Although there were a few detours along the way, it seems Tracy Norris was just destined to work with Mercedes. He was working at the company’s Vance, AL, facility back in 2009 when the automaker offered employees a buyout. Tracy took the money and used it to start a restaurant. Yet, as many before him have learned, it’s a difficult industry. So he opted for a more secure leadership position at a transportation company located near Mercedes’ Vance plant. But that job came with added pressure. “Being on call 24/7 was stressful,” he says. “And my health started to go downhill. I knew I needed to do something else.” That’s when two things happened. “I had a friend who was driving trucks, and he would post pictures on Facebook. I thought, ‘Oh my, this looks like a dream job.’” Then one day at church he met one of our driving associates, and the die was cast. “I told my wife as soon as we get the house paid for, I’m going to truck driving school. After six months with another company, I can get on with Averitt.” And that’s exactly what happened. Given his Mercedes experience, his Vance assignment was a natural. But while he went with the expectation of driving trucks on the open road, he changed his mind when he got a look at the yard trucks. “I thought, man, you’re at the plant, you’ve got the cafeteria, you’re not out on the road. I fell in love with yard trucks, and I’ve been doing it ever since.” When it comes to professionalism, he sees it through a dual lens. “When people meet you, they base their perspective on what they see. So professionalism is about your demeanor, your attitude, your clothes. It’s about following protocol and meeting the high standards that both Averitt and Mercedes have. It provides a sense of reassurance for a customer when they see Averitt show up because they know what they’re going to get.” Even before joining Averitt, Adriana Becerra-Hernandez was familiar with freight – she worked in a warehouse driving a forklift to load and unload trucks. But there was one key difference. “Over there it was always the same,” she says. “Same thing, same size, every day. Here, the freight can be anything – from car parts to air-conditioning units. Every single day is different, so it’s never boring.” And that’s not all that sets Averitt apart from her previous experience. “When I came in for my interview, I was surprised to see so many forklifts running at the same time. And they were all sit-downs. I got nervous because I’d only driven stand-ups. But my interviewer said, ‘Don’t worry, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know.’ And that really made me feel more confident.” What put Averitt on Adriana’s radar in the first place? The answer lies in the old adage that “it pays to advertise.” “Last year I decided to look for a new job. I was looking online when an Averitt ad came up. I looked up the reviews and they all talked about how great the company is – the good benefits and the great pay. Those reviews are pretty much what brought me here.” Another factor was the strong, professional look the company puts forward. “I feel like customers trust companies more when they see people in uniform. It makes them feel safe. I am proud to be working here and to wear this uniform. Even my kids, when they see me in uniform, they feel proud of me. Whenever we drive by Averitt, they say, ‘Look, Mommy, it’s your job!’” When asked about anything else that stands out to her about working with Averitt, she has an answer ready. “One of the things I really like is Averitt Cares for Kids. When I first came in and saw all that money donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, I thought that was pretty awesome. And I love how the associates are able to help.”
TRACY NORRIS Mercedes Driver
ADRIANA BECERRA- HERNANDEZ Dock Associate
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