When the same stock-keeping units (SKUs) keep traveling across the country, carrier rates are only part of the problem. Inventory remains far from recurring demand.
Bicoastal fulfillment shortens those routes with the right product mix. Use this guide to choose which items belong on both coasts and how to avoid stock gaps after adding a second location.
Reduce repeated cross-country shipping with Bergen Logistics:
When Cross-Country Shipping Becomes a Regular Cost
Cross-country shipping becomes a regular cost when West Coast orders stop being occasional and the same product groups make that trip every week.
FedEx raised its package rates by an average of 5.9% in 2026, alongside higher surcharges and fees. Those changes make each recurring long-distance parcel even more expensive.
At that point, bicoastal fulfillment can shorten those routes by placing selected products closer to West Coast demand. The decision depends on where the current setup is adding cost.
How Bicoastal Fulfillment Reduces Shipping Costs
Bicoastal fulfillment reduces shipping costs by sending selected orders from the facility closer to the customer.
Carriers assign shipping zones according to the distance from the origin, so a shorter route usually means a lower zone and rate. East Coast inventory can keep serving nearby demand, while West Coast inventory supports California and nearby states.
The savings depend on stocking each location with the SKUs its regional customers order most often.
Which SKUs to Stock on Both Coasts: A Checklist
Prioritize SKUs with the strongest regional demand signals:
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- Bestsellers with steady West Coast order volume
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- Replenishment items with predictable repeat sales
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- Launch inventory backed by regional forecasts
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- Seasonal products with enough demand to support stock in both locations
Keep slower-moving or uneven-demand items in one location until order data supports a broader split.
For fashion, beauty, and lifestyle catalogs, check demand at the variant level before setting stock depth. A style can sell well nationwide while demand for its sizes, colors, bundles, and limited releases varies by coast. Channel rules can affect the split as well.
How Shipping Costs and Delivery Times Affect Cart Abandonment
A high delivery charge or a long wait can stop a shopper from completing an order.
Among shoppers who abandoned their carts for reasons other than “just browsing,” Baymard Institute found that 40% cited extra costs, including shipping, and 20% cited slow delivery.
Routine orders fulfilled from across the country can leave Western customers facing both problems at checkout. Keeping those products in the region makes standard ground delivery faster and reduces the need for paid upgrades on routine orders.
How to Split Inventory Between Two Fulfillment Centers
Set the initial split using each SKU’s order history by destination. Before stock moves west, the team needs to decide:
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- Initial stock by SKU and coast
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- Safety stock for products held in both locations
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- Replenishment frequency for each site
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- Routing priority when both locations can fill the order
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- How multi-item orders will be routed to avoid split shipments
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- Reporting that compares parcel savings with carrying and transfer costs
Both fulfillment centers need current stock data for accurate order routing. When one location has every item in an order, the full order can ship from there as a single parcel.
How Inventory Visibility Helps Prevent Stockouts
A shared stock view lets teams catch regional shortages and check availability before orders are routed.
With separate providers, brands may have to manage different receiving rules, reporting formats, inventory processes, account contacts, and escalation paths.
Bergen Logistics connects warehouse operations through CloudX Systems. The platform provides inventory visibility and supports order routing, with reporting available through the same system.
Bicoastal Fulfillment With Bergen Logistics
Bergen Logistics provides East Coast and West Coast fulfillment capacity through one North American operation. Its locations include New Jersey, California, Georgia, and Canada.
Brands with demand on both coasts can place selected inventory closer to customers wi