May 2, 2005 9:10 AM, from staff and wire reports

Ryder System Inc reported net earnings of $41.5 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2005, up 18% compared with $35.0 million in the same period of 2004.

Revenue for the first quarter of 2005 was $1.3 billion, a 9% gain from $1.2 billion in the comparable period a year ago. Commercial rental revenue for the quarter increased 12% compared with the year-earlier period. Revenue in the Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) business segment in the first quarter of 2005 rose by 8% versus the year-earlier period.

In the Fleet Management Solutions business segment, revenue in the first quarter of 2005 was $924.6 million, a 10% advance compared with $841.5 million in the year-earlier period.