What Is 3PL in Logistics?
April 15th, 2025
If you’ve been exploring ways to streamline your supply chain, you’ve probably come across the term 3PL - short for third-party logistics. But what exactly does that mean? And more importantly, is it something your business needs?
In this blog, we’ll break down what 3PL is, what services it includes, and how a trusted provider like Lindner Logistics, based in Milwaukee, can transform the way your business stores, moves, and manages inventory.
So, What Is 3PL?
A third-party logistics (3PL) provider is a company that businesses outsource to handle logistics operations such as warehousing, inventory management, transportation, order fulfillment, and distribution. Instead of managing everything in-house, you partner with a 3PL to do it for you - efficiently, professionally, and often at a lower cost.
Think of 3PL as an extension of your business. You maintain control of your products and customers, while the logistics provider handles the behind-the-scenes movement, storage, and fulfillment.
Why Companies Use 3PL Services?
The need for 3PL support usually emerges when a business grows beyond the point where it can manage logistics internally - either due to increased order volume, geographic expansion, or a lack of storage space and labor.
Partnering with a 3PL can offer immediate benefits:
Cost Savings: Avoid infrastructure investments and reduce overhead.
Scalability: Flex your logistics operations up or down with demand.
Expertise: Leverage industry know-how, tech, and trained teams.
Speed: Faster delivery and fewer fulfillment bottlenecks.
Compliance: Stay ahead of regulatory and industry requirements.
For industries like food, healthcare, or Hazmat, working with a 3PL can also reduce legal risk by ensuring compliance with storage and transportation regulations.
Services a 3PL Typically Provides
While not every 3PL offers the exact same services, most cover the core areas below:
3PL Service | Description |
Warehousing | Secure storage of inventory, from dry goods to cold storage |
Inventory Management | Real-time inventory tracking and stock-level optimization |
Order Fulfillment | Picking, packing, labeling, and shipping orders |
Transportation Management | Coordinating freight, LTL, and last-mile delivery |
Reverse Logistics | Handling returns, recalls, and refurbishing processes |
At Lindner Logistics, we offer all of these services - and more - with specialized capabilities in Hazmat, frozen food, and high-value products.
How Lindner Logistics Does 3PL Differently
Based in Milwaukee, Lindner Logistics serves as a strategic 3PL hub for businesses across the Midwest and beyond. But what sets us apart isn’t just location - it’s our flexibility, compliance expertise, and hands-on customer service.
Our facilities are temperature-controlled, Hazmat-certified, and FDA-registered. We provide detailed inventory reports, real-time visibility, and dedicated support teams who actually get to know your business.
Whether you're a food producer needing freezer space or a manufacturer with seasonal overflow, we tailor our solutions to your specific supply chain goals.
Our warehousing and fulfilment services are building for growing businesses who need logistics that can keep up.
Is 3PL Right for Your Business?
Here’s a simple litmus test. If you answer “yes” to any of the following, a 3PL partner may be your next smart move:
Are logistics taking up too much of your internal resources?
Do you lack the space, labor, or systems to keep up with growth?
Are customer expectations outpacing your current delivery speeds?
Are you navigating complex compliance rules for storage or transport?
If any of that sounds familiar, it may be time to explore a third-party solution.
Final Thoughts
3PL isn’t just a buzzword - it’s a powerful way to scale operations, improve service, and cut costs without losing control. And when done right, it can give your business the freedom to focus on what it does best - creating, selling, and growing.
At Lindner Logistics, we’re more than a warehouse. We’re a logistics partner invested in your long-term success.Is 3PL Right for Your Business?
Here’s a simple litmus test. If you answer “yes” to any of the following, a 3PL partner may be your next smart move:
Are logistics taking up too much of your internal resources?
Do you lack the space, labor, or systems to keep up with growth?
Are customer expectations outpacing your current delivery speeds?
Are you navigating complex compliance rules for storage or transport?
If any of that sounds familiar, it may be time to explore a third-party solution.
Final Thoughts
3PL isn’t just a buzzword - it’s a powerful way to scale operations, improve service, and cut costs without losing control. And when done right, it can give your business the freedom to focus on what it does best - creating, selling, and growing.
At Lindner Logistics, we’re more than a warehouse. We’re a logistics partner invested in your long-term success.