Ryder Ltd celebrates 50 years of customer service

Commercial vehicle rental firm, Ryder, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the UK.

Ryder Ltd was incorporated in the UK on 2 August 1971 and made its market entry later that year with a fleet of 250 Rental vehicles in an iconic yellow livery. Less than a year later, Ryder moved into contract hire. Now Ryder operates a sizeable fleet of trucks, trailers and vans, having grown organically and through acquisition.

To mark the anniversary and Ryder’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, the business will plant one tree for every member of Ryder’s UK staff.

The trees will be planted in the UK where they are most needed by eForests, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2006 to help combat climate change and to create and restore woodlands throughout the UK.

Each member of Ryder staff will receive a certificate, detailing the species and location of their tree.

David Hunt, Ryder Europe Vice President and MD, said: “It’s been quite a journey for Ryder since 1971. Like trees, we’ve weathered storms, but we continue to grow and bare fruit. And like the trees we’re planting that will grow over the next 50 years, so we look forward to seeing Ryder continue to grow and succeed over the next five decades.”

Also as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, Ryder has unveiled a commemorative livery on a number of trucks in its Rental fleet.

Reflecting further on Ryder’s journey in the UK and Europe, David Hunt said: “We’ve made acquisitions – most notably Hill Hire 10 years ago – that have transformed our business and our service offer. We’ve worked closely with the transport industry on its path to more environmentally friendly technology over the last 20 years and we continue to focus on this area with the support of our key OEM partners.

“We’ve worked hard to understand our customers’ operations and to ensure that they are efficient and compliant; with one of the largest independent fleets in the UK, and a loyal and dedicated workforce that embodies our core values, we are very proud of the collaboration and the expertise that we have been able to bring to our customers over the last 50 years. Ultimately, while rivals have come and gone, we are still here to offer our customers absolute reassurance.”

Hunt concluded: “This is an important milestone for Ryder in the UK. I’d like to thank every member of the Ryder team, and all our customers, partners and staff, past and present, for their contribution to this successful journey.”

Ryder’s 50 years in the UK

  • 2 August 1971 – Ryder Truck Rental Limited incorporated.
  • May 1972 – Ryder takes its first step into contract hire with the acquisition of Fisher Renwick Services Ltd.
  • 1987 – Ryder GmbH is established in Germany.
  • 1996 – Ryder awarded contract to supply 2,500 vehicles to 11 Army garrisons and RAF stations in Belgium, Netherlands and Germany.
  • 1999 – Derbyshire Fire Authority select Ryder to repair and maintain a fleet of more than 135 front line firefighting and support vehicles.
  • 2004 – Ryder invests £8m in new technology platforms.
  • 2011 – Ryder’s greatest acquisition to date: the purchase of Hill Hire for £154m.
  • 2012 – Ryder acquires The Euroway Group, taking its fleet to 25,000 vehicles.
  • 2014 – Ryder strengthens trailer business with the acquisition of trailer repair and maintenance specialist Bullwell Trailer Solutions.
  • 2015 – Ryder conducts first independent Euro-6 trial.
  • 2018 – Ryder invests £3m in 9 acre site in Burton-on-Trent to become its Midlands Sales & Service Centre for Used Vehicles.
  • 2020 – Ryder expands the FleetCare Devizes operation to support an increase in 3rd party fleet maintenance.
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