Third-party logistics involves outsourcing one or more stages of supply chain management to an external specialist: warehousing, material handling, packaging, palletisation, loading, and unloading. Ownership of the goods remains entirely with the client, while the logistics partner provides the storage facilities, heavy-lifting equipment, workforce, and operational procedures. For businesses operating in the natural stone and ceramics sectors—handling marble slabs, granite blocks, or crates of fine porcelain stoneware—it is vital to rely on an infrastructure backed by specialised expertise, covered storage, heavy-duty machinery, and staff accustomed to handling heavy, fragile, and oversized freight.
Read on to discover Logistock Italia’s contract logistics services: what is included, how it works, the core benefits, and the key criteria to consider before entrusting high-value consignments to a logistics partner.
What is third-party logistics (3PL)?
Third-party logistics, or logistics outsourcing, refers to the model in which a business stops managing cargo-related activities internally and entrusts them to a specialised provider. The company continues to manufacture and sell, while the partner receives the goods, securely stores them, handles them, and prepares them for dispatch.
The goods never change ownership but are held in custody by the provider, who ensures their proper preservation. The assets remain the property of the client, who retains full control over their final destination and dispatch timelines.
Every provider determines its own area of expertise and how to configure its services. Some focus on long-haul transport and distribution, while others specialise in ground-based logistics—everything that happens before the carrier collects the shipment: secure warehousing, handling, custom crating, and load preparation. In the natural stone and ceramics industries, it is precisely this operational phase that requires facilities and expertise that are exceptionally difficult to replicate in-house.
In-house vs outsourced logistics: what is the difference?
With in-house logistics, a company manages its supply chain using its own assets, facilities, and staff: warehouses, forklifts, cranes, warehouse operatives, and software. In a third-party logistics model, all of this belongs to the service provider and serves multiple clients. The distinction is as much operational as it is financial, as the nature of the costs shifts: from fixed capital investments and equipment depreciation to variable expenses scaled to the actual volumes managed.
What does 3PL mean?
In international terminology, the outsourced model corresponds to the acronym 3PL (Third-Party Logistics) and the term contract logistics: a provider that carries out logistics activities using its own physical resources. A 4PL (Fourth-Party Logistics) provider, on the other hand, does not own warehouses or vehicles and simply coordinates other suppliers. For businesses handling heavy or cumbersome materials, a 3PL provider offers a particularly suitable solution.
How third-party logistics works
The partnership begins with an assessment of volumes, seasonality, and cargo characteristics, which leads to defining space requirements, response times, and responsibilities. From there, the service unfolds in recurring phases.
Goods are received and inspected upon arrival, with checks on quantity, integrity, and documentation. This is followed by storage in covered or outdoor areas, organised by product type: A-frames for slabs, specially equipped yards for blocks, and designated floor spaces for crates. The process then moves on to packaging and load preparation: bundle selection, timber lashing, cargo securing, and consignment consolidation, including groupage. For export, raw wood must be treated and stamped in accordance with the ISPM 15 standard, otherwise the shipment risks being held up at customs.
The final operational phase involves loading and unloading onto lorries or containers, using cranes, overhead gantry cranes, and forklifts calibrated to the specific weight to be lifted. The cycle concludes with document tracking, which logs every inbound and outbound movement, making it possible to trace exactly where the goods are and the condition they were in when taken into custody.
Why outsource your logistics?
The primary benefit is the conversion of fixed costs into variable costs. The bulk of capital is absorbed—regardless of volume—by warehouse and crane operating costs, maintenance, and permanent staff overheads. With outsourced logistics, you pay strictly in proportion to the space occupied and the handling required, making it a highly cost-effective model, especially for smaller companies where irregular volumes would not justify such heavy investment. In the stone and ceramics sectors, workflows are rarely linear: a major contract or a market slowdown can instantly change your space requirements. An owned warehouse remains the same size in both scenarios, whereas an external partner absorbs the peaks and reduces your financial exposure during quiet periods.
Then there is the issue of expertise and equipment. Safely moving a granite block or a large-format slab requires high lifting capacities, proper rigging, and experienced operators. Investing in this for intermittent volumes is rarely sustainable, whereas a specialised provider does it every day with similar loads. Delegating the operational side also frees up time for your core business and lightens the administrative burden.
How much does 3PL cost?
There is no single flat rate: pricing depends on the space occupied (per square metre, pallet space, or A-frame), the handling required, and value-added services such as custom crating, groupage, or customs clearance. To truly understand the value of the investment, the correct comparison is between the 3PL fees and the true cost of running an internal warehouse, including depreciation and staffing costs.
Third-party logistics for marble and ceramics at Logistock Italia
Founded in 2012 in Valpolicella, in the heart of Verona’s renowned stone district, Logistock Italia is a dedicated third-party logistics provider. We operate across two facilities totalling over 10,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor storage space, equipped with three overhead gantry cranes, three portal cranes of varying capacities, and two certified weighbridges for issuing Verified Gross Mass (VGM) certificates.
We specialise in ground-based freight logistics: we store, handle, and manage the loading and unloading of lorries and shipping containers, providing real-time documentation and photographic evidence of every operation. Our container unloading service also includes devanning and delivery to the client’s specified depot.
The service we focus on most is custom packaging: we assess the material, dimensions, weight, and fragility, then create fumigated timber lashing compliant with ISPM 15 standards. This can be standard framing or feature dedicated protections such as extended runners, double cross-beams, end-cap protectors, and side-walls. The work begins well before loading, as we advise the client on the most suitable packaging type and maximum payload, because a well-planned load reduces both risks and shipping costs.
We also consolidate small and large consignments into groupage shipments on lorries or containers, maximising space utilisation to lower the unit cost of shipping. For exporters, we offer consultancy on import/export procedures and operate a Type-C Customs Warehouse, allowing materials to be held under duty-suspension status until customs clearance. We support international clients and partners in both English and German, ensuring that packing instructions and documentation are handled without any misunderstandings.
To find out how we can manage the storage and handling of your marble and ceramic consignments, please fill in the contact form.
3PL: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between third-party warehousing and third-party logistics?
Third-party warehousing relates solely to storage: the company rents space and entrusts the custody of the goods. Third-party logistics (3PL) also includes handling, packaging, load preparation, loading and unloading, tracking, and value-added services like groupage and customs clearance.
How do you choose a third-party logistics provider?
You should verify the compatibility of their equipment with the weight and format of your goods, their covered storage capacity, their experience with your specific product, insurance coverage, and tracking capabilities. For exporters, bonded warehousing options and the ability to communicate with international partners in their own language are also key factors.
Does Logistock Italia also handle transport?
We are a ground-based logistics provider: we store, handle, custom-crate, and load goods onto lorries or containers, coordinating closely with the carrier regarding collection times and stowage. For road haulage in the Verona area, we partner with Signoretto Trasporti e Figli, our sister company, which has specialised in transporting marble slabs and blocks for years and is fully equipped with crane-mounted vehicles and heavy-haulage fleets for special loads.