RANDY BAGGETT City Driver
During his time driving both over the road and city routes for another company, Randy Baggett would often bump into Averitt drivers. “I’d talk to them a lot,” he says. “I’d say, ‘Hey, when are they going to hire me up there?’” Then, in 2002, he made it happen. “Even though I’d driven for another company, I had to wait for a driver position to open up. I started part time on the dock, eventually working my way up to full time. Then the city position came available, and I’ve been driving it ever since.” Well, almost. He actually took a break from Averitt in 2008 to focus full time on his own DJ-ing business – Choo Choo Entertainment. (Yes, you read that right.) “I was doing about 27 gigs a week.” But after 11 years, he wanted to dial back the pace. So he returned to our team in 2019. “I still DJ weddings and play drums in a band,” he says. “Just not as intense.” As for what drew him back, the answer is many of the same things that got his attention back in 2002. “At first it was the equipment, the uniforms, and the convenience of it being close to home. But once I got on, I realized