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                                                                       EXHIBIT 5

September 19, 2001

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

Re:      OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM  S-8 OF
         RYDER SYSTEM, INC.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I have acted as counsel for Ryder System, Inc. ("the Company") in
connection with its registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
through the filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-8, of 6,000,000 shares
("the Registration Statement") of the Company's common stock, $.50 par value
("Common Stock"), to be offered for purchase to the employees of the Company and
its subsidiaries under the Company's 1995 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") and
in connection with the issuance by the company of the preferred share purchase
rights attached to such shares ("the Rights").

         In preparing this opinion I have reviewed: (a) the Registration
Statement; (b) the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation; (c)
the Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws; (d) the Plan; (e) certain records of
the Company's corporate proceedings as reflected in its minute and stock books;
and (f) other documents, as I have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for
the opinions set forth below.

         As to matters of fact relevant to my opinion, I have relied upon oral
representations of officers of the Company without further investigation. With
respect to the foregoing documents, I have assumed: (i) the authenticity of all
documents submitted to me as originals, the conformity with authentic original
documents of all documents submitted to me as copies or forms, the genuineness
of all signatures and the legal capacity of natural persons, and (ii) that the
foregoing documents, in the forms thereof submitted for my review, have not been
altered, amended, or repealed in any respect material to my opinion as stated
herein. I have not reviewed any documents other than the documents listed above
for the purpose of rendering this opinion as expressed herein, and I assumed
that there exists no other document that bears upon or is inconsistent with this
opinion as expressed herein. I have conducted no independent factual
investigation of my own but rather have relied solely upon the foregoing
documents, the statements and information set forth therein and the additional
matters recited or assumed herein, all of which I assume to be true, complete
and accurate in all material respects.

         My opinion is limited to matters of law arising under the laws of the
State of Florida and federal law of the United States of America, insofar as
such laws apply, and I express no opinion as to conflicts of law rules, or the
laws of any states or jurisdictions, including federal laws regulating
securities, other federal laws or the rules and regulations of stock exchanges
or any other regulatory body, other than specified above.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and any other qualifications
stated herein, I am of the opinion that the Shares, when and to the extent
issued and paid pursuant to the provisions of the Plan and the Rights issued in
connection with such Shares, will be validly issued, fully paid, and
non-assessable

         I hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the
Registration Statement and to all references to the use of my name in the
Registration Statement, provided, that in giving such consent I do not admit
that I come within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933 or the Rules and Regulations of the
Securities Exchange Commission thereunder. Except as provided for hereinabove,
without my prior written consent, this opinion may not be furnished or quoted
to, or relied upon by, any other person or entity for any purpose.

         Very truly yours,

         /s/ Carlos J. Abarca