This study, published on the CSCMP Web site and written by Prof. Dr. Remko I. van Hoek of the Cranfield School of Managememt (UK), states that the fourth party logistics service provider (4PL) participates in supply chain coordination instead of just providing operational logistics and fulfillment services, like a traditional third party logistics provider (3PL) would.

The implementation of a 4PL model required a major transition for UPS, which has its heritage in express and physical logistics services, towards a more integral involvement in customers supply chains, with a greater impact on customer supply chain performance and strategy.

To read the complete study, click here.