Inbound Logistics | July 2025

2025 3PL MARKET RESEARCH REPORT

Special Services 3PLs Oer

Shippers, What is the Top Reason for a Failed 3PL Partnership?

Logistics/transportation consulting 83%

Direct to store 71%

Poor customer service 34%

Reverse logistics/product lifecycle management 69%

Failed expectations 28%

Import/export/customs 57%

Cost 22%

More competitive options 8%

Sustainability/green logistics 54%

Loss of control 6%

Direct to home 45%

Cultural dissimilarities 2%

Foreign Trade Zone 43%

Shippers, Is Price or Service More Important? More

Contingency/crisis planning 40%

Labor management 35%

Marketing/customer service/call center 31%

Price 28%

Security analysis 19%

Global expansion - sourcing/selling 18%

Service 72%

None 1%

The top five special services 3PLs o er this year are logistics/transportation consulting (83%), direct to store (71%), reverse logistics/product lifecycle management (69%), import/export/customs (57%), and sustainability/green logistics (54%). Those were also the five most-popular special services in last year’s survey, but sustainability/green logistics dropped 12 points from one year ago and fell from third to fifth in the rankings—another sign of a shift away from that once-ascendant priority. Among the big movers lower down the rankings, foreign trade zone jumped 14 points to 43% in the past two years, highlighting a growing area of opportunity for providers.

Two years ago, a whopping 60% of shipper respondents listed poor customer service as the top reason for a failed 3PL partnership, but that number declined to 36% last year and dropped another two points to 34% this year. However, it still is shippers’ No. 1 reason for a failed partnership, topping failed expectations (28%) and cost (22%). Shippers overwhelmingly consider service to be more important than price by a count of 72% to 28%.

72 Inbound Logistics • July 2025