2025 3PL MARKET RESEARCH REPORT
Strategies Shippers and 3PLs Use to Manage Challenges
Services Shippers Buy
Motor freight 78%
Logistics technology, TMS, WMS 62%
Third-party logistics solutions 59%
Nearshoring or reshoring 59%
Expedited, small package deliveries 51%
Supply chain design 58%
Rail/intermodal 37%
DC network optimization and realignment 54%
Warehousing, fulfillment, DC services 36%
Lean best practices 54%
Ocean/ocean intermodal 28%
Strategic sourcing strategies 50%
Port, site, facility selection 27%
4PL/LLP partnerships 48%
Fleet operations, dedicated contract carriers 22%
Air freight, expedited 21%
Managed technology services 40%
Global shipping, freight forwarding solutions 19%
Demand-driven logistics 39%
Transportation equipment 15%
Intermodal transportation 38%
Materials handling equipment & solutions 14%
Co-locating, collaborative distribution 31%
The services shippers purchase have shifted significantly over the past two years, with many seeing dramatic declines in the 2025 survey. Motor freight, at 78%, ranks highest among respondents. Logistics technology, TMS, and WMS, ranks second at 62%, which reflects a 10-point drop from last year. Other critical services, cited by more than half of respondents, include third- party logistics solutions (59%, down 10 points from last year) and expedited, small package deliveries (51%, down 23 points). Among services seeing the steepest declines are warehousing, fulfillment DC services (down 28 points to 36%); ocean/ocean intermodal (down 16 points to 28%); air freight, expedited (down 33 points to 21%); global shipping, freight forwarding solutions (down 21 points to 19%); and materials handling equipment & solutions (down 21 points to 14%). No area saw a similarly notable increase in the report.
Supply chain decentralization 26%
When navigating challenges, shippers and 3PLs use a host of approaches. This year, 59% of respondents point to nearshoring or reshoring as a strategy they favor, while close behind, 58% say they use supply chain design. Other common strategies include DC network optimization and realignment (54%), lean best practices (54%), and strategic sourcing strategies (50%). Supply chain decentralization posted the largest jump in the category, rising eight percentage points to 26% in one year.
Should Shippers Partner
On the question of whether shippers should partner with more than one 3PL, the replies are nearly identical to last year’s survey, with 40% saying it depends, 33% saying they should stick to one 3PL, and 27% saying more than one is preferrable. Those who advocate for just one 3PL point to the value of consistency of processes, while those who see the benefits of working with multiple 3PLs note the advantages of a diversification of providers and the possible need for dierent areas of specialization.
More than one 27%
It depends 40%
with One or More 3PLs?
Just one 33%
74 Inbound Logistics • July 2025
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