3PL Logistics Partner Selection & Freight Rate Survey
Understand how shippers, manufacturers, and distributors evaluate, compare, and choose 3PL partners on service reliability, freight rates, and network coverage, so you can sharpen partner positioning, benchmark rate competitiveness, and convert high-value freight contracts.
CONTEXT & RELEVANCE
Why run this survey now
Most shippers don't lose freight margin purely on rate negotiations. They lose it due to misaligned service-level expectations, opaque surcharge structures, carrier capacity gaps, poor lane-level visibility, and weak 3PL performance benchmarks, none of which fully show up in TMS reports or freight audit tools.
If you are...
- Shipper reviewing 3PL contracts
- Freight procurement or sourcing lead
- Supply chain network planning head
- Logistics cost and ops controller
RESEARCH THEMES
What This Survey Investigates
Eight interconnected research themes that map the complete shipper journey from carrier shortlisting to contract renewal.
Partner Discovery
- Initial 3PL identification channels
- RFQ trigger events, timelines
Selection Criteria
- Top-ranked carrier evaluation factors
- Network coverage, modal capability
Freight Rate Benchmarks
- Rate structure, surcharge components
- Spot versus contracted rate split
Contract & Compliance
- SLA structure, penalty clauses
- Compliance documentation, audit frequency
Technology & Visibility
- TMS integration, real-time tracking
- EDI, API connectivity gaps
Service Failures & Recovery
- Transit delay frequency, root causes
- Claims resolution speed, escalation paths
Switching & Retention
- Churn triggers, re-tendering frequency
- Incumbent advantage, switching barriers
Competitive Positioning
- Multi-3PL strategy, wallet share
- Preferred provider ranking, future intent
SAMPLING STRATEGY
Tell us about your ideal sample
Help us understand your target respondent profile. Select what applies, we'll design the optimal sample plan based on your inputs.
METHODOLOGY
Survey approach
For the 3PL Logistics Partner Selection & Freight Rate Survey, we recommend a quant-first design with flexible data-collection modes to balance reach, depth, and verification across shipper segments and freight corridors.
EXECUTION PROCESS
How we execute
A proven 9-step process from scoping to delivery, designed to ensure quality, speed, and actionable insights.
Define the decision frame
Confirm objectives, target cohorts, geographies, and reporting cuts
Define the decision frame
Design the instrument
Build workstream modules mapped to outputs (drivers, friction, pricing, retention, trust)
Design the instrument
Lock the questionnaire
Review wording, sequencing, LOI, and competitive context; approve final version
Lock the questionnaire
Pilot and calibrate
Test comprehension and ease quality; refine quotas and remove friction where needed
Pilot and calibrate
Run fieldwork
Execute collection with active quota management and feasibility controls
Run fieldwork
Assure quality
Dedupe, attention checks, speed/consistency rules, removals with audit trail
Assure quality
Prepare the dataset
Clean data and deliver codebook/variable definitions
Prepare the dataset
Analyse and synthesise
Driver ranking, leakage diagnostics, pricing bands, segment insights
Analyse and synthesise
Deliver and align
Executive deck (optional dashboard) and leadership readout with recommendations
Deliver and align
COMMERCIAL TERMS
Request a Commercial Proposal
Pricing depends on cohort, geography, sample size, approach, LOI, and deliverables. Configure below for an indicative estimate.
Select Sample Size
Geography
Select Mode of Survey
Length of the Interview
$0.00
+ applicable taxes
Cost Breakdown
Note: Estimate is indicative only. Final pricing is subject to scope finalization after discovery call.
REFERENCE CASELETS
Reference
Real-world examples of survey work in the freight and logistics partner selection space.
Freight rate benchmarking & carrier preference mapping (Pan-India)
OBJECTIVE
WHAT WE DID
DELIVERED
Freight rate benchmarking & carrier preference mapping (Pan-India)
3PL onboarding friction & contract negotiation journey (West India)
Freight rate benchmarking & carrier preference mapping (Pan-India)
OBJECTIVE
A mid-size manufacturing exporter needed to benchmark spot rate corridors against contracted freight rates across full-truckload and part-truckload segments, and identify which carrier attributes drove renewal decisions at the lane level.
WHAT WE DID
Ran a structured quant survey across 180 logistics procurement managers in six industrial clusters, capturing rate benchmarks by lane type , carrier shortlisting criteria , contract tenure preferences , and service-level tolerance thresholds for delay and damage incidents.
DELIVERED
A lane-level freight rate corridor map , a ranked carrier attribute framework by shipper segment, and a switching trigger list identifying the specific service failures that prompt procurement teams to re-tender primary carrier contracts.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Common Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about this survey mandate.
What decisions will this survey enable?
Who is the buyer vs who are the respondents?
Can we see differences between asset-based 3PLs, non-asset-based 3PLs and digital freight brokers?
How will you measure 3PL partner selection beyond simple ratings?
Will the survey map the full 3PL procurement journey and drop-offs?
Can this survey inform product and pricing strategy?
How will findings improve our contract win rate and freight rate positioning?
Still have questions?
Schedule a discovery call to discuss your specific needs and get a custom quote.