Ryder Opens Third Multiclient Distribution Center in Columbus

Ryder System Inc., a supply chain company dedicated to transportation and fleet management solutions, today announced the opening of a third multiclient omnichannel distribution center in Columbus, Ohio, a key region for e-commerce fulfillment.

At nearly 440,000 square feet, the facility is the largest Ryder e-commerce distribution center in the Columbus area, and it is the first to open under the company’s new supply chain offering: Ryder E-Commerce by Whiplash.

“The technical integration was seamless and straightforward, and the onboarding process was very professional," said the company. "We saw how much of management’s attention went into it.”

Ryder said Ohio facility is in strategic location

Strategically located in the nation’s fastest-growing large metro area (according to U.S. Census Bureau 2021 figures), Ryder’s new Columbus distribution center provides access to more Americans within 500 miles than any other major inland or coastal port, serving nearly 50% of the U.S. population within a 10-hour truck drive.

The Miami-based company said its new facility features 42 cross-dock positions and 99 trailer spaces. It offers a full range of logistics and value-added services.

It also features automation enhancements, such as robot-assisted order picking, which enable warehouse workers to focus on higher-productivity tasks. Automation can also reduce overall labor costs, improve safety and retention, and enable seamless scaling within the same footprint, said Ryder.

“In the e-commerce race, the fastest and most agile win,” said Jeff Wolpov, senior vice president of Ryder E-Commerce by Whiplash.

“This new facility is well positioned to address the growing need for e-commerce distribution from the Midwest region to U.S. retailers and consumers across the U.S. with fast, cost-effective fulfillment and ground services,” he added. "With three multiclient warehouses now in the Columbus area, we’re ideally situated to serve established and emerging brands that need either centrally located inventory in a single location or multiple distribution points—all with room to scale.”

Ryder details new e-commerce offering

The new Ryder E-Commerce by Whiplash solution addresses brands’ pain points, including the ability to seamlessly scale with growth as well as market fluctuations; maintain real-time control of inventory with advanced order logic automation; and easily integrate with brands’ existing e-commerce sales platforms, which facilitates quick onboarding.

“The technical integration was seamless and straightforward, and the onboarding process was very professional. We saw how much of management’s attention went into it,” said Zvika Alon, co-founder of Edikted, a Gen Z-oriented online fashion brand operating out of the new Columbus facility.

“Meeting our deadline was crucial, as well as moving inventory in a way that didn’t cost sales," Alon said. "If we had pushed back a week it would’ve been a disaster for us, so the fact our deadline was met was amazing.”

Company will fill 250 jobs at new location

To support the new distribution center located at 1225 Southgate Parkway in Etna, Ohio, Ryder said it expects to recruit approximately 250 people to fill a variety of positions, including warehouse associates, engineers, leadership and management, and support roles.

Ryder now operates 22 multiclient and dedicated e-commerce facilities across the U.S., with the ability to deliver to 100% of the population within two days and 60% within one day.

Recently, Ryder announced another expansion of its e-commerce fulfillment and multiclient warehousing network with a new, high-tech 678,000-square-foot facility in the Atlanta area. The facility, with easy access to extensive highway and railroad networks, is scheduled for completion later this year.