Types of 3PL providers

Types of Third Party Logistics Providers
Jack Marcus, Consultant, United States
Susanne Hertz and Monica Alfredsson (Strategic Development of Third Party Logistics Providers, Industrial Marketing Management (Elsevier Science) 32 (2): pp. 139–149, 2003) mention Four categories of 3PL providers:
1. Standard 3PL Provider: the most basic form. Performs activities such as pick and pack, warehousing, and distribution (business) – the most basic functions of logistics. For a majority of these firms, the 3PL function is not their main activity.
2. Service Developer: offers its customers advanced value-added services such as: tracking and tracing, cross-docking, specific packaging or advanced security system. A solid IT foundation and a focus on economies of scale and scope will enable this type of 3PL provider to perform these types of tasks.
3. Customer Adapter: essentially takes over the complete control of the client's logistics activities at their request. Improves the logistics dramatically, but do not develop a new (generic) service. The customer base for this type of 3PL provider is typically quite small.
4. Customer Developer: the 3PL provider integrates itself with the customer and takes over their entire logistics function. These providers will have merely a few customers, but will perform extensive and detailed tasks for them.

Third Party Logistics Types | 3PL Services Provider Types
Charles Intrieri, USA
The following are characteristics of the different types of third party logistics services:

TRANSPORTATION BASED THIRD PARTY LOGISTICS SERVICES
• Services extend beyond transportation to offer a comprehensive set of logistics offerings.
• Leveraged 3PLs use assets of other firms.
• Non-leveraged 3PLs use assets belonging solely to the parent firm.
• Examples: Ryder, Schneider Logistics, FedEx Logistics, UPS Logistics

WAREHOUSE/DISTRIBUTION BASED THIRD PARTY LOGISTICS SERVICES
• Many have former warehouse and/or distribution experience.
• Examples: DSC Logistics, USCO, Exel, Caterpillar Logistics

FORWARDER BASED THIRD PARTY LOGISTICS SERVICES
• Very independent middlemen with forwarder roles.
• Non-asset owners that provide a wide range of logistics services.
• Examples: AEI, Kuehne & Nagle, Fritz, Circle, C. H. Robinson, Hub Group

SHIPPER/MANAGEMENT BASED THIRD PARTY LOGISTICS SERVICES
• Focused on the management of the shipping process from beginning to end.
• Provides technology, such as.