Third-party logistics companies (3PLs) are important in the pharmaceutical industry for managing the storage, packaging, and distribution of pharmaceutical products. This allows pharma brands to concentrate on developing new products and satisfying customers.
With Statista forecasting the global pharmaceutical market to reach $1.45 trillion by 2029, 3PLs supporting pharmaceutical logistics are in high demand. Choosing the wrong 3PL partner can mean more than just bad logistics; it can mean going with a company that isn’t equipped to handle regulations and manage cold chain operations.
In this article, we share the top 6 third-party logistics providers that specialize in pharmaceutical fulfillment. At the end of this article, you will understand what to look for in a pharma 3PL and why you should trust an Extensiv partner for your logistics needs.
Choosing the right pharmaceutical 3PL partner is critical for ensuring regulatory compliance, protecting the integrity of your products, and meeting your customers’ expectations.
High-security storage is required when handling sensitive health care products. You may need your 3PL to offer temperature-controlled facilities and cold chain services to protect products and minimize loss or damage. These specifically engineered environments protect temperature sensitive products like vaccines, biologics, and other heating or cooling sensitive products from spoilage or degradation. This ensures that healthcare products get to end users in the best condition, which protects brand reputation and public health.
Pharma logistics is highly regulated. You should find a 3PL with a history of compliance with labeling requirements, Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) serialization, FDA-certification, state and specialty pharmacy licensing, and other accreditations your products may require. A good partner will keep up with laws and adjust their methods in accordance with new standards.
Your pharma 3PL must be able to track inventory in real time and provide transparent reporting. The best 3PL will offer value-added services such as accurate data analytics and seamless integration with your current systems for full visibility over your supply chain.
To complement this, pharmaceutical CRM software can bridge the gap between logistics and customer engagement, giving pharma brands more control over their supply chain communications and client relationships.
Go with a 3PL with a dedicated support team that will reply quickly to things like recalls, compliance updates, or urgent shipping needs. You should not be treated as “just another client” but as a priority.
Select a partner with a history of success in pharmaceutical logistics. They should understand the industry’s unique challenges, from product recalls to expiration tracking, and know how to handle them efficiently.
A good 3PL does more than just fulfill orders; they are your partners. Find a provider who fits your business goals. They should also be able to handle the growth of your business—and help you grow. Ask if they can cope with increased volume. Also consider whether they can adjust their services to meet your needs without sacrificing the quality.
The table below compares the core services offered by the top six 3PLs within the pharmaceutical industry. This will help you get a brief overview of your options before we go more in-depth on each company later.
| 3PL Provider | Services & Capabilities | # of Locations |
| Warehouse Pro and Fulfillment Plus | Amazon FBA and FBM, direct mail, kitting, cross-docking, FDA-certified | 2 — Southwest, Midwest |
| RAZR Logistics LLC | Local and long-distance transportation, last-mile delivery, kitting, supply chain management | 18 — Southwest, Midwest, West |
| Aeronet Worldwide | Cross-docking, EDI/UCC-128 compliance, refrigerated warehousing, FDA-certified | 9 — Southeast, Southwest, Midwest, West |
| fulfillmate | Amazon FBA and FBM, kitting, cross-docking, international freight, EDI/UCC-128 compliance, FDA-certified | 4 — Southeast, West, Western Canada, International |
| jam-n Logistics | Omnichannel & ecommerce order fulfillment, B2B big box retail distribution services, dropshipping | 2 — West |
| CNA Freight LLC | Amazon FBM, kitting, cross-docking, EDI/UCC-128 compliance, HAZMAT | 2 — Southeast, West |
Warehouse Pro and Fulfillment Plus is a family owned and operated 3PL with over 47 years of experience, offering 2 FDA-certified warehouses in Texas and Missouri. Their industry-standard kitting and relabeling capabilities ensure reliability and streamline pharmaceutical supply chains for businesses of all sizes. They stand out for their personalized client relationships.
Headquartered in Colorado, RAZR Logistics specializes in providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to their clients. Their ecommerce fulfillment, climate-controlled warehouse, and intermodal transportation ensure they meet their customers’ needs in a safe and timely manner. RAZR helps pharmaceutical companies simplify logistics challenges by emphasizing data-driven decisions and cost-effective practices.
Founded in 1982 and headquartered in California, Aeronet Worldwide runs a highly automated network of warehouses and transportation systems to offer their clients global logistics solutions. They offer strategic supply chain partnerships with partners in 40 different countries and set high standards for precision and regulatory compliance. Aeronet are time-sensitive freight experts that ensure products reach their distribution centers safely and on time.
Fulfillmate offers global experience across multiple industries from their headquarters in California. They are focused on providing timely and versatile services to meet the needs of the customers quickly and effectively from their locations in Canada, the United States, and Australia. Their ability to deal with complex supply chains makes them an asset for pharmaceutical companies.
Jam-n Logistics provides scalable, compliant fulfillment solutions for pharmaceutical companies through omnichannel order fulfillment services that cater to evolving market demands. With industry-leading accuracy and same-day shipping from their 2 locations in Southern California, jam-n ensures pharmaceutical products reach consumers without delay.
CNA Freight LLC provides different pharmaceutical distribution solutions, including FDA-compliant fulfillment and climate controlled warehousing out of their 2 locations in Tennessee and California. Their real-time inventory tracking helps them provide reliable delivery to both local and international markets while boosting supply chain transparency and accuracy.
Learn more about these 3PLs and others providing nutraceutical and pharmaceutical fulfillment services in our 3PL directory!
Extensiv 3PL warehouse partners can offer everything you need to be more efficient. Below are some of the benefits of using an Extensiv 3PL partner for your pharmaceutical fulfillment.
Extensiv’s 3PL partners offer end-to-end supply chain management services based on the specific needs of pharmaceutical brands. These 3PLs handle inventory management through Extensiv’s industry-leading warehouse management system (WMS) to ensure your needs are met.
Extensiv’s partners use advanced technology for real-time visibility. With this visibility, companies can keep an eye on the inventory, monitor their orders, and automate processes to minimize delays or errors. With real-time information, brands can quickly recognize and resolve possible problems before they snowball. It also helps improve efficiency and mitigate supply chain risks, allowing pharmaceutical companies to remain compliant and responsive.
Whether you’re a startup or a well-established pharmaceutical brand, Extensiv’s 3PL partners offer flexible and scalable solutions to match your business needs. That way, you can focus on your growth without worrying about logistics. By putting your supply chain in capable hands, you can adapt to market changes and grow with confidence.
Extensiv partners are experienced in the special demands of the healthcare, prescription drugs, and pharmaceutical supply chain—including expirations, recalls, and serialization. This ensures that they provide not just efficient but compliant operations required for pharma logistics.
Managing distribution in a highly regulated industry like pharmaceuticals can be challenging to say the least. This is why it’s you have to work with a competent third-party logistics provider that you can trust.
Extensiv’s vetted 3PL partners use advanced technology to help pharmaceutical manufacturers and brands optimize their supply chains—all while strengthening their day-to-day operations and compliance. This will not only enable you to achieve better security for your pharmaceutical products but also help you respond to changing market conditions to build a competitive advantage.
Ready to get started? Visit Extensiv’s Fulfillment Marketplace to find your perfect solution!