Ryder secures “Carrier of the Year” title from Abt Electronics for last-mile excellence in appliance delivery

Ryder System earns top recognition from Abt Electronics for delivering over 6,400 appliances in 2023 with 99.97% damage-free performance.

Why Did Abt Electronics Name Ryder Its 2024 Carrier of the Year?

Ryder System, Inc., a leader in logistics and transportation solutions, has been named the 2024 “Carrier of the Year” by Abt Electronics, one of America’s largest independent retailers of consumer electronics and home appliances. The recognition was presented during Abt’s annual awards ceremony in Glenview, Illinois, spotlighting Ryder’s exceptional last-mile delivery performance across thousands of large appliance shipments nationwide.

Ryder Last Mile achieved an industry-leading 99.97% damage-free delivery rate across more than 6,400 appliance shipments and maintained a 99.3% delivery completion rate. These metrics reflect not just operational efficiency but also Ryder’s capacity to uphold service quality at scale. Abt Electronics emphasized that the decision to award Ryder stemmed from its performance data as well as alignment with core customer-first values.

Abt’s logistics manager Gary Quinton remarked that Ryder’s reliability and responsiveness have allowed the company to deliver appliances with care and consistency outside of its traditional Chicago base, extending Abt’s white-glove reputation nationwide. This long-standing relationship has grown more critical as e-commerce delivery expectations continue to rise in complexity.

What Is Driving Demand for RyderView™ and Other Last-Mile Innovations?

At the core of Ryder’s performance is its proprietary RyderView™ technology platform, which provides real-time delivery tracking, customer scheduling tools, and operational transparency. According to recent consumer research cited by Ryder, nearly half of all buyers now expect real-time tracking as a standard feature of delivery service. Among urban consumers, that expectation rises to 70%.

RyderView enables customers to self-schedule and reschedule last-mile deliveries based on their convenience. This has become a critical differentiator in the appliance and large-item delivery sector, where delivery windows often impact brand loyalty. For Ryder’s client Abt, which prioritizes customer satisfaction as a competitive advantage, such technology was a decisive asset in maintaining service excellence during last-mile handoffs.

Joel Eigege, Vice President of Ryder Last Mile for big-and-bulky goods, noted that the partnership with Abt illustrates the strategic interplay between logistics reliability and customer retention in the modern retail ecosystem. He added that Ryder’s solution suite reflects what e-commerce customers increasingly value—predictability, visibility, and fulfillment precision.

How Extensive Is Ryder’s Last-Mile and E-commerce Network?

Ryder’s Last Mile offering now services 100% of ZIP codes across the continental United States, a feat made possible through its expansive network of more than 150 fulfillment and delivery hubs. These are strategically positioned to optimize routing, minimize delivery times, and reduce handling risk, all of which directly contribute to the company’s damage-free success rate.

Ryder’s omnichannel fulfillment model provides two-day delivery coverage across the country and next-day delivery to the majority of U.S. locations. This logistics backbone includes warehousing, tiered delivery options (ranging from threshold to white-glove services), and integrated reverse logistics capabilities. The company’s white-glove services, in particular, have gained traction with retailers like Abt where careful handling, installation coordination, and brand representation at the final delivery stage are non-negotiable.

As part of Ryder’s broader port-to-door logistics strategy, the company integrates last-mile with its suite of services including freight brokerage, contract packaging, dedicated transportation, and e-commerce fulfillment. This integrated model not only streamlines operations for clients but also insulates them from supply chain disruptions—a major concern in the post-pandemic logistics environment.

What Sets Ryder Apart in a Competitive Last-Mile Landscape?

While many logistics providers offer last-mile services, few have achieved the consistency and reliability that Ryder demonstrates. The company’s long-standing focus on high-value, big-and-bulky items like appliances, furniture, and fitness equipment requires a differentiated approach to training, handling protocols, and customer interaction.

The 99.97% damage-free metric is particularly significant in the appliance delivery segment, where minor dents or mishandling can result in returns, reputational harm, and replacement costs. Achieving this rate at scale—across thousands of individual shipments—is indicative of standardized excellence embedded in Ryder’s delivery ecosystem.

Ryder’s deep investments in fleet management, driver training, and digital scheduling also contribute to a unified service experience. By embedding feedback loops through platforms like RyderView, Ryder enhances accountability and continuously optimizes routes, delivery team performance, and customer engagement.

This operational culture aligns tightly with the values upheld by Abt, which has been delivering high-touch retail service since 1936. For Abt, every delivery functions as an extension of its brand promise—one that Ryder has successfully represented through consistent execution.

How Does Ryder’s Recognition Reflect Broader Industry Trends?

The recognition from Abt Electronics underscores the growing importance of last-mile logistics in retail brand value. As e-commerce continues to evolve beyond small parcels to include heavy, high-value items, retailers require specialized partners with technical proficiency, flexible infrastructure, and customer-centric technologies.

This trend is driving growth in last-mile contract logistics, where players like Ryder are seeing demand from manufacturers, retailers, and e-commerce platforms that need delivery partners capable of end-to-end orchestration. At the same time, rising consumer expectations around transparency, convenience, and delivery customization are reshaping how logistics providers compete.

Technology adoption remains a key battleground. While speed remains important, today’s customers also prioritize control—having the option to schedule deliveries, track shipments, and make changes in real time. Ryder’s investments in RyderView and its alignment with omnichannel delivery expectations place it in a strong competitive position in this shifting landscape.

What Does This Mean for Ryder’s Strategic Direction?

The Abt Electronics award adds momentum to Ryder’s positioning as a premium logistics provider for big-and-bulky last-mile services. It also reinforces the relevance of Ryder’s “port-to-door” strategy, which seeks to offer clients a single partner for integrated, tech-enabled logistics—spanning warehousing, transportation, and final-mile execution.

With the consumer delivery space expected to continue evolving, Ryder is likely to scale these capabilities across other verticals such as furniture, home improvement goods, and fitness equipment. The company’s integrated infrastructure and track record in high-value delivery categories provide a strong foundation for further market penetration.

In a logistics sector where reliability and service differentiation increasingly drive contract decisions, this recognition provides third-party validation of Ryder’s ability to deliver at scale without compromising quality. As retail brands compete for loyalty and retention, logistics providers like Ryder are becoming central to that equation.