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FAQ
FAQ
General
Company Overview
What is DCL Logistics?
DCL Logistics is a leading third-party logistics (3PL) provider with over 40 years of operational expertise. We offer full-service ecommerce and retail fulfillment, including warehousing, inventory management, pick/pack/ship, kitting, returns, and compliance support. With six facilities across the US, DCL supports omnichannel brands that need scalable, tech-enabled, and high-touch logistics solutions.
Is DCL Logistics Privately Owned?
Yes. DCL is proudly independent and privately held, with no outside investors. This has been the case for all 43 years of our existence. This gives us the freedom to prioritize customer success, long-term partnerships, and service consistency over short-term financial goals.
Fulfillment Services
What types of fulfillment does DCL provide?
- Direct-to-Consumer (DTC): Fast, branded shipping experiences for ecommerce customers.
- Business-to-Business (B2B): Retail fulfillment for big-box, boutique, and specialty channels.
- Amazon and Marketplace: FBA prep and FBM support, and omnichannel syncing; we are SFN certified for brands to fulfill through us with the Prime badge.
- Value-Added Services: Custom kitting, bundling, gift messaging, labeling, late-stage customization, light assembly and firmware updating.
Where are DCL’s Fulfillment Facilities Located?
DCL Logistics owns and operates six U.S. fulfillment centers, strategically positioned to provide national coverage and two-to-three-day shipping reach across the country:
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Fremont, California (Bay Area)
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Milmont Facility – 48641 Milmont Dr., Fremont, CA 94538
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Kato Facility – 48819 Kato Rd., Fremont, CA 94539
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Ontario, California (Los Angeles area)
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Philadelphia Facility – 4455 E. Philadelphia St., Ontario, CA 91761
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Louisville, Kentucky (South/Central U.S.)
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Enterprise Facility – 6825 Enterprise Dr., Louisville, KY 40214
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With this distributed footprint, DCL helps brands reduce transit times, optimize shipping costs, and ensure reliable service for both direct-to-consumer (DTC) and retail (B2B) fulfillment.
Do you Support Subscription Box Fulfillment?
Yes. We manage recurring shipments, multiple SKU bundles, branded inserts, and timed delivery—helping subscription-based brands create consistent unboxing experiences
What is your Capacity for High-Volume Fulfillment?
We process 30,000 orders daily (non-peak), scaling to 100,000 orders per day during peak periods like Q4 holiday seasons.
Can DCL Provide Custom Kitting or Packaging?
Yes. We support custom packaging, branded unboxing experiences, and advanced kitting/assembly workflows. We work closely with clients to design VAS (value-added services) that reflect their brand identity and operational needs.
Do you Support Omnichannel Fulfillment?
We excel at omnichannel fulfillment—DTC, retail, marketplace, Amazon, and dropship—offering compliance, speed, and accuracy across all channels.
What Service Level Agreements (SLAs) does DCL Maintain?
DCL consistently achieves over 99% on-time fulfillment and one-day dock-to-stock for compliant inbound shipments. Our warehouse operations are designed for precision and speed, even during peak seasons.
Technology and Integration
What Tech Platforms Does DCL Integrate With?
We offer plug-and-play integrations with:
- Shopify
- Amazon Seller Central
- SPS Commerce (EDI) and True Commerce
- NetSuite, Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and other ERPs
- Custom APIs for proprietary systems
- Many more
What is eFactory?
eFactory is DCL’s proprietary cloud-based order fulfillment and inventory management portal that gives brands:
- Real-time visibility into inventory, orders, returns, and SKUs
- Order management customization tools to update and track orders at a detailed level
- Access to daily and monthly reports, plus a scheduling feature
- Tools for demand forecasting, business intelligence, and performance tracking
- Custom workflows, dashboards, and alerts
- Return management visibility, customization, and easy navigation
- Transportation cost estimation tools and shipping calculators
Can DCL Handle Custom Order Logic and Workflows?
Yes. We support conditional workflows like gift-with-purchase, marketing inserts, split shipments, and bundling. Many clients also use eFactory APIs for dynamic order routing and product launches.
Pricing & Contracts
How is Pricing Structured?
Our pricing is customized based on your product profile, order volume, and service requirements. We offer transparent, scalable pricing models with no hidden fees. Volume-based discounts and bundled service rates are available for growing brands.
Do you Offer Flexible Contract Terms?
Yes. Unlike some VC-backed 3PLs that lock brands into rigid annual contracts, we structure agreements to match your business stage and allow for growth. Most clients start with short-term onboarding phases, followed by scalable SLAs.
Onboarding & Support
What Does the Onboarding Process Involve?
You’ll receive a dedicated account team and launch roadmap with:
- Technical integration support
- Department-specific onboarding sessions with DCL experts (software, transportation, operations, and more)
- Inventory setup
- Carrier and service mapping
- Process documentation
- Test shipments and SLA calibration
Does DCL Provide Quick Onboarding Without Operational Disruptions?
Switching 3PL providers can feel risky—but with DCL Logistics, onboarding is fast, structured, and seamless. We’ve built a proven onboarding process designed to get your fulfillment operation up and running without delays, missteps, or lost momentum.
Here’s what to expect:
- Dedicated Launch Team: You’ll be assigned a cross-functional team—including an account manager, integration engineer, and operations lead—who will guide every step of your transition.
- Custom Integration Plan: Whether you’re on Shopify, Amazon, NetSuite, SPS Commerce, or another platform, our team will ensure smooth API or EDI integration with your existing systems—within a few weeks.
- SKU Mapping and Inventory Validation: We conduct meticulous product setup, test shipments, and inventory audits to prevent errors and ensure accuracy from day one.
- Parallel Testing (Zero Downtime): If needed, we’ll run fulfillment in parallel with your current provider, allowing for real-time validation and a phased transition—minimizing risk and avoiding stockouts or order delays.
- Retail and Marketplace Readiness: For brands with retail partners or marketplace listings, we proactively configure routing guides, label specs, and ASN templates to meet channel requirements from day one.
Onboarding timelines typically range from two to four weeks depending on complexity.
Do I Get a Dedicated Account Manager?
Yes. Every client is assigned a dedicated account manager plus access to operations, engineering, and customer support teams. Our support structure is proactive, not ticket-based—we prioritize relationships, not volume.
How Responsive is DCL’s Support Team?
Our team is praised for real-time responsiveness. Clients often describe DCL as “an extension of their brand.” You’ll have direct phone and email access to your support team—no ticket queues, no runarounds.
Quality & Compliance
How Does DCL Maintain High Service Levels?
We are ISO 9001:2015 certified and maintain internal benchmarks of >99% order accuracy and >99% on-time shipping. We support serialized scanning, expiration tracking, QA inspections, and retail-specific routing compliance.
Do you Support Retail Compliance Requirements?
Yes. At DCL Logistics, we understand that retail compliance isn’t optional—it’s essential. We combine certified quality systems, retail routing expertise, and rigorous operational controls to ensure every shipment meets retailer standards and legal regulations, reducing risk and increasing trust.
Retail-Specific Routing and Labeling
- We adhere to 150+ retailer routing guides (including Amazon, Target, QVC, Anthropologie, etc.), handling everything from palletization and pack densities to carton labeling, UCC codes, pal-ready requirements, and ASN generation.
- Our team configures support for channel-specific mandates like RFID tagging, thermal label specs, handling of promotional items, and carton orientation—ensuring scans and shelf-ready compliance.
Certified Quality Management
- Our facilities in Fremont, Ontario, and Louisville, and York are ISO 9001:2015 certified, ensuring consistent process quality through continuous review and control
- We maintain FDA food facility registrations and medical device establishment registration for operations involving consumables or Class II medical devices.
Core Operational and Quality Protocols
We enforce rigorous practices to prevent errors and preserve product integrity:
- Document and Records Control: Secure management of SOPs, quality plans, deviation logs, and job instructions across all facilities.
- Change Control and CAPA: Formal procedures for process adjustments, deviations, nonconformance tracking, and corrective/preventive actions.
- Product Traceability: Lot, batch, and serial number tracking ensure separation of conforming and nonconforming product—with full recall-readiness.
- Receiving and Inspection: Dedicated quarantine zones and inspection protocols prevent noncompliant goods from entering the fulfillment pipeline.
- Data and Systems Validation: Regular validation of ERP, labeling, and eFactory systems guarantees accuracy in digital flows—and compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 820 and ISO standards.
Performance and Audit Controls
- Internal Audits and Process Monitoring: Routine reviews and real-time KPI monitoring ensure operations consistently meet retailer benchmarks.
- Training and Competency Programs: All operational staff undergo regular training on retail requirements and compliance protocols.
- Energy and Emissions Compliance: We maintain environmental compliance under California’s AB 802 (energy benchmarking) and South Coast AQMD WAIRE Rule 2305 (emissions monitoring) at select facilities.
Privacy and Regulatory Compliance
- We uphold GDPR, CCPA, and CPRA for data privacy.
- Health-related fulfillment is backed by HIPAA and HITECH-aligned Business Associate Agreements.
- Facilities handling medical devices also comply with FDA and ISO quality standards
Industries and Client Fit
What Types of Brands Does DCL Work With?
We support high-growth and scale-stage brands across:
- Consumer electronics
- Health and wellness
- Medical devices
- Subscription boxes
- Omnichannel CPG
- Consumer tech and lifestyle goods
Do you Handle Medical Device Fulfillment?
Yes. We are fully equipped and certified to store and ship Class II medical devices and regulated health products. Our services include:
- Temperature-controlled storage (15°C–25°C)
- Lot and serial number tracking
- CAPA and deviation management
- FDA and ISO 9001:2015 certification
- HIPAA-compliant operations for protected health data
Can you Manage Hazmat or Shelf-Life-Controlled Inventory?
Absolutely. Over 80% of some client inventories are classified as hazmat. We support lot control, FIFO/LEFO rotation, and expiration date management for full regulatory compliance. We are skilled in handling and shipping dangerous goods items.
Client Testimonials
“DCL plays a pivotal role in growing and scaling our fulfillment operations… they go above and beyond to find solutions to the most complex logistical challenges.” —Aura Frames
“DCL helped us go from startup chaos to operational clarity. Their level of organization and transparency is a game-changer.” —Alice Mushrooms
“There are a lot of 3PLs that do either DTC or B2B well—not both. DCL is one of the few that can handle every channel flawlessly.” —Starday Foods