| EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS | EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Pension Plans We historically sponsored several defined benefit pension plans covering most employees not covered by union-administered plans, including certain employees in foreign countries. These plans generally provided participants with benefits based on years of service and career-average compensation levels. In past years, we made amendments to defined benefit retirement plans that froze the retirement benefits for non-grandfathered and certain non-union employees in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom (U.K.). As a result of these amendments, non-grandfathered plan participants ceased accruing benefits under the plans as of the respective amendment effective date and began receiving an enhanced benefit under a defined contribution plan. All retirement benefits earned as of the amendment effective date were fully preserved and will be paid in accordance with the plan and legal requirements. The funding policy for these plans is to make contributions based on annual service costs plus amortization of unfunded past service liability, but not greater than the maximum allowable contribution deductible for federal income tax purposes. We may, from time to time, make voluntary contributions to our pension plans, which exceed the amount required by statute. The majority of the plans’ assets are invested in a master trust that, in turn, is invested primarily in commingled funds whose investments are listed stocks and bonds. We also have a non-qualified supplemental pension plan covering certain U.S. employees, which provides for incremental pension payments from our funds so that total pension payments equal the amounts that would have been payable from our principal pension plans if it were not for limitations imposed by income tax regulations. The accrued pension liability related to this plan was $58 million and $53 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. Pension Expense Pension expense from continuing operations was as follows: Years ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 (In thousands) Company-administered plans: Service cost $ 11,007 $ 12,108 $ 12,345 Interest cost 84,960 78,234 86,431 Expected return on plan assets (91,034 ) (101,980 ) (91,062 ) Pension settlement expense 34,974 3,061 — Amortization of: Net actuarial loss 30,708 28,593 32,987 Prior service cost 711 550 579 71,326 20,566 41,280 Union-administered plans 10,582 9,326 15,553 Net pension expense $ 81,908 $ 29,892 $ 56,833 Company-administered plans: U.S. $ 75,936 $ 28,043 $ 43,717 Foreign (4,610 ) (7,477 ) (2,437 ) 71,326 20,566 41,280 Union-administered plans 10,582 9,326 15,553 $ 81,908 $ 29,892 $ 56,833 Non-operating pension costs include the amortization of net actuarial loss and prior service cost, interest cost and expected return on plan assets components of pension and postretirement benefit costs, as well as any significant charges for settlements or curtailments. During 2019, we offered approximately 4,500 vested former employees in our U.S. defined benefit plan a one-time option to receive a lump sum distribution of their benefits. Approximately 1,700 former employees, or 38% of those that were offered the distribution, accepted the offer. In December 2019 , we made payments of approximately $80 million from the U.S. defined benefit plan assets, which resulted in a settlement of $90 million , representing approximately 4% of our U.S. pension plan obligations. We recognized a settlement loss of $32 million of the pro-rata share of the unrecognized actuarial losses existing at the time of the settlement. The following table sets forth the weighted-average actuarial assumptions used in determining our annual pension expense: U.S. Plans Years ended December 31, Foreign Plans Years ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 2019 2018 2017 Discount rate 4.35% 3.70% 4.20% 3.04% 2.70% 3.90% Rate of increase in compensation levels 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.08% 3.08% 3.10% Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets 5.40% 5.40% 5.40% 5.36% 5.50% 5.48% Gain and loss amortization period (years) 22 21 21 24 26 26 The return on plan assets assumption reflects the weighted-average of the expected long-term rates of return for the broad categories of investments held in the plans. The expected long-term rate of return is adjusted when there are fundamental changes in expected returns or in asset allocation strategies of the plan assets. Obligations and Funded Status The following table sets forth the benefit obligations, assets and funded status associated with our pension plans: 2019 2018 (In thousands) Change in benefit obligations: Benefit obligations at January 1 $ 2,135,143 $ 2,298,902 Service cost 11,007 12,108 Interest cost 84,960 78,234 