What does 'third-party logistics' (3PL) refer to?

Third-party logistics (3PL) refers to the practice of outsourcing logistics services to an external provider, which is why the selection of that answer is accurate. A 3PL provider can offer a range of logistics services including transportation, warehousing, inventory management, order fulfillment, and distribution, among others.

This practice allows companies to focus on their core competencies while leveraging the expertise and resources of the 3PL provider to streamline their logistics operations. By utilizing a 3PL, businesses can often achieve cost savings, improved service levels, and increased flexibility in their supply chains.

For example, a company may choose to partner with a 3PL provider to manage its shipping and warehousing needs instead of handling those functions in-house. This can help them respond more quickly to changes in demand without the overhead costs associated with maintaining their own logistics infrastructure.

Other options presented do not accurately describe 3PL: managing logistics in-house represents a different business strategy, stockpiling goods relates to inventory management rather than logistics outsourcing, and planning delivery routes is just one component of logistics operations, not indicative of the overarching practice of using third-party logistics providers.