POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature appears below
constitutes and appoints James M. Herron, Edward R. Henderson and Yasmine B.
Zyne, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Ryder System, Inc. Form S-8
Registration Statement and/or the Post-Effective Amendments to the Form S-8
Registration Statement for the Ryder System, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan and
any and all amendments thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and with the New York Stock Exchange, Chicago Stock Exchange, and
Pacific Stock Exchange, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent full
power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that each said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

                                                     ARTHUR H. BERNSTEIN
                                               ---------------------------------
                                                     Arthur H. Bernstein

STATE OF FLORIDA                    )
                                    ) ss:
COUNTY OF DADE                      )

Before me personally appeared Arthur H. Bernstein, to me known and known to me
to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and
acknowledged to and before me that he executed said instrument for the purposes
therein expressed.

WITNESS my hand and official seal this 19th day of December, 1996.

                                                      LOURDES PALOMARES
                                                --------------------------------
                                                      Notary Public
                                                      My Commission Expires:

(Seal)