Gartner named Ryder to the “leader” category in its 2021 Magic Quadrant for Third-Party Logistics, North America research report. The report evaluated 19 third-party logistics (3PL) providers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico based on capabilities, strategies, services and customer-preferred operating models. The leader category included those positioned highest in the completeness of vision and ability to execute categories.

“Now, more than ever, shippers are turning to 3PLs as strategic partners, with the pandemic having underscored just how critical it is for supply chains to be resilient in the face of disruption,” Steve Sensing, president of supply chain solutions for Ryder, said. “The key is to work with a 3PL committed to investing in and deploying best-in-breed technologies that work together to increase operational efficiency across the supply chain and create a competitive advantage for customers, ultimately improving the end-consumer experience. Over the past 15 months, we have worked tirelessly to help customers ramp up their last-mile delivery solutions to keep pace with skyrocketing e-commerce demands while also providing cross-border solutions to help customers gain greater control over their inventory and speed their products to market.”

According to Gartner, “One major differentiating capability for this Magic Quadrant is the 3PL’s ability to demonstrate agility, adaptability and resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As with any major disruptive event, customer needs became quite fluid, and responding quickly to those rapidly changing needs is a key critical factor. Providers that successfully demonstrated agility, adaptability and resiliency through the crisis were able to provide better support to their customers. That support was instrumental in helping customers deliver on the strategic imperatives of their organization. Vendors that were able to identify key logistics trends and demonstrate concise, deliberate and effective action taken in response to those trends scored higher in the completeness of vision and ability to execute.”

The Gartner Magic Quadrant description states, “Leaders rate well on the highly weighted criteria for both ability to execute and completeness of vision. These strong performing and full-service 3PLs offer a broader portfolio of logistics functions and typically value-added services that span the end-to-end supply chain and have specific industry variations that customers can leverage. They understand North American logistics market drivers, regional nuances and customer needs, and translate that understanding into service offerings that are locally fit for purpose and supported by the use of leading technologies. Leaders have well-structured strategies and business models that support the continued expansion of their regional capabilities and service coverage. Customers trust and rely on leaders to help them achieve top logistics performance within the U.S., Canada and Mexico.”

Ryder has been a leader in the Magic Quadrant for Third-Party Logistics, North America research report since 2017.