Actuarial (gain) loss 274,456 (120,934 ) Pension settlement (102,905 ) — Benefits paid (96,290 ) (104,560 ) Foreign currency exchange rate changes 17,709 (28,607 ) Benefit obligations at December 31 2,324,080 2,135,143 Change in plan assets: Fair value of plan assets at January 1 1,725,543 1,941,330 Actual return on plan assets 348,354 (108,386 ) Employer contribution 72,202 27,741 Benefits paid (96,290 ) (104,560 ) Pension settlement (93,049 ) — Foreign currency exchange rate changes 21,948 (30,582 ) Fair value of plan assets at December 31 1,978,708 1,725,543 Funded status $ (345,372 ) $ (409,600 ) Funded percent 85 % 81 % The funded status of our pension plans was presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows: December 31, 2019 2018 (In thousands) Noncurrent asset $ 72,320 $ 51,133 Current liability (3,863 ) (3,754 ) Noncurrent liability (413,829 ) (456,979 ) Net amount recognized $ (345,372 ) $ (409,600 ) Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (pre-tax) consisted of: December 31, 2019 2018 (In thousands) Prior service cost $ 13,798 $ 14,519 Net actuarial loss 869,907 929,995 Net amount recognized $ 883,705 $ 944,514 In 2020 , we expect to amortize $32 million of net actuarial loss as a component of pension expense. The following table sets forth the weighted-average actuarial assumptions used in determining funded status: U.S. Plans December 31, Foreign Plans December 31, 2019 2018 2019 2018 Discount rate 3.30% 4.35% 2.30% 3.04% Rate of increase in compensation levels 3.00% 3.00% 3.11% 3.08% As of December 31, 2019 and 2018 , our total accumulated benefit obligations, as well as our pension plan obligations (projected benefit obligations (PBO) and accumulated benefit obligations (ABO)) in excess of the fair value of the related plan assets, for our U.S. and foreign plans were as follows: U.S. Plans December 31, Foreign Plans December 31, Total December 31, 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 (In thousands) Total accumulated benefit obligations $ 1,812,813 $ 1,685,270 $ 489,135 $ 429,640 $ 2,301,948 $ 2,114,910 Plans with pension obligations in excess of plan assets: PBO 1,832,786 1,703,847 8,693 6,912 1,841,479 1,710,759 ABO 1,812,813 1,685,270 7,025 5,788 1,819,838 1,691,058 Fair value of plan assets 1,423,787 1,250,032 — — 1,423,787 1,250,032 Plan Assets Our pension investment strategy is to reduce the effects of future volatility on the fair value of our pension assets relative to our pension obligations. We increase our allocation of high quality, longer-term fixed income securities and reduce our allocation of equity investments as the funded status of the plans improve. The plans utilize several investment strategies, including actively and passively managed equity and fixed income strategies. The investment policy establishes targeted allocations for each asset class that incorporate measures of asset and liability risks. Deviations between actual pension plan asset allocations and targeted asset allocations may occur as a result of investment performance and changes in the funded status from time to time. Rebalancing of our pension plan asset portfolios is evaluated periodically and rebalanced if actual allocations exceed an acceptable range. U.S. plans account for approximately 72% of our total pension plan assets. Equity securities primarily include investments in both domestic and international common collective trusts and publicly traded equities. Fixed income securities primarily include domestic collective trusts and corporate bonds. Other types of investments include private equity fund-of-funds and hedge fund-of-funds. Equity and fixed income securities in our international plans include actively and passively managed mutual fund. The following table presents the fair value of each major category of pension plan assets and the level of inputs used to measure fair value as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 : Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2019 Asset Category Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (In thousands) Equity securities: U.S. common collective trusts $ 384,739 $ — $ 384,739 $ — Foreign common collective trusts 379,717 — 379,717 — Fixed income securities: Corporate bonds 84,519 — 84,519 — Common collective trusts 1,011,515 — 1,011,515 — Private equity and hedge funds 118,218 — — 118,218 Total $ 1,978,708 $ — $ 1,860,490 $ 118,218 Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2018 Asset Category Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (In thousands) Equity securities: U.S. common collective trusts $ 315,741 $ — $ 315,741 $ — Foreign common collective trusts 352,040 — 352,040 — Fixed income securities: Corporate bonds 79,155 — 79,155 — Common collective trusts 856,771 — 856,771 — Private equity and hedge funds 121,836 — — 121,836 Total $ 1,725,543 $ — $ 1,603,707 $ 121,836 