Ryder partners with Uber unit for outsourced transport services

Fleet management and transportation giant Ryder System, Inc. said today it has partnered with "Uber Central," a unit of "Uber for Business," to transport drivers, mechanics, and customers to and from Ryder and customer locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, rather than Ryder having to perform these tasks itself.

Through the partnership, "we're able to improve routing and planning for our transfer drivers, save on fuel costs, and increase shop productivity, said Rich Mohr, Miami-based Ryder's vice president & global product manager, in a statement.

With Uber Central, Ryder can identify trends and opportunities in how the Company manages pickup and delivery of its assets as well as transportation of Ryder customers' drivers to a replacement vehicle in the case where they need roadside assistance or to assist with rental pickup and drop off.

Launched in 2017, San Francisco-based Uber Central allows organizations to request, manage, and pay monthly for rides for others at a scale cost. Ryder customers who receive rides via the service do not need an Uber account or have the app on their phones to use the service; Ryder coordinates the details via the Uber Central web pOréal.

In the past, Ryder used internal "chase drivers" to transfer equipment for rental or inventory reallocation," Mohr said today in an e-mail. Using Uber Central, Ryder can execute transfers of equipment in a timelier manner than having to rely on the chase drivers, Mohr added.

For customers, Ryder would need to pull an employee out of one of its facilities to transport customers back to their facility, Mohr said. Uber Central can now handle a task that was once the responsibility of Ryder employees, he added.