Ryder System, a provider in commercial transportation and supply chain management solutions, announced it has been selected by Illinois-based Andrew Distribution, Inc., a regional provider of transportation and distribution services for publishers, to provide 18 new straight trucks under a Full Service Lease agreement. With a Full Service Lease, Ryder acquires vehicles according to the customer's specifications, provides financing, maintenance and fleet support services, and then manages vehicle disposal. The trucks will be used to support Andrew's distribution and delivery operations for a major daily newspaper in the Milwaukee, Wis. market. This is the first time Andrew Distribution has leased a portion of its fleet.
"In the newspaper industry, on-time deliveries are absolutely critical," said Andrew Malek, Vice President, Andrew Distribution. "Our business depends on having a fleet of well-maintained vehicles to ensure our customers get their deliveries when and where they need them."
Andrew Distribution has been renting trucks from Ryder during the past four years to supplement its existing private fleet of more than 80 vehicles. When the company quickly needed to expand its fleet with 18 additional trucks to support a new customer account, it decided to lease the vehicles from Ryder.
"Working with Ryder, we were able to quickly acquire the specific trucks we needed without having to make an ownership investment," continued Mr. Malek. "Ryder's maintenance program prevents breakdowns and keeps our vehicles on the road, which means better service and lower costs. Our promise to our customers is to offer the most reliable service possible at a reasonable rate. Leasing trucks from Ryder helps us to deliver on this promise."
Andrew Distribution is currently responsible for the sorting, distribution, and monetary collections of over 1,700 magazine titles, newspapers, and books in IL, OH, WI, MN, KY, MS, IA, IN and MI including over 900 Chicago-area locations, serviced daily, year round including holidays. The company currently employs over 100 employees and runs its fleet on a daily basis. Andrew's Chicago distribution facility spans over 20,000 square feet.
"The increased complexity of commercial vehicle technology and maintenance requirements, new regulatory safety and emissions standards, and tighter capital availability, all make managing a fleet more costly and challenging than ever," said Dennis Cooke, President, Global Fleet Management Solutions for Ryder. "When companies like Andrew Distribution chose Ryder to manage their fleets and address these challenges, they can focus on driving what matters to them – managing their core businesses and servicing their customers."
