Ryder System

Ryder has implemented board-level oversight of climate change. However, it has not developed a transition plan or shown evidence of any long-term planning or targets. The company does analyse risks and opportunities related to climate change, but it has not undertaken scenario analysis. Ryder does not incentivise low-carbon performance through executive compensation. The company can increase the likelihood of a successful low-carbon transition by aligning its incentives with its decarbonisation commitments.

Ryder remains a member of some trade associations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Trucking Association, that are reported to have opposed climate policies. For example, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has opposed climate policy measures put forward by the Biden administration and has lobbied to weaken national fuel economy standards. Ryder can increase its credibility by setting a clear position on climate policy and by implementing processes to withdraw from trade associations that oppose climate policies.

Ryder has set short-term scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions reduction targets. However, the company has not set a net-zero target or any other kind of long-term decarbonisation target. The company should develop a long-term target that covers all its operations to allow its progress to be measured and to encourage accountability. Furthermore, Ryder should set regularly spaced intermediate targets to incentivise near-term action on longer-term goals.

Ryder has set short-term decarbonisation targets for reductions in absolute scope 1,2 and 3 emissions. Ryder is targeting a 15% reduction in scope 1 emissions, 30% for scope 2 and 10% for scope 3 (from downstream leased assets) by 2024 compared to 2018. The company has made no further commitments.

Ryder has not developed a transition plan. The company states that it intends to expand the number of low-carbon vehicles in its fleet. However, the company has not set out any long-term deployment plans for or made any concrete commitments to these technologies.

The company is currently focused on improving the energy efficiency of its operations to achieve its targets. Ryder has used technological solutions to increase the efficiency of its fleet and network modelling to optimise its operations.

Ryder has achieved a reduction in its scope 1 and 2 emissions from 2015 to 2020. However, this reduction is counterbalanced by an increase in scope 3 emissions, which accounts for 93% of Ryder’s total emissions, during the same period.

Ryder acknowledges climate change and has made some short-term decarbonisation commitments. However, there is no indication that the company is planning or taking significant actions toward its low-carbon transition.

No evidence was found of the company’s commitment to social dialogue or of the categories of stakeholders the company engages with on a just transition. Furthermore, no evidence was found to demonstrate the company’s ongoing social dialogue and meaningful engagement with affected stakeholders.

No evidence was found of the company undertaking low-carbon transition planning to mitigate the social impacts of the transition on workers, affected stakeholders and its business relationships. Additionally, no evidence was found to demonstrate the company’s engagement in social dialogue or engagement with stakeholders in its just transition planning.

No public commitment by the company was found stating its intention to create and support access to green and decent jobs as part of the low-carbon transition. Moreover, no evidence was found of the company’s action to promote these jobs in a way that ensures gender balance and inclusion of vulnerable groups. Additionally, no relevant disclosure was found of the company’s assessment of employment dislocation risks.

No public commitment by the company was found stating its intention to reskill and upskill workers displaced by the transition to a low-carbon economy. Additionally, no evidence was found that the company reskills and upskills workers in a way that ensures gender balance and inclusion of vulnerable groups.

No relevant disclosure was found to show if the company identifies impacts of the low-carbon transition on social protection for workers and affected stakeholders, nor how it contributes to social protection. Additionally, no evidence was found that the company expects its business relationships to contribute to the social protection of their workers and affected stakeholders.

No relevant disclosure was found to show how the company identifies any misalignment of its lobbying activities with policies and regulations that support the just transition, nor of the measures it takes to address misalignment. Furthermore, no evidence was found that the company lobbies for policies and regulations for green and decent job creation; retention, education and reskilling; and social protection for workers.

The company commits to respecting human rights and the ILO fundamental rights at work. However, the company’s Supplier Code of Conduct does not disclose an expectation of its suppliers to respect all of the ILO fundamental rights at work. Furthermore, the company can strengthen its disclosure on its human rights due diligence process and engagement with affected stakeholders. The company does, however, have a grievance mechanism available to workers and external stakeholders.

The company commits to respecting the health and safety of its workers and expects the same commitment of its business relationships. However, no evidence was found of a company commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment. Furthermore, the company can strengthen disclosure on its living wage and working hours practices, and its collective bargaining and workforce diversity fundamentals.

The company has a policy prohibiting bribery and corruption, and it includes corresponding clauses in its contracts with business relationships. While the company has a lobbying and political engagement policy, it discloses that it allows political contributions to be made. Furthermore, the company can increase disclosure regarding its global tax strategy and protection of employees’ and customers’ personal data.