A 3PL scorecard you can copy

Updated 2026-10-31

One page, a few rows, a score per row. Use it twice: once to compare 3PLs before you sign, and then every month to check the one you picked.

The template

Area	What you measure	Target
Dispatch on time	Share of orders shipped by the agreed cut-off	From your SLA
Processing time	Median hours from order to fulfilment, plus the slowest 10%	From your SLA
Pick accuracy	Mis-picks reported per 100 orders	From your SLA
Fill rate	Orders shipped complete first time	From your SLA
Receiving	Working days from delivery to sellable	From your SLA
Cost per order	All fees for the month divided by orders	Your budget
Communication	Reply time, how problems get handled	Your call

How to use it

Before you sign, fill in the target column from each 3PL's written answers and score them side by side. After you sign, fill in the actual column every month from your own order data. Don't rely only on the warehouse's report.

Weight the rows that matter most to you. If your customers expect next-day delivery, dispatch on time counts double.

Skip the spreadsheet

The ForthMatch Shopify app fills in most of these rows for you from your orders, checks them against the SLA you set, and it's free. If you're still looking for a 3PL, start in the 3PL directory.

Questions people ask

What should a 3PL scorecard include?

On-time dispatch, processing time, pick accuracy, fill rate, receiving time, cost per order and communication. Keep it to one page so you actually use it.