7 questions every lab should ask when evaluating a last-mile logistics partner

October 30, 2025

By: Wes Crampton, MedSpeed President

When high-quality last-mile logistics align with your business goals, your lab performs at its best. But how can you tell if your current setup is supporting—or undermining—your success? From quality control and cost management to real-time data and adaptable systems, your lab logistics partner plays a pivotal role.

So, how well is your current setup working for you?

Here are key questions to help you evaluate the performance of your lab logistics network and determine whether it’s truly driving your lab forward.

1. How are you measuring quality?

Costly errors can’t be avoided if they aren’t measured. Do you know:

• how many logistics-related errors occurred last year?
• if your courier is equipped with the right tools to handle specimens safely, and within the required temperature ranges?

It’s important to partner with a lab logistics provider that can deliver quality standards that exceed industry norms. If quality is at risk, so is patient care and your bottom line.

2. What is the true cost of your logistics program?

Medical couriers affect more than delivery speed—they impact your overall operations costs. Do you know:

• how much of your current on-demand use could be moved to cost-efficient scheduled service?
• how much medical courier errors are costing your lab—including retests, lost physician trust, and patient dissatisfaction?

If your network isn’t optimized or poor courier quality is causing errors, reducing costs starts with identifying the source.

3. Do you have actionable data?

Without reliable data, decision-making is guesswork. Do you have the real-time insights you need to:

• right-size staffing based on specimen flow?
• assess STAT/on-demand efficiency to identify potential bottlenecks, reduce turnaround times, and optimize overall service levels?

It’s crucial to ensure routes are tailored to your volume needs and service expectations. If you can’t see the patterns, you can’t optimize, leading to wasted spend.

4. Is technology working for you or holding you back?

Modern labs require modern tools. Does your lab logistics provider deliver:

• full chain-of-custody visibility?
• real-time tracking to improve quality and accountability?

The right technology can make all the difference in streamlining your lab logistics operations and removing the administrative burden often placed on clinicians.

5. How reliable is your customer service?

Your team needs timely support to ensure patient care is never compromised and clinicians can focus on what’s important. Do you have:

• support available 24/7/365?
• a dedicated local team who understands your lab’s unique needs?

Reliable communication and support can prevent small problems from becoming big ones and help ensure your lab operations continue running smoothly.

6. Does your team have the right training?

Educating your team on smarter ways to use your lab logistics network can help manage costs. Does your medical courier offer:

• educational resources to help your team choose the most efficient and cost-effective delivery method in real time?
• guidance on matching service levels to specimen urgency?

Proactive customer education enhances service quality and mitigates wasted spend.

7. Is your logistics network built for agility?

Adaptability is crucial. An agile lab can quickly respond to changes in volume, evolving service needs or unexpected disruptions. Do you have:

• flexible lab logistics that scale with demand without sacrificing service quality?
• systems in place to rapidly adjust routes or service levels in response to operational changes?

Building agility into your logistics ensures your lab stays resilient, responsive and ready for whatever comes next.

Logistics should drive—not drain—your lab’s performance.

If you’re unsure whether your current setup is supporting your growth and patient care goals, it’s time to evaluate.

For more than 25 years, MedSpeed has partnered with labs nationwide to deliver reliable, healthcare-focused logistics that support patient care and performance and transform logistics from an operational burden to a competitive advantage.

We’re ready to help your lab do the same.