Ryder signs two perishable fleets to leasing agreements
Ryder System Inc (NYSE: R) has been selected by Mama Bosso to provide three new refrigerated trucks under a full-service lease agreement. Mama Bosso, a frozen pizza brand based in Rock Island IL, will use the trucks to support its distribution and delivery operations to grocery stores in the Quad Cities region.
With a full-service lease, Ryder acquires vehicles according to the customer’s specifications; provides financing, maintenance, and fleet support services; and then manages vehicle disposal to protect customers from residual risk. This is the first time Mama Bosso has outsourced its fleet.
Scott Florence, chief executive officer and president of Mama Bosso, said outsourcing fleet operations with Ryder enables him to focus on growing his business.
“We started out with two of our own trucks, and the moment one of them was out of service, I immediately realized just how valuable outsourcing our fleet would be,” said Florence. “We aren’t in the business of shopping for trucks or maintenance. Leasing vehicles from Ryder means we can leverage their maintenance network in markets we currently serve and in new markets we are trying to penetrate. Having a fleet of well-maintained refrigerated vehicles, including 24-hour roadside assistance and available rentals, is also critical in the perishable food and grocery industry.”
Mama Bosso is expanding its routes and adding other items to its product offering, including spinach and classic lasagna. The frozen pizza brand is available at most retailers in Iowa, northwest Illinois, and southwest Wisconsin. For more information, visit http://mamabosso.com/.
In other news, Ryder has signed a new Flex-to-Green Lease agreement for 10 diesel-powered refrigerated straight trucks with Pennsylvania Macaroni Company Inc. With a Flex-to-Green lease, Pennsylvania Macaroni receives all the maintenance and service benefits of a Ryder full-service lease with the added option to convert its vehicles to natural gas after one year. Pennsylvania Macaroni is a family-owned-and-operated Italian speciality food retailer that distributes produce and grocery products in Pittsburgh PA. With an existing fleet of eight Ryder lease and six company-owned vehicles, Pennsylvania Macaroni will begin to take delivery of the new leased vehicles to replace four of their company-owned and six current Ryder leased vehicles.
Pennsylvania Macaroni has been leasing trucks from Ryder during the past 12 years to supplement its private fleet of more than 14 vehicles. When the company decided to replace vehicles in its fleet, it chose to lease the vehicles from Ryder. Ryder services Pennsylvania Macaroni’s fleet from its maintenance facility in Pittsburgh.