In Brazil, the third-party logistics industry began to gain strength with the Plano Real economic
plan and ensuing economic stability (Fleury & Ribeiro, 2003). Currently, two-thirds of logisticsrelated expenditure in Brazilian firms is earmarked for logistics service providers, a fact which
underscores the importance of outsourcing for the country (Centro de Estudos em Logística [CEL],
2009). As such, 3PLs must continually be on the lookout for new ways to stay competitive, with
efficiency evaluation techniques serving a fundamental role in this quest.