award-winning services to the apparel, footwear and accessory industries.
Website: tayloredservices.com
ALASKA
Carlile Transportation
Featured on the TV series, Extreme Truckers, Carlile is unmatched when it comes to tools, technology and expertise needed to reach many of the remote and inaccessible areas in Alaska. While Carlile is focused on transportation and doesn’t fit the 3PL logistics company profile of the others listed in this list, it does offer warehousing and brokerage services and other solutions for small businesses.
Website: www.carlile.biz
HAWAII
Five Star
We are a full-service transportation and logistics company with an advanced network of fulfillment warehouses in Hawaii. With warehouse and distribution centers in Honolulu & Kapolei (Oahu), Wailuku (Maui), Kona and Hilo (Big Island), and Lihue (Kauai), our custom logistics solutions help businesses lower transportation costs and reach their Hawaii customers faster.
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