The real wordsTheory
The party model: 1PL to 3PL
1PLA firm or individual that has their own cargo and moves it themselves.
2PLThe manufacturer hires a carrier or warehouse manager as a subcontractor, for the operational execution of a clearly defined transport or logistics task. The logistic actor does what the client instructs.
3PLA specialist company providing a range of distribution, storage, transport and fulfilment services, on which customers rely for end-to-end management of specific services.
4PL and 5PL sit above these as integrators and network orchestrators. The step that matters is 2PL to 3PL: the client stops giving instructions and starts buying an outcome.