The Amazon effect is raising consumer expectations for delivery services - expectations that logistics providers are struggling to meet without degrading margins, says Robert Lieb, supply chain management professor at Northeastern University. Lieb discusses this and other trends revealed in the annual survey of global 3PL CEOs.

Retailers, particularly big box stores, are demanding more customized packaging of products, which increases demand for contract packaging services, says Dave Mabon, president of contract packaging at Genco. With margins that average 30 to 40 percent, this presents a huge opportunity for service providers.

Providing parts and sub-assemblies to automotive production lines is a highly complex activity, requiring rapid, automated sequencing and sophisticated error proofing. Bo Cheng, director of the automotive business at Comprehensive Logistics, explains how his company is keeping pace as automotive volumes return to pre-recession levels.

FedEx has added 31 origin countries to its International First service, a priority-shipping option for customers needing critical deliveries to arrive as early as the start of the next business day.

SCI Logistics, a Canadian logistics services provider, has opened a new "white-glove" transportation center in Calgary, Alberta.

Suddath Global Logistics has added warehouse capacity in the Los Angeles and Dallas-Forth Worth markets.

LeSaint Logistics had added electronic tracking and logs to its truck fleet.