A 3PL (third-party logistics provider) is an outside company that handles part or all of your supply chain — transportation, warehousing, fulfillment, customs, and freight management — so you don’t have to run those operations in-house. Instead of buying trucks, leasing warehouse space, and hiring a logistics team, you outsource the work to a specialist that already owns the assets and expertise.
What does a 3PL actually do?
The services vary by provider, but a full-service 3PL typically covers several core functions:
Transportation
Moving freight by truck, rail, ocean, or air — including drayage (port-to-warehouse container moves), less-than-truckload (LTL), full-truckload, and last-mile delivery.
Warehousing and distribution
Storing inventory, managing stock levels, and shipping orders out of a distribution center. This often includes pick-and-pack, kitting, cross-docking, and returns processing.
Freight management and brokerage
Booking capacity, negotiating rates, and coordinating carriers on the shipper’s behalf, often through a transportation management system (TMS).
Value-added services
Customs brokerage, bonded storage, labeling, inventory reporting, and supply-chain consulting round out the offering at many providers.
Asset-based vs. non-asset (brokerage) 3PLs
This is the single most important distinction when choosing a partner. An asset-based 3PL owns its own trucks, chassis, and warehouses, so it controls service quality directly. A non-asset (brokerage) 3PL doesn’t own equipment — it subcontracts your freight to other carriers. Brokerages add flexibility but also add a middleman, and re-brokered freight can mean less visibility and inconsistent service. Go Freight is asset-based with 100+ company-owned trucks and its own chassis pool, which means no double brokering — your container is moved by Go Freight’s own drivers and equipment.
3PL vs. 4PL
A 3PL executes logistics functions. A 4PL (fourth-party logistics provider) sits one level up, managing multiple 3PLs and the entire supply chain strategy on your behalf. Most small and mid-sized shippers need a strong 3PL; large enterprises with complex global networks sometimes layer a 4PL on top.
When should you use a 3PL?
Outsourcing to a 3PL makes sense when shipping volume outgrows your ability to manage it, when you’re entering a new market like South Florida and need local port and warehouse coverage, when seasonal peaks strain your team, or when you simply want to convert fixed logistics costs into a variable, scalable expense. A good 3PL also brings technology — for example, Go Freight’s DispatchAI TMS and AI gate-time prediction at PortMiami and Port Everglades help importers cut demurrage and detention.
Frequently asked questions
Is a freight broker the same as a 3PL?
Not exactly. All freight brokers are a type of non-asset 3PL, but not all 3PLs are brokers. Asset-based 3PLs own the trucks and warehouses they operate, while pure brokers only arrange transportation through third parties.
How much does a 3PL cost?
Pricing depends on services used — warehousing is usually billed per pallet or square foot per month, fulfillment per order or per pick, and transportation per shipment or per mile. Many 3PLs blend these into a custom rate based on your volume.
Does a 3PL handle customs?
Many full-service 3PLs offer customs brokerage and bonded warehousing. Go Freight is a TSA-approved bonded carrier with a 104,000 sq ft bonded warehouse in Miami, so import freight can move from the port to bonded storage seamlessly.
Get a 3PL quote from Go Freight
Go Freight is a Miami-based, asset-based, AI-powered 3PL covering drayage, last mile, warehousing, hazmat, and LTL across South Florida. Request a free quote or call (786) 445-0150.