Ryder System (RYD) Risk Analysis
Risk Overview Q2, 2026
Source: the company's latest filing for the period ended Jun 30, 2026, filed Jul 23, 2026
Risk Change Over Time
Risk Highlights Q2, 2026
Risk Word Cloud
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 24
- Employment / Personnel - Risk 1If we are unable to mitigate labor shortage challenges, our financial results may continue to be negatively impacted.
In the past, we have experienced high labor costs due to labor shortage challenges across all of our business segments, particularly our DTS and SCS segments. These higher labor costs as well as higher subcontracted transportation costs have negatively impacted our earnings in both DTS and SCS. If labor shortages exist for an extended period of time, our earnings may be adversely impacted. Professional Drivers. We hire professional drivers primarily for our SCS and DTS business segments. There is significant competition for qualified professional drivers in the transportation industry. Additionally, interventions and enforcement under the CSA initiative may shrink the industry's pool of professional drivers as existing drivers with unfavorable scores may no longer be eligible to drive for us. As a result of driver shortages, we have, and in the future could continue to be required to, increase driver compensation, let trucks sit idle, use outside driver agencies and subcontracted transportation carriers, or face difficulty meeting customer demands, all of which could adversely affect our growth and profitability. Technicians. Similarly, we hire technicians in our FMS business segment to perform vehicle maintenance services on our ChoiceLease, SelectCare and rental fleets. In recent years, there has been a decrease in the overall supply of skilled maintenance technicians, particularly new technicians with qualifications from technical programs and schools, which could make it more difficult to attract and retain skilled technicians. If we are unable to maintain an adequate number of qualified technicians, whether through the retention of current technicians or the hiring of new qualified technicians, our business could be adversely affected. Warehouse Associates. We also hire warehouse associates in our SCS business segment to support the movement of goods in warehouses, particularly in our omnichannel and consumer packaged goods verticals. In recent years, there has been ongoing competition for warehouse associates in the logistics industry. At times, our business has experienced increased demand and competition for labor, which drives up costs. If we are unable to maintain an adequate number of qualified warehouse associates, whether through our own recruitment and retention or the use of alternative third-party staffing agencies, our operations may be adversely impacted. Management and Other Key Personnel. The foundation to our success is developing a skilled and diverse workforce that is motivated and committed to providing our customers with extraordinary service. If we fail to recruit, retain and motivate our employees, including those in senior management and other key roles, such as technology and supply chain management, or fail to preserve company culture, then we may not be able to execute on our strategy and grow our business as planned. In addition, we are committed to creating a positive and collaborative work environment throughout our organization. If we do not, or are perceived not to, have such a work environment, our reputation or ability to recruit and retain talent may be adversely impacted. Moreover, our current employees may terminate their employment with us at any time with minimal advance notice, and we are experiencing increased competition for talent that is making it more difficult for us to retain the employees we have and to recruit new employees. In addition, we are facing increased regulatory and compliance requirements that further decrease the pool of available candidates.
- Employment / Personnel - Risk 2A significant labor dispute involving us, our vendors or one or more of our customers, or that could otherwise affect our operations, may result in strikes, work stoppages or substantially higher labor costs.
We have approximately 3,600 employees in the U.S. that are organized by labor unions whose wages and benefits are governed by 94 labor agreements that are renegotiated periodically. Disputes with regard to the terms of these agreements or our potential inability to negotiate acceptable contracts with these unions in the future could result in, among other things, a material work stoppage, slowdown or strike by the affected employees. If our workers were to engage in a work stoppage, strike or other slowdown, other employees were to become unionized, or the terms and conditions in future labor agreements were renegotiated, we could experience business disruptions or higher operating costs, which could have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Moreover, a current or future labor dispute involving our vendors or customers, or that could otherwise affect our operations, could affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
- Employment / Personnel - Risk 3Volatility in assumptions, discount rates and investment returns related to our pension plans may adversely affect the funding status of the pension plans, future funding requirements and our pension expense under our defined benefit pension plans.
We sponsor a number of defined benefit plans for employees not covered by union-administered plans, including certain employees in foreign countries. As of December 31, 2025, the aggregate present value of obligations of our global defined pension plans was $1.6 billion, and the fair value of the plan assets of our global defined benefit pension plans was $1.5 billion. The calculation of pension expense and pension plan funding requirements are influenced by multiple factors, including the funded status of our plans, which equals the difference between the plans' projected benefit obligations and the fair value of the plans' assets. Macroeconomic factors, as well as changes in investment returns and discount rates, can be volatile and may have an unfavorable impact on the funded status of our pension plans, our pension expense and future funding requirements. Although we are actively seeking to control increases in our pension expense and future funding requirements through annuitization transactions, liability-driven investment strategies and plan contributions, there can be no assurance that we will succeed, and continued cost and funding requirement pressure could reduce the profitability of our business and negatively impact our cash flows.
See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.