Cargo is often stationary when it "waits" for the next transportation alternative to be available. Therefore, it is important for a shipper to obtain information about the warehousing infrastructure of the locations where a shipment will be in layover. The warehousing infrastructure protects goods when they are waiting while in transit.
Will they be protected from the rain? From the sun? From possible floods? From (unusual) cold? A savvy international logistics manager will attempt to determine the conditions under which the goods will be kept, and will then determine whether they are correctly packaged, or whether they need to be shipped through a different itinerary.
In many cases as well, shippers will use public warehouses for storage purposes, in order to deliver goods to their customers without having to resort to an international shipment. This enables the company to provide much better customer service by delivering goods with a much shorter lead time.
In cases where a company is considering using a public warehouse to serve its customers, it would be best to plan an actual visit to the location considered, as the standards used in public warehousing management may be quite different than the ones expected.