The 5 questions manufacturers, distributors, and retailers need to ask if they don’t want to be held captive by their supply chain choices...• Are you a shipper of choice? Becoming a shipper of choice is more important than the lowest cost choice on a project basis. When you really need a solution, you want your vendors to be excited to be there for you - and when you’ve been an annoying negotiator, you tend to be the lowest priority when demand is high.• Are you in a position to have capacity protection?During busy seasons and the natural ebb and flow of a high demand marketing, carrier capacity runs low. What relationships can you tap into to ensure there are no disruptions in your supply chain?• Do you have buying power?Small to mid-sized manufacturers and retail businesses often miss out on the benefits that the larger organizations have access to. Companies that choose to work with a 4PL, leveraging their buying power, they bring technology to the organization and more streamlined customer service.• Is your technology fully integrated?Many organizations don’t realize that they can leverage a TMS without any investment. By having a TMS, they have supply chain visibility to help make informed decisions through real-time data viewed in a single screen dashboard. And, it empowers you to select carriers and control costs.• Do you have a mode/carrier-neutral process for procuring outsourced supply chain services?A vendor-neutral approach offers you the best price and service for your supply chain needs. Often companies that are contracted to a specific mode or carrier lose sight and negotiating power over time. While they believe that got a “deal” initially, they may ultimately be paying more or may not get the best service when they need it most. BONUS: Your vendor approach needs to look at the full picture. If you choose your mode and carriers in silos, you may be missing out on an opportunity to leverage one part of your supply chain spend to help you save in others.