With the right attitude and the right opportunities, the sky really is the limit. And that pretty much sums up Domitilo’s entire career mindset. He started with Averitt in 2005 as a part-time dock associate, then became a full-time associate two years later. “From there, I wanted to learn how to drive,” he says. “So I learned how to be a hostler on the yard. Once I got that down, I saw road driving as the next move. Since Averitt provided the opportunities and the tools, I took advantage of it. And here I am.” But that change represents only part of his overall journey. “I always liked learning different roles within the company,” he says. “I started working our outbound shift and getting to know the operation. But it always intrigued me how we load our routes on the inbound side. So I started learning how to route, and how to load by sequences. I was always curious about how the whole operation ran. I want to learn all the aspects – how to run the outbound and inbound, how to become a driver, everything. I think it would all help me in becoming a frontline leader here one day.” That kind of can-do attitude is what keeps him moving forward. “When I started here, the first thing that attracted me was the competitive pay. Then little by little, you learn about the culture and how they treat people here. It’s not just a job – it can be a career. And I like that. Averitt likes to promote from within and you see a lot of people moving up. I like knowing that you can do more, that there are different opportunities and that you’re not just stuck in a dead-end job. It’s all up to you. The possibilities are limitless.” You won’t often run across someone who describes eight years of driving 45-foot motor coaches as their “part-time fun job on the weekends.” But that’s exactly how Joe Ramsey views it. His primary job during that period was driving for another major carrier. But even then, he had his eye on Averitt. “When you’re out driving, you see Averitt almost everywhere,” he says. “And my dad always told me, if you see a company with that much activity, that’s a company you need to be with. It’s a sign of a strong company that’s going to be around for a while.” Still, signing on was easier said than done. “In New Orleans, where I was, they never had any openings because they never had any turnover. So I moved to Dallas just so I could sign on with Averitt. I lived in Dallas for seven years” – during which he also served a stint with On Tour Logistics – “then I transferred back to New Orleans.” When it comes to the qualities that still make Averitt attractive after all this time, one thing stands above the others. “Let me tell you, it’s the people. I don’t care what service center I go to, I’ve never had a problem with anything. The people are friendly everywhere. Tell you the truth, I love being at work more than I love being anywhere. Because I get to laugh and clown with everyone. I’m a people person, so I love it.” When he says he enjoys a laugh, he means it. “I remember when I was scheduled to meet Mr. Sasser at Atlanta East. I’d never met him before, and I wanted to get a picture. So I just went up to him and said, ‘Come take a picture with me. I’ll make you famous.’ ”
If there’s anyone who embodies the phrase “helping out where you’re needed,” it’s Dajae . She’d spent close to a decade moving between multiple freight companies when a former coworker (and new member of the Averitt team) encouraged her to apply here. Her first reaction? “I didn’t want to move anymore,” she says. But she followed up and had a call back the following week. “And I couldn’t pass it up.” Although she originally signed on as a dock associate, she quickly found herself wearing multiple hats. When the team was short a yard driver, she leveraged her earlier driving experience and filled in as a backup hostler. Then as a backup freight clerk. Then as a billing backup in the office – all while still working on the dock. “It’s partly because I just catch on quick, but it’s also about being helpful and nice to people,” she says. “I try to help out wherever I can.” Not that it didn’t get a bit hectic. “I decided to take the Dock-to-Driver program just to relax!” When asked what attracted her to Averitt in the first place, she doesn’t hesitate. “It was clean. And I mean clean with a capital ‘C.’ I’ve been some places where you go home and the dirt and grime just falls right off you.” But that was only part of the story. “Really, it’s the people that make it different. I think no matter where you work, you can either be happy or you can be miserable. Which one do you want to be? Here, everybody’s just smiling. Sure, you’ll have some angry faces, but you just have to keep a good attitude. Because somebody might be dealing with something worse than you. You need to pass on the good energy to people who otherwise aren’t feeling it.” When it comes to landing on a career, most can just tell when they’ve found the right fit. And that’s certainly true of Kenney Brown. “I’ve been driving for over 30 years,” he says. “And the last 23 of those have been with Averitt.” He was driving with a foodservice company back in 1999 when he decided to look for a better opportunity. “Averitt had it, and I came aboard. It’s been a fun ride ever since.” When it comes to the reasons for his long tenure, he cites many of the same factors you may have heard before. “Well, the environment we work in, first and foremost. It’s just a great place to work,” he says. “The culture is different – you’re not just a number. And the equipment is some of the nicest in the industry, hands down. Not to mention that we all look pretty sharp in these uniforms.” But he doesn’t stop there. “When I’m recruiting someone to Averitt, I tell them about the great pay structure, great benefit plan, and great retirement plan. Those are pretty good selling points.” When not spending time with his wife, two grown kids, and four grandchildren, he enjoys tracking his car on a road course whenever he can. “I have a Corvette,” he says. “It’s a Z06, 650 horsepower straight from the factory. People ask me all the time, ‘Have you done anything to it?’ I mean, I can’t even use what they gave me. So what am I going to do to it?”
KENNEY BROWN CITY DRIVER
JOE RAMSEY TRUCKLOAD DRIVER
DAJAE WILLIAMS CDL-A DOCK
DOMITILO RAMOS CDL-A DOCK
30
31
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter