Robert Sanchez on corporate strategy
From How Ryder Built An Empire Off Of A Fleet Of Yellow Trucks · · Miami Herbert Business School
“In the 1980s we were a conglomerate — aircraft leasing, TravelCenters of America, the largest school bus company, even a refinery — and after building up those businesses we realized we weren't very good at managing most of them, so we got rid of them and stuck to the ones we could do well.”
On , Robert Sanchez, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at RYDER SYSTEM INC, spoke about corporate strategy during How Ryder Built An Empire Off Of A Fleet Of Yellow Trucks on Miami Herbert Business School.
About Robert Sanchez
Robert Sanchez, chairman and CEO of Ryder System, has been discussing the company's strategic shift from a truck rental brand to a diversified transportation and logistics provider. In a February 2026 interview, Sanchez described how Ryder deliberately embraced disruption, narrowing its geographic focus and expanding asset-light services. He said the company "derisked" its business by lowering its reliance on used truck prices and instead making money on services. Sanchez also emphasized the importance of giving employees permission to try, fail, and learn, stating, "I tell people I expect most of what we try is not going to work. It's okay." In a November 2024 event at Miami Herbert Business School, Sanchez outlined Ryder's current operations, noting the company now has roughly 53,000 employees, 250,000 vehicles, and $13 billion in revenue. He described the business mix as about 40% fleet management and the rest supply chain logistics, including running over 350 distribution centers and managing $10 billion in freight. Sanchez also addressed electric trucks, saying that while light-duty vans are close to cost parity with diesel, heavy-duty electric trucks cost twice as much to operate, making them uneconomical for most customers. He predicted a "long multi-decade transition" involving multiple technologies. On supply chain careers, Sanchez said the field is "the fastest growing part of our company" and that geopolitical decoupling will create continued disruption, increasing demand for supply chain expertise.