GLTFLoader does not have an option to force it to return MeshPhysicalMaterial, if that’s what you’re asking? The glTF file must be configured so that it requires MeshPhysicalMaterial, otherwise it will return MeshStandardMaterial. The gltf.report script above is one way of doing that.
Replacing the material after the model loads is also fine. I think something like this would copy all the original properties:
const nextMaterial = new MeshPhysicalMaterial();
MeshStandardMaterial.prototype.copy.call(mesh.material, nextMaterial);
mesh.material = nextMaterial;