Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R), a leading provider of supply chain, dedicated transportation, and fleet management solutions, is bolstering its multiclient warehouse network with the addition of a 400,000-square-foot distribution center in Aurora, Illinois. This newly constructed facility began operations in August and is the latest expansion in a growing portfolio of warehouses strategically located in key logistics hubs.
The Aurora distribution center is part of a six-building campus, spanning a total of 2.4 million square feet, primarily catering to shippers of consumer packaged goods (CPG). These goods encompass a wide range of products, including food and beverage, food ingredients, health and beauty items, household products, and general retail merchandise.
“The location is key. We now have six multiclient warehouses within a five-mile radius, and we have about a thousand employees within a 10- to 15-minute commute, which allows us to pool resources to account for our customers’ seasonal and market fluctuations,” explained Darin Cooprider, Senior Vice President of Consumer-Packaged Goods for Ryder. “And, with room for our customers to grow and to support inventory overflow, it’s an incredible value for customers looking for greater flexibility, efficiency, and ultimately, resiliency.”
In response to the facility’s expansion, Ryder plans to hire an additional 60 employees to support its operations. The distribution center is equipped with omnichannel fulfillment capabilities, food-grade certifications, ambient temperature controls, 56 dock doors, and 26 trailer stalls. Combined with existing facilities on the campus, Ryder boasts a total of 335 dock doors, 175 cross-dock doors, and 257 trailer stalls to cater to customer needs. Importantly, the campus offers rail access and is conveniently located within a one-day truck drive for over half of the U.S. population.
Ryder’s ability to provide a mix of flexible logistics solutions is a significant advantage for its customers. “Ryder customers have access to a flexible mix of logistics solutions,” added Cooprider. “And, as they grow and their needs evolve, we can seamlessly transition customers from our multiclient facilities to dedicated warehouses, offer dedicated truck capacity with professional drivers, and provide real-time, end-to-end visibility and collaboration technology to help prevent costly delays and find efficiency gains.”
This expansion marks another step forward for Ryder’s presence in the greater Chicago area, a pivotal Midwest distribution hub. With 11 multiclient warehouses and 23 dedicated customer warehouses now totaling more than 17 million square feet, Ryder continues to demonstrate its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its customers in a dynamic supply chain landscape.
