Ryder Expands Natural Gas Vehicle Solution to Arkansas with Alpha Packaging, Inc. and Boyd Metals Transportation LLC

MIAMI

Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R), a leader in commercial fleet management, dedicated transportation, and supply chain solutions, announced today that it has expanded its natural gas vehicle (NGV) offering into Arkansas for the first time with two customers; Alpha Packaging, Inc. and Boyd Metals Transportation LLC. The CNG vehicles for both Alpha Packaging and Boyd Metals Transportation will be maintained by Ryder at its Fort Smith, Ark. service facility, which is being engineered to meet the unique compliance requirements for natural gas.

Ryder has begun to deploy natural gas vehicles into the fleets of Ryder customers in Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Texas, Utah, and Quebec, Canada. Alpha Packaging and Boyd Metals Transportation are both current Ryder full service lease customers. Through a full service lease, Ryder acquires vehicles according to the customer’s specifications and provides financing, maintenance, and fleet support services. It also manages vehicle disposal to protect customers from residual risk.

“We continue to see interest from businesses focused on the long-term economic and environmental benefits of natural gas,” said Ryder President of Global Fleet Management Solutions, Dennis Cooke. “Forward thinking customers like Alpha Packaging and Boyd Metals Transportation have already begun realizing the value of outsourcing their fleets from Ryder for over 20 years. As they look to utilize new vehicle technologies like natural gas, we are proud that they continue to trust Ryder to help them improve uptime and reliability, and drive greater efficiencies in their businesses.”

Alpha Packaging, Inc. has signed a full service lease agreement for seven compressed natural gas (CNG) tractors. The CNG vehicles will replace current Ryder leased diesel powered vehicles to support Alpha Packaging’s sustainability initiatives. Alpha Packaging, the largest independently owned corrugated box manufacturing company in Arkansas, will use the CNG vehicles to support its deliveries to all areas within 300 miles of its Greenwood, Ark. manufacturing facility. Alpha’s new Ryder CNG fleet is ergonomically friendly for the drivers and the new 12 liter engines will have the power to handle the Arkansas terrain.

“Even with the recent drop in diesel fuel prices, the stability of natural gas fuel costs, along with the environmental benefits of natural gas vehicle technology, bring significant value to our fleet operation,” said Alpha Packaging President, Mike Stec. “Leasing natural gas trucks from Ryder helps us with our long-term transportation needs and aligns with our efforts to be a responsible, sustainable company.”

To support the new CNG fleet, Alpha Packaging is building an on-site natural gas fuel station at its location. This on-site CNG fuel station will allow its drivers to conveniently fill the trucks overnight in order to gain full-range tank capacity and improve productivity during the day when they need to make deliveries.

Boyd Metals Transportation LLC has also signed a full service lease agreement for seven CNG tractors. The CNG vehicles will replace current Ryder leased diesel powered vehicles in Boyd Metals Transportation’s delivery fleet. The new CNG delivery fleet will be used to deliver Boyd Metals’ extensive inventory of carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and fiberglass products in a wide range of shapes and sizes from the company’s Fort Smith, Ark. warehouse.

“We knew we could count on Ryder to help us successfully deploy these advanced fuel vehicles into our fleet,” said Boyd Metals Transportation General Manager, Michael Cooper. “With Ryder’s help, our team is committed to providing Boyd Metals customers with the best overall delivery service while also helping Boyd Metals achieve the best transportation value in the industry. We may even consider expanding our fleet with Ryder if this new advanced fuel vehicle solution meets the company’s expectations.”

Ryder is the leader in natural gas vehicles solutions for the commercial transportation industry, with more than 30 million miles of experience, 17 NGV maintenance facilities, and more than 2,200 NGV trained technicians. The Company operates Liquefied to Compressed Natural Gas (LCNG) fuel stations at its Fontana and Orange, Calif., service locations.

Ryder is able to leverage its buying power, knowledge of emerging fleet technologies, as well as government rebates and tax incentive programs, to help reduce natural gas vehicle costs for customers and offer more competitive lease and rental rates. Ryder actively monitors public and private incentive programs throughout the U.S. and Canada to leverage those areas that offer incentives.

In addition to making Natural gas vehicles available for rent or lease, Ryder’s “Flex-to-Green Lease” solution is designed to ease the transition to a greener fleet. Businesses that opt for Ryder’s Flex-to-Green Lease start out with a diesel-powered vehicle and then have the option to convert to a NGV at any time following the first full year of the lease. Flex-to-Green customers enjoy all the maintenance and service benefits of a standard Ryder Full Service Lease, which may include substitute vehicles during unexpected downtime.

For more information about Ryder’s natural gas vehicle solutions visit http://www.ryder.com/en/solutions/alternative-fuels-solutions/natural-gas-solutions.aspx.

About Ryder

Ryder is a FORTUNE 500® commercial fleet management, dedicated transportation, and supply chain solutions company. Ryder’s stock (NYSE:R) is a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. The Company has been named among FORTUNE’s World’s Most Admired Companies, and has been recognized for its industry-leading practices in third-party logistics, environmentally-friendly fleet and supply chain solutions, and world-class safety and security programs. Inbound Logistics magazine has included Ryder in its “Green Partners” listing for five years in a row. Ryder is a charter member of the NGV Fleet Forum and a member of the Department of Energy’s National Clean Fleets partnership. Ryder is also a recipient of the 2011 NGV Achievement Award. A member of the American Red Cross Disaster Responder Program, Ryder is proud to support national and local disaster preparedness and response efforts. For more information, visit www.ryder.com, and follow us on our Online Newsroom, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Access Ryder’s Corporate Sustainability Report here.

About Alpha Packaging, Inc.

Alpha Packaging, Inc. is Arkansas’ largest and best equipped independently owned box manufacturer. Alpha’s state-of-the-art machinery is capable of creating virtually any style container, including triple wall and plastic corrugated. The company’s full line foam manufacturing division and creative design facilities give customers the best solution with the most appropriate and cost effective product selection. The company also offers a full line of packaging equipment, safety supplies, janitorial and sanitation supplies. Alpha Packaging, Inc.’s mission statement and quality policy focus is on world-class employees, products, and vendors to support our world-class customers. Alpha Packaging, Inc. strives with every product that its makes to enhance, develop, and improve its business, resulting in superior customer satisfaction.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:Certain statements and information included in this news releaseare “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.These forward-looking statements are based on our current plans and expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions.Accordingly, these forward-looking statements should be evaluated with consideration given to the many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements including those risks set forth in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.New risks emerge from time to time.It is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors or to assess the impact of such risks on our business.Accordingly, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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Ryder System, Inc.
Jonathan Mayor, 305-500-3161
JocMayor@Ryder.com
or
Cindy Haas, 305-500-4526
Cindy_Haas@Ryder.com