The use of third party logistics services by large Australian manufacturers: current status and trends

Abstract

Based on a revised questionnaire developed originally by Lieb (1992), an empirical research was conducted to investigate the use of third-party logistics (TPL) services by large manufacturing companies in Australia. Using a sample drawn from Australia’s Top 500 companies, the study examined the extent to which TPL services used, the type of logistics services used, the impact of the use of TPL services on customer satisfaction, costs and employee morale of the user companies. The results revealed that about two-third of the companies who have responded use TPL services from one or more TPL providers, and over 85% of the companies were satisfied with the services provided by the TPL service providers. The results also indicated that the most frequently used logistics functions were warehouse management, order fulfilment and fleet management.