Ryder
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation, logistics, truck leasing and rental, supply chain management |
| Predecessor | Great Southern Trucking Company (acquired 1952) |
| Founded | January 1, 1933 in Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Founder | James Ryder |
| Headquarters | Coral Gables , United States |
Area served | United States, United Kingdom, Canada |
| Products | Truck leasing and rental, fleet management, supply chain solutions, transportation management services, e-commerce fulfillment, last-mile delivery |
Number of employees | 50,700 (2024) |
| Website | ryder |
Ryder System, Inc. is a U.S.-based transportation and logistics enterprise that focuses on truck leasing and rental, fleet oversight, supply chain solutions, and transportation management services. Its portfolio includes comprehensive leasing agreements, vehicle rentals and upkeep, sales of pre-owned trucks, transportation oversight, professional driver staffing, e-commerce order fulfillment, and last-mile delivery operations. Headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida, Ryder primarily serves markets in the United States and the United Kingdom.
History
Established in Miami, Florida in 1933 by James Ryder, the company began as a concrete hauling service operating a single truck. By 1938, Ryder had expanded its fleet to 20 vehicles through a leasing contract with Champagne Velvet Beer, and by the following year, the number of trucks surpassed 50. This rapid expansion led the company to transition from distribution activities to focusing on leasing. In 1952, Ryder acquired Great Southern Trucking Company, and three years later in 1955, it consolidated its operations under Ryder System, Inc., going public that same year. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Ryder broadened its services to include distribution and supply chain management. James Ryder retired from the company in 1978.
In 1996, Ryder shifted its focus back to commercial truck rental and leasing by divesting its "one-way" consumer truck rental division, which was sold to an investment firm and subsequently acquired by Budget Truck Rental in 1998.
In December 2011, Ryder came under scrutiny for allocating $960,000 towards lobbying efforts while benefiting from $46 million in tax rebates between 2008 and 2010 despite reporting $627 million in profits.
Ryder enhanced its strategic direction by introducing electric truck rentals in California and Chicago during 2017. These vehicles were equipped with 70 kWh batteries capable of approximately 100 miles per charge. Additionally, beginning in 2018 with the San Francisco Bay area, Ryder became the exclusive maintenance provider for Workhorse Group’s electric vehicle fleet across North America.
Business
Ryder operates through three main divisions: Fleet Management Solutions, Supply Chain Solutions, and Dedicated Transportation Solutions. As of December 31, 2024, the company recorded revenues of $12.64 billion alongside pre-tax earnings of $661 million. Globally, Ryder employed roughly 50,700 full-time personnel—primarily based in North America—including about 13,400 drivers and 5,000 technicians; approximately 3,800 employees were union members.
Fleet management
The Fleet Management Solutions segment represents Ryder’s largest business unit, accounting for 61% of total revenue—equivalent to $2.3 billion annually or $1.4 billion during Q4 of 2019. This division provides contract-based full-service leasing arrangements, contract maintenance programs, commercial vehicle rentals, and comprehensive fleet support solutions. Under full-service leasing agreements, Ryder retains ownership and maintenance responsibilities for vehicles while clients handle operational destinations. Commercial rentals offer short-term access to a fleet approaching 30,000 vehicles as of 2011; over 40% of these were manufactured in or after 2010. Support services encompass insurance coverage assistance, permit acquisition, and fuel management systems.
The segment’s growth has been bolstered by strategic acquisitions: in 2011 alone, Ryder purchased B.I.T. Leasing (located in Hayward, California), Carmenita Leasing’s full-service leasing and rental operations (Santa Fe Springs), as well as The Scully Companies (Fontana), thereby expanding its service offerings and market presence.
In April 2018, Ryder introduced COOP—a peer-to-peer truck-sharing platform that enables owners of commercial vehicles to rent out idle assets. COOP expanded its reach into Florida by 2019 and Texas by 2020 before scaling nationwide with bulk rental options by 2022. This innovation strengthened Ryder’s market position by enhancing fleet utilization and expanding customer access.
By the close of 2019, Ryder controlled or leased approximately 213,800 vehicles and was acknowledged as the largest truck provider within the United States—solidifying its dominance in fleet management throughout the transportation sector.
Supply chain
In the fourth quarter of 2019, Ryder's supply chain division accounted for 28% of total revenue, amounting to $649 million. This segment is responsible for managing clients' supply chains and controlled more than 50 million square feet of warehouse space as of December 2019. Ryder broadened its service offerings in December 2010 by acquiring TLC, a supply chain services firm headquartered in Holland, Michigan.
Dedicated Transportation Solutions
During Q4 2019, Ryder Dedicated Transportation Solutions generated $346 million, representing 15% of the company’s revenue. This business unit integrates leasing with supply chain management and was rebranded as Ryder Dedicated in 2013. The company expanded its Last Mile Delivery service for large items to cover 11 markets across North America and introduced an e-commerce fulfillment solution in February 2019, allowing manufacturers to ship products directly to consumers. In May 2020, Ryder further enhanced this offering by incorporating food-grade delivery capabilities.
Motorsports
In March 2025, Ryder became a sponsor of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, supporting Reaume Brothers Racing’s No. 33 truck driven by Frankie Muniz.
Acquisitions and partnerships
Ryder has grown through strategic acquisitions beginning in 2008 with Pollock NationaLease, Lily Transportation, and Gator Leasing. In April 2018, the company acquired MXD Group, strengthening its e-commerce fulfillment and last-mile delivery presence throughout the United States and Canada. The following month, Ryder introduced RyderGyde™, a fleet management application. Later that year, the company placed an order for 1,000 electric trucks to upgrade its vehicle fleet.
In 2020, Ryder launched RyderShare, a collaborative platform for logistics management, and formed partnerships with In-Charge Energy and ABB to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Additionally, collaboration with Turvo was established to enhance real-time visibility across logistics operations.
In January 2022, Ryder acquired Whiplash (previously Port Logistics Group) for roughly $480 million to bolster its e-commerce fulfillment capabilities. October 2023 saw the purchase of Impact Fulfillment Services to expand contract packaging and manufacturing offerings. In February 2024, Ryder significantly grew its dedicated transportation segment through the acquisition of Cardinal Logistics.
Locations
Previously headquartered in Doral, Florida, Ryder operated 524 locations across all fifty U.S. states and Puerto Rico as of December 31, 2019. Its Shared Services Center located in Alpharetta, Georgia employs over 500 personnel supporting all Fleet Management Solutions operations. In January 2018, Ryder extended its global footprint by launching a logistics facility in London, Ontario, Canada. The company also announced new multi-client warehouses in Perris, California, and Fort Worth, Texas, alongside an expansion of an existing distribution center in Douglassville, Pennsylvania. These facilities were projected to be fully operational by May 2019. In May 2020, Ryder further strengthened its e-commerce network with a new site in Philadelphia and obtained FDA approval for food-grade services at two locations in Perris and Dallas, Texas—enhancing its competitive position in last-mile logistics solutions.