Ryder System Inc., a Miami-based leader in transportation and supply chain management solutions, received the 2003 Supplier of the Year Award from Applied Materials Inc.

Ryder is the first transportation-industry recipient of Applied Materials' Supplier of the Year Award. Ryder provides Applied Materials with a full range of supply chain solutions, including dedicated transportation, carrier management, material distribution, inventory management and warehousing systems.
"Ryder has helped us streamline our Austin materials handling management operation and reduce material logistics costs," said Joe Bronson, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Applied Materials.
"Ryder is particularly honored to be recognized by Applied Materials, the semiconductor industry's leading equipment supplier," said Tony Tegnelia, Ryder’s executive vice president of supply chain solutions. "To achieve and maintain a strategic competitiveness, the Ryder team recognizes the need to provide continuous improvement initiatives that will help customers such as Applied Materials realize tremendous efficiencies and competitive advantages in their transportation and supply chains."