Ryder System, Inc. Dominates the 2025 Rock Stars of the Supply Chain Awards
Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R), a leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, has once again solidified its dominance in the industry by sweeping the 2025 Rock Stars of the Supply Chain awards presented by Food Logistics. The company’s top executives from its consumer-packaged goods (CPG) division were honored across all three award categories: Leaders in Excellence, Top Transportation Professional, and Rising Stars. This prestigious recognition highlights Ryder’s ongoing commitment to innovation, efficiency, and excellence in the food logistics sector.
Each year, the Food Logistics Rock Stars of the Supply Chain awards celebrate individuals who have significantly influenced the global cold food supply chain through their dedication, leadership, and groundbreaking contributions. In 2025, the landscape of supply chain management is more challenging than ever, with professionals facing mounting concerns such as cargo fraud, unpredictable weather conditions, evolving food safety regulations, and potential economic shifts under a new presidential administration. These challenges underscore the necessity for leaders who are not only resilient but also innovative and forward-thinking in their approach.
Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive, commended this year’s winners, stating, “From cargo fraud and Mother Nature to ever-changing food safety regulations and a new presidential administration that could bring an increase in tariffs, cost of goods, and more, many of today’s supply chain leaders are faced with a number of challenges. But it’s their resilience, hard work, innovation, and attention to quality that separates these rock stars apart from everyone else. Every year, this award puts a spotlight on the best of the best in the cold chain industry.”
Meet Ryder’s 2025 Rock Stars of the Supply Chain
Darin Cooprider – Leaders in Excellence
Darin Cooprider, Senior Vice President & General Manager of CPG and International Supply Chain Solutions for Ryder, has earned a well-deserved spot in the “Leaders in Excellence” category. With a career spanning decades, Darin is known for his expertise in continuous improvement, strategic leadership, and process optimization. Under his direction, Ryder operates more than 150 warehouses encompassing 65 million square feet, manages $1.5 billion in transportation operations, and oversees 400+ customer accounts across North America.
Darin’s leadership style is centered on collaboration and empowerment. He fosters an environment where employees are encouraged to innovate, challenge the status quo, and contribute to the company’s long-term growth. His ability to develop strategies that enhance operational efficiency has positioned Ryder as an industry leader in food logistics. By continuously refining supply chain processes and leveraging advanced data analytics, Darin ensures Ryder remains at the forefront of an evolving industry.
Chad Cross – Top Transportation Professional
Chad Cross, recently promoted to Group Director of Customer Logistics for CPG at Ryder, earned top honors as the overall winner in the “Top Transportation Professional” category. With a keen eye for operational efficiency, Chad manages transportation logistics for more than a dozen major customers, collectively handling freight volumes exceeding $1 billion annually. His ability to integrate real-time data analytics into Ryder’s logistics framework has transformed the company’s decision-making processes, enabling teams to respond quickly to dynamic market conditions and operational challenges.
Chad’s innovative approach to transportation management has not only improved Ryder’s overall efficiency but has also contributed to cost savings for its customers. By focusing on predictive analytics, dynamic routing, and real-time monitoring, he ensures that supply chains remain resilient, agile, and responsive to industry shifts. His leadership in developing best practices for Ryder’s logistics teams has set a new standard for excellence in the transportation sector.
Marissa Alfieri – Rising Stars
Marissa Alfieri, Senior Manager for Human Resources at Ryder, was recognized in the “Rising Stars” category, an honor that acknowledges emerging leaders making a significant impact within the industry. Marissa’s contributions to human resource management have played a critical role in optimizing Ryder’s workforce strategy, particularly in the area of talent acquisition and retention.
Warehouse labor turnover is a persistent challenge in the logistics industry, yet Marissa has successfully implemented HR strategies that have significantly reduced attrition rates across multiple locations. Her dedication to workforce development extends beyond recruitment—she actively cultivates an environment that supports career growth, mentorship, and professional development. By prioritizing employee engagement and well-being, Marissa has strengthened Ryder’s talent pipeline, ensuring a more capable and motivated workforce.
Ryder’s Commitment to Excellence
Steve Sensing, President of Supply Chain Solutions and Dedicated Transportation Solutions for Ryder, expressed immense pride in the company’s honorees. He stated, “Ryder’s people are the best in the business because we show up every day determined to deliver on our promises to our customers—to make their supply chains better, faster, more resilient, and ultimately more competitive—so that they can focus on their customers. Darin, Chad, and Marissa really are rock stars and deserving of this spotlight.”
As an industry leader, Ryder remains committed to innovation, operational excellence, and customer-centric solutions. The recognition of its leaders in the 2025 Rock Stars of the Supply Chain awards underscores the company’s dedication to continuous improvement and its pivotal role in shaping the future of food logistics.
About Ryder System, Inc.
Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R) is a fully integrated port-to-door logistics and transportation company that provides end-to-end supply chain solutions. Ryder’s comprehensive suite of services includes warehousing and distribution, contract manufacturing and packaging, e-commerce fulfillment, last-mile delivery, managed transportation, professional driver staffing, freight brokerage, nearshoring solutions, full-service leasing, maintenance, commercial truck rental, and used vehicle sales.
With operations spanning the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Ryder manages nearly 250,000 commercial vehicles and services fleets at 760 maintenance locations. Additionally, the company operates nearly 300 warehouses, encompassing more than 100 million square feet of space. Ryder is widely recognized for its commitment to industry-leading practices, technology-driven innovations, environmental sustainability, corporate responsibility, and workforce diversity initiatives.
For more information, visit www.ryder.com.
About Food Logistics
Food Logistics is a premier publication that serves more than 26,000 supply chain executives in the global food and beverage industry. The magazine provides essential insights into the operations, business strategies, and logistics challenges of the cold food supply chain. Food Logistics also hosts major industry events such as the SCN Summit and Women in Supply Chain Forum.
For more information, visit www.FoodLogistics.com.