DTC Logistics / Direct-to-Consumer Shipping

Direct-to-consumer logistics covers the supply chain operations required to ship individual orders from a brand's warehouse or fulfillment center straight to a consumer's doorstep. Unlike traditional retail distribution – where shippers move palletized freight to distribution centers in full truckloads – DTC logistics typically involves high order volumes at small unit counts, parcel or small-package carriers, and consumer-facing delivery expectations shaped by Amazon-era speed and transparency standards.

DTC fulfillment involves a distinct set of operational challenges. Orders must be picked, packed, and shipped individually – often with branded packaging, inserts, or temperature-controlled packaging for perishable products. Carrier selection must balance cost against delivery speed and reliability, and the shipper needs real-time tracking that can be shared directly with the end consumer through branded tracking pages or email notifications. Returns logistics adds another layer of complexity that traditional B2B freight doesn't carry.

For DTC brands shipping perishable products – frozen meals, fresh meal kits, pet food – the logistics challenge compounds significantly. These shipments require insulated packaging, gel packs or dry ice, and carrier services that guarantee delivery within a defined transit window to prevent spoilage. A late delivery doesn't just mean a poor customer experience; it means destroyed product and a likely refund.

As DTC brands scale, many find themselves managing a hybrid logistics operation – parcel shipments to consumers alongside LTL or FTL shipments to retail partners and wholesale accounts. Managing both modes from a single platform, with consistent visibility and documentation, becomes essential to avoiding the operational chaos of running parallel systems.