Reliable staffing for 3PLs

From picking and packing to quality control, we've got you covered

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Pickers & Packers
Sorters
Quality Control Inspectors
Labelers & Taggers
Forklift Operators
General Laborers
Warehouse 
Workers
Warehouse Associates -
Entry Level
Warehouse Associates -
Intermediate
Assembly Workers
Return Processors
Custodials

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Frequently asked questions

How does pricing work for 3PL?

Instawork offers flexible, all-inclusive pricing so you only pay for shifts you book.

Hourly business rates, which are shown before you submit your booking request on our platform, include the Instawork Professional's hourly rate, pre-shift screening, insurance coverage, and any applicable taxes and fees.

Instawork handles all billing and worker payments. For those with recurring or large volume needs, please speak with a Partnerships Manager about custom pricing by requesting a demo.

How do you vet the staff for 3PL?

Workers who book shifts through Instawork create detailed profiles. We collect and review over 30 skills data points, including work history, skill quizzes, professional references, and valid certifications.

Unlike traditional temp agencies, these data points are available to you to review directly on workers’ profile. Plus, once the worker starts completing shifts through Instawork, their work performance is continuously assessed through ratings and feedback from businesses, and on-time metrics and other platform data.

What is 3PL recruitment?

3PL recruitment is finding, vetting, and placing the people who keep logistics operations running. This can include:

  • Warehouse associates (picking, packing, sorting)
  • Forklift operators
  • Shipping & receiving clerks
  • Inventory control specialists
  • Delivery drivers or CDL drivers
  • Supervisors or managers for logistics operations

Recruitment can be done directly by the 3PL company’s HR team, or through staffing agencies that specialize in logistics and warehouse labor.

What is 3PL fullfillment?

3PL fulfillment (third-party logistics fulfillment) is when a company outsources the storage, packing, and shipping of its products to a specialized logistics provider instead of handling it in-house.

What is a warehouse 3PL?

A 3PL warehouse is a storage and distribution facility operated by a third-party logistics provider (3PL) that manages inventory and order fulfillment on behalf of other businesses.

Instead of a company owning or running its own warehouse, it rents space and services from a 3PL. The 3PL doesn’t just store products—it also provides logistics support.

What a 3PL warehouse does:

  • Storage: Holds your products until they’re needed.
  • Inventory management: Tracks stock levels and updates them in real time.
  • Picking & packing: Finds and packages items when an order comes in.
  • Shipping & distribution: Sends out orders via carriers.
  • Returns processing: Handles items that customers send back.

Why businesses use 3PL warehouses:

  • Scalability: Easy to add or reduce storage.
  • Lower costs: No need to lease, staff, or manage your own warehouse.
  • Faster delivery: Many 3PLs operate multiple warehouses closer to end customers, enabling 2-day or even same-day shipping.
  • Expertise: Logistics specialists optimize processes, reducing errors and delays.

Where to hire 3PL people?

Depending on whether you need temporary warehouse staff, long-term employees, or specialized logistics talent, you can use different channels:

1. Staffing Agencies Specializing in Logistics

  • Top choice if you need warehouse associates, forklift operators, or seasonal staff.
  • Agencies already have pools of pre-vetted candidates and can scale up quickly.

2. Job Boards & Marketplaces

  • Useful for hiring direct employees or contract workers.
  • General job boards.
  • Logistics/warehouse-focused platform:
    • Instawork (on-demand warehouse & fulfillment workers)

3. Direct Recruiting

  • Post roles on your own company careers page.

4. Industry Networks & Referrals

  • Ask existing employees for referrals.
  • Attend logistics/supply chain job fairs.

What to ask at 3PL interviewee?

Ask about their warehouse or logistics experience, ability to use equipment/WMS systems, and how they handle accuracy, safety, and peak demand.

For supervisors or managers, focus on inventory management, problem-solving, KPIs, and client communication. This helps you gauge both hands-on skills and the ability to manage 3PL operations effectively.

What does a 3PL stand for?

3PL recruitment is the process of hiring and staffing workers for third-party logistics (3PL) companies.

A 3PL company is a business that provides outsourced logistics services—like warehousing, distribution, fulfillment, inventory management, and transportation—for other companies that don’t want to handle those services in-house.

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