From those beginnings, Ryder has evolved into one of the world's leading suppliers of supply chain and transportation management solutions with nearly $5 billion in annual revenue.

Throughout Ryder's 70-year history there have been many important events that have shaped the success of the organization. Presented below is a chronicle of some of those historical occurrences.

1933
Company founded by James A. Ryder in Miami, Florida. First Ryder Truck, a black, 1931 Model "A" Ford.

1934
A second truck, a 1934 Ford V-8, doubled the size of the fleet.

1937
15 trucks in service.

1938
Champagne Velvet Beer business became the first Ryder lease account.

1939
Fleet expanded to 50 trucks.

1942
Revenue topped $100,000 for the year.

1945
Started dedicated contract carriage for The Miami Herald, a relationship that continues today.

1949
Expanded operations to five branches and 450 trucks.
Revenue from truck leasing and rental activities topped $1 million.

1952
Became nationally recognized with the acquisition of Great Southern Trucking.
Headquarters moved to Jacksonville, Fla.

1955
Ryder System, Inc. incorporated.
Became a publicly-traded company with the issue of 160,000 shares of common stock over-the-counter at $10 per share.

1957
Headquarters returned to Miami.
Began international operations, offering truck leasing and rental in Canada.

1960
Stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

1965
Sold Ryder Truck Lines.

1967
Introduced Ryder Programmed Maintenance service.

1968
Entered the auto transport business by acquiring M & G Convoy.
Launched One Way "Yellow" Consumer Truck Rental offering.

1970
Entered insurance industry with acquisition of Southern Underwriters, a managing general insurance agency.

1971
Acquired a chain of six Truckstops of America.
Entered United Kingdom market, offering truck leasing and rental.

1973
Moved to current headquarters building.

1977
Entered The Netherlands market, offering truck leasing.

1978
James A. Ryder, founder and chairman, retired.
Leslie O. Barnes named President and Chief Executive Officer, elected Chairman of the Board.
Corporate revenue surpassed the $1 billion mark.

1979
M. Anthony Burns elected President and Chief Operating Officer.

1982
Entered aviation business with acquisition of Aviation Sales Company.

1983
M. Anthony Burns became Chief Executive Officer.

1984
Sold Truckstops of America.

1985
Leslie O. Barnes retired as Chairman of the Board.
M. Anthony Burns elected Chairman of the Board in addition to duties as President and Chief Executive Officer. Entered school bus business with acquisition of Rustman Bus Co.

1986
Entered public transportation management with the acquisition of ATE Management and Service Company.

1988
Entered German market offering truck leasing.
Expanded automotive transportation operations to Canada.

1992
Formally established International Division.

1993
Began operations in Poland.
Spun off aviation subsidiaries.

1994
Began operations in Mexico.
Began Logistics Management with acquisition of LogiCorp.

1995
Began operations in Argentina and Brazil.

1996
Sold One Way Consumer "Yellow" Truck Rental division.

1997
Sold Automotive Carrier division.
Named most admired highway transportation company by Fortune magazine.

1998
Again named most admired highway transportation company by Fortune.
Named best large Florida company for women to work for by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women.
Named one of America's best companies for African-Americans, Asians and Hispanics by Fortune.
Named one of the 50 best workplaces for Hispanic women by Latina Style.

1999
Opened the nation's first Charter School in the workplace.
Sold Ryder Public Transportation Services.
Hired C.J. (Corky) Nelson as new Senior Executive Vice President - Finance and CFO.
Hired Gregory T. Swienton as President and COO.
Named one of the 100 best workplaces for Hispanics by Hispanic magazine for the eighth consecutive year.
Again named one of the 50 best workplaces for Hispanic women by Latina Style.
Formally established an e-Commerce Group.

2000
Created Company-wide Asset Management Group.
Launched used vehicle sales web site - usedtrucks.ryder.com.
Launched e-Channel Solutions, an Internet-based end-to-end fulfillment solution.
Launched RyderFleetProducts.com, a web site providing resources for planning, ordering and delivery of fuel, lubricants and wide range of parts and equipment.
Named top Third-Party Logistics provider, for the third consecutive year, by Inbound Logistics magazine.
M. Anthony Burns retires as CEO, retains role as Chairman of the Board.
Gregory T. Swienton named President and CEO.

2001
Launched Asia-Pacific headquarters with acquisition of Singapore-based Ascent Logistics Pte Ltd.

2002
M. Anthony Burns retires as Chairman of the Board.
Gregory T. Swienton named to Chairman of the Board, retaining roles as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Settles trademark infringement lawsuit with Budget Group, Inc.
Named top Third-Party Logistics provider, for the fifth consecutive year, by Inbound Logistics magazine.
Named one of the 50 best workplaces for Hispanic women by Latina Style for the fifth consecutive year.

2003
Named one of the 100 best workplaces for Hispanics by Hispanic magazine for the tenth year.
Ryder finalizes acquisition of General Car and Truck Leasing and announces LOI to purchase RUAN.

2004
Ryder finalizes acquisition of Ruan Leasing Company.
Ryder launches www.RyderSafetyServices.com site—an industry resource for safety products and services.
Ryder earns U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection anti-terrorism certifications (C-TPAT) and (FAST).
Ryder closes on the sale of its 405,000 square-foot corporate headquarters at 3600 NW 82nd Avenue in Doral, Fla.

2005
Acquired N.Y.-based 4 G’s Truck Renting Co.
Ryder celebrates the opening of the Company’s smaller and more efficient New Global Headquarters.
Celebrated 10th anniversary operating in Latin America – Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.

2006
Celebrated 50 years as a publicly traded company.
Ryder announced presence in Thailand, expanding Asia operations.
Celebrated 35 years of operating in the United Kingdom.
Celebrated half-century mark as an international company with 50th anniversary of operating in Canada.

2007
Announced acquisition of Pollock NationaLease in Canada.
Celebrated 20 years of operating in Germany

2008
Celebrates 75th anniversary.
Acquired Lily Truck Leasing in Northeast U.S.