Ryder rolls out new hubs to expand last mile delivery network

Taking steps to meet increasing customer demands for faster delivery times, Miami-based freight transportation and logistics services provider Ryder System Inc. announced today it has made some moves to Ryder Last Mile, its customizable, multi-tiered delivery service offering for big-and-bulky goods, in the form of new United States-based hubs in Milwaukee and Philadelphia.

With the addition of these two new hubs, Ryder said it is part of an effort geared towards positioning its customers, some of whom are the world’s largest brands, in closer proximity to end-customers, “in order to meet ever-growing demands for delivery in two days or less.”

New Hubs: Ryder said that the Milwaukee-based 75,000 square-foot hub kicked off operations earlier this week on July 19, while the 108,000 square-foot Philadelphia-based hub is on schedule to be up and running in October.

Ryder said that these facilities will service multiple customers across various industries and provide quick and easy access to the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwest regions. What’s more, they added that with more than 100 additional locations, the Ryder Last Mile network can cover 95% of the U.S., including Puerto Rico and Hawaii, within a two-day timeframe.

There were multiple drivers for Ryder to open up these two facilities, according to Steve Sensing, president of supply chain solutions for Ryder.

“We’re experiencing record double-digit growth in our supply chain business,” sensing told LM. “We continue to see new sales with retail customers, as well as an expansion of existing customer accounts through our Ever better marketing campaign. That awareness, coupled with ever-escalating consumer demands for home delivery of big-and-bulky items—everything from furniture to exercise equipment to large appliances—is driving the need for new Ryder Last Mile facilities. Of course, the pandemic contributed to the demand, and with end-consumers now more comfortable than ever with online shopping, we expect to see the trend continue. We began the search for new locations late last year.”

Sensing explained that the key to last-mile delivery is getting as close to the end-consumer as possible, adding that these new facilities put Ryder even closer to consumers in densely populated areas of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwest regions, which means products spend less time in transit.

“Additionally, the new facilities allow us to free up space in our New Jersey and Chicago facilities, and, they add square footage to our nationwide network, which provides additional opportunities to forward-deploy inventory for quicker turnaround times,” he said.

As for how Ryder previously provided last mile services in Philadelphia and Milwaukee, Sensing said that Ryder’s facilities in Chicago supported Milwaukee, while its facilities in New Jersey will continue to support Philadelphia until that hub opens in the fall.

Ryder Last Mile is comprised of various customizable delivery options with five service tiers, including: Front Door; Over the Threshold; Room of Choice; White Glove Delivery, which includes assembly, hook-up, and installation; and Deluxe Service, which includes pre-delivery inspection and assembly to maximize delivery success and reduce returns. And it added that the company continues to make significant investments into visibility technology like its proprietary RyderView, which enables customers to schedule deliveries at their convenience and also easily track orders in real-time.