The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for our pension assets as well as the level of input used to measure fair value: Equity securities — These investments include common and preferred stocks and index common collective trusts that track U.S. and foreign indices. The common collective trusts were valued at the unit prices established by the funds’ sponsors based on the fair value of the assets underlying the funds. Since the units of the funds are not actively traded, the fair value measurements have been classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Fixed income securities — These investments include investment grade bonds of U.S. issuers from diverse industries, government issuers, index common collective trusts that track the Barclays Aggregate Index and other fixed income investments (primarily mortgage-backed securities). Fair values for the corporate bonds were valued using third-party pricing services. These sources determine prices utilizing market income models which factor in, where applicable, transactions of similar assets in active markets, transactions of identical assets in infrequent markets, interest rates, bond or credit default swap spreads and volatility. Since the corporate bonds are not actively traded, the fair value measurements have been classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The common collective trusts were valued at the unit prices established by the funds’ sponsors based on the fair value of the assets underlying the funds. Since the units of the funds are not actively traded, the fair value measurements have been classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The other investments are not actively traded and fair values are estimated using bids provided by brokers, dealers or quoted prices of similar securities with similar characteristics or pricing models. Therefore, the other investments have been classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Private equity and hedge funds — These investments represent limited partnership interests in private equity and hedge funds. The partnership interests are valued by the general partners based on the underlying assets in each fund. The limited partnership interests are valued using unobservable inputs and have been classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The following table presents a summary of changes in the fair value of the pension plans’ Level 3 assets for 2019 and 2018 : 2019 2018 (In thousands) Beginning balance at January 1 $ 121,836 $ 114,593 Return on plan assets: Relating to assets still held at the reporting date 5,752 6,762 Relating to assets sold during the period (44 ) (38 ) Purchases, sales, settlements and expenses (9,326 ) 519 Ending balance at December 31 $ 118,218 $ 121,836 The following table details pension benefits expected to be paid in each of the next five fiscal years and in aggregate for the five fiscal years thereafter: (In thousands) 2020 $ 107,940 2021 110,416 2022 114,180 2023 117,439 2024 120,585 2025-2029 628,854 For 2020 , required pension contributions to our pension plans are estimated to be $37 million . Multi-employer Plans We participate in multi-employer plans that provide defined benefits to certain employees covered by collective-bargaining agreements. Such plans are usually administered by a board of trustees comprised of the management of the participating companies and labor representatives. The net pension cost of these plans is equal to the annual contribution determined in accordance with the provisions of negotiated labor contracts. Assets contributed to such plans are not segregated or otherwise restricted to provide benefits only to our employees. The risks of participating in these multi-employer plans are different from single-employer plans in the following respects: 1) assets contributed to the multi-employer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees and former employees of other participating employers; 2) if a participating employer is no longer able to contribute to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers at annual contribution rates under the collective bargaining agreements; 3) if there is a mass withdrawal of substantially all employers from the plan, we may be required to pay the plan an annual contribution based on historical contribution levels as prescribed by federal statute; and 4) if we choose to stop participating in some of our multi-employer plans, we may be required to pay those plans an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, which is referred to as a withdrawal liability. Our participation in these plans is outlined in the table below. Unless otherwise noted, the most recent Pension Protection Act zone status available in 2019 and 2018 is for the plan years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , respectively. The zone status is based on information that we received from the plan. Among other factors, plans in the red zone are generally less than sixty-five percent funded, plans in the yellow zone are less than eighty percent funded, and plans in the green zone are at least eighty percent funded. Pension Protection Act Zone Status Ryder Contributions Expiration Date(s) of Collective-Bargaining Agreement(s) Pension Fund Employer Identification Number 2019 2018 FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented (1) 2019 2018 2017 Surcharge Imposed (In thousands) Western Conference Teamsters (2) 91-6145047 Green Green No $ 3,971 $ 3,488 $ 3,245 No 01/12/18 to 03/31/21 IAM National (3) 51-6031295 Red Green RP Adopted 4,148 3,953 3,891 Yes 10/01/19 to 09/14/23 Automobile Mechanics 36-6042061 Yellow Yellow FIP Adopted 1,494 1,435 2,048 Yes 06/01/19 to 05/31/22 Other funds 969 931 915 Total contributions 10,582 9,807 10,099 Pension settlement (benefit) charges — (481 ) 5,454 Union-administered plans $ 10,582 $ 9,326 $ 15,553 _____________ (1) The “FIP/RP Status Pending/Implemented” column indicates plans for which a financial improvement plan (FIP) or a rehabilitation plan (RP) is either pending or has been implemented. (2) The Pension Protection Act zone status is for the plan year ended December 31, 2019. (3) The Trustees voluntarily elected to put the fund in red status, even though the plan is at least eighty percent funded, and implemented a rehabilitation plan. Our contributions are impacted by changes in contractual contributions rates as well as changes in the number of employees covered by each plan. Savings Plans Employees who do not actively participate in pension plans and are not covered by union-administered plans are generally eligible to participate in enhanced savings plans. These plans provide for (i) a company contribution even if employees do not make contributions for employees hired before January 1, 2016, (ii) a company match of employee contributions of eligible pay, subject to tax limits and (iii) a discretionary company match. Savings plan costs totaled $39 million , $40 million and $39 million in 2019 , 2018 and 2017 , respectively. Deferred Compensation and Long-Term Compensation Plans We have deferred compensation plans that permit eligible U.S. employees, officers and directors to defer a portion of their compensation. The deferred compensation liability, including Ryder matching amounts and accumulated earnings, totaled $71 million and $60 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. We have established grantor trusts (Rabbi Trusts) to provide funding for benefits payable under the supplemental pension plan, deferred compensation plans and long-term incentive compensation plans. The assets held in the trusts were $72 million and $60 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. The Rabbi Trusts’ assets consist of short-term cash investments and a managed portfolio of equity securities, including our common stock. These assets, except for the investment in our common stock, are included in “Sales-type leases and other assets” because they are available to our general creditors in the event of insolvency. The equity securities are classified as trading securities and stated at fair value. Both realized and unrealized gains and losses are included in “Miscellaneous income, net.” The Rabbi Trusts’ investments of $1 million in our common stock as of both December 31, 2019 and 2018 , are reflected at historical cost and included in shareholders’ equity. Investments held in Rabbi Trusts are assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis, all of which are considered Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The following table presents the asset classes as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 : December 31, 2019 2018 (In thousands) Cash and cash equivalents $ 18,460 $ 15,578 U.S. equity mutual funds 34,035 29,298 Foreign equity mutual funds 8,658 6,678 Fixed income mutual funds 9,800 7,849 Total Investments held in Rabbi Trusts $ 70,953 $ 59,403 Other Postretirement Benefits We sponsor plans that provide retired U.S. and Canadian employees with certain healthcare and life insurance benefits. Substantially all U.S. and Canadian employees not covered by union-administered health and welfare plans are eligible for the healthcare benefits. The postretirement medical plan was closed to non-grandfathered participants in 2013. Healthcare benefits for our principal plan are generally provided to qualified retirees under age 65 and eligible dependents. This plan requires employee contributions that vary based on years of service and include provisions that limit our contributions. The benefit obligation was $22 million and $19 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. The amount of postretirement benefit expense was not material for 2019 , 2018 and 2017 . |
