Trucking News · Nationwide · October 24, 2026

Ryder Adds Rental Tractors Back as the Freight Market Recovers

Ryder System is adding tractors back to its rental fleet as the freight market improves. The company is growing its tractor rental fleet 10% in the fourth quarter compared with the third, executives said, as reported by Transport Topics.

The move comes after Miami-based Ryder cut its rental fleet by 30% and began offering more straight trucks than tractors in recent quarters, according to TT.

What Ryder said

"We've made a pretty significant tractor order already," Tom Havens, head of Ryder's Fleet Management Solutions division, told analysts on the company's Oct. 22 earnings call.

He said more additions are likely but that Ryder is staying cautious. "Going into 2027, obviously we still have work to do on how much we'll continue to add to that fleet," Havens said.

Chief Financial Officer Cristina Gallo-Aquino said the 2026 forecast for rental capital spending rose to $500 million from $200 million a quarter earlier because of the tractor purchases, according to TT.

Rentals in demand

According to TT:

• The average rental fleet fell 12% from a year earlier to 29,400 vehicles.
• Utilization rose to 77% from 70%.

"Third-quarter utilization was the highest we've seen since 2022," CEO John Diez said. "The market remains in the early stages of a recovery, with conditions continuing to improve."

Used truck prices up

Ryder sold 5,100 used vehicles in the quarter, up 4%, TT reports. Used tractor prices rose 19% from a year earlier, and truck prices rose 5%. Diez said demand was helped by lower market inventories and elevated spot freight rates.

Ryder had 7,300 used vehicles at the end of the quarter, down 14% from 8,500 a year earlier, according to TT. Diez said in August that Ryder expects used truck and tractor prices to rise at least 10% in 2027.

The bottom line

Ryder's third-quarter revenue rose 8% to $3.433 billion, and profit rose to $162 million from $138 million, TT reports. The company raised its full-year 2026 comparable earnings forecast to $14.85 to $15.05 per share.

A question for readers

Ryder cut its rental fleet by 30%. Now it is adding tractors back.

Have you noticed rental trucks getting harder to find, or easier?

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