What 3PL warehouse insurance covers – 3PL warehouse insurance primarily protects its personnel, equipment, and buildings. Every responsible 3PL warehousing company carries Warehousemen Legal Liability Insurance, which stipulates that the 3PL provider is responsible for the safe storage of your goods and must provide “reasonable care” for your goods while in its care.
- If the warehouse provider fails to exercise “reasonable care” and its negligence results in the loss or damage of your goods, the warehouse provider’s insurance company covers losses to the contractually agreed-upon extent.
- Therefore, the 3PL warehouse insurance covers the 3PL’s negligence for product damage.
Shipping the wrong product or improperly loading or handling a product, resulting in damage, are examples of negligence. Importantly, all warehouse contracts limit liability substantially, and if your product is particularly valuable, the liability level may be significantly lower than the actual cost of your goods.
Even if the warehouse was 100% negligent, the 3PL’s insurance would not fully cover your loss in this scenario. Your insurance would cover the remainder. You are also fully responsible for any loss or damage to your goods caused by “acts of God” (e.g., fires, floods, storms, earthquakes, etc.). In addition to Warehousemen Legal Liability Insurance, 3PLs carry Commercial General Liability Insurance, Employers Liability Insurance, and Workers’ Compensation Insurance.
Why I Quit Dropshipping to Start a 3PL Company (Third-Party Logistics)
Importantly, the 3PL’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance will cover its employees if they are injured while handling your products.
How does a 3PL achieve success?
According to the 2017 3PL Study, 73% of shippers report that their 3PL offers them new and innovative ways to enhance logistics effectiveness. An efficient 3PL will reach out to you with questions and feedback to help improve your operations and customer service.
You may wish to establish your own shipping capacity, as the experience you gain there may prove useful in other areas of your business. In addition, it may take more time and effort than you believe to find a qualified provider. You will likely be required to pay a recurring fee to retain their services, which may not be suitable for your business if customer demand fluctuates significantly or if your demand is insufficient to justify the cost.
There are numerous 3PL providers to choose from today, so you should investigate all of your options before making a choice. In addition to considering price, you should also evaluate each provider’s reputation, size, reach, and maturity, as well as the other services they offer. Considering that your provider will become a vital business partner, trustworthiness may be the most crucial consideration.
Rather than focusing on finding the cheapest service, you may want to view your search for a 3PL provider as the pursuit of an ideal business partner. Third-Party Logistics (3PL): Benefits and Drawbacks
What risks are associated with 3PL?
Potentially, outsourcing to a 3PL could result in a breach of confidentiality, leading to the disclosure of customer personal information or the dissemination of commercially sensitive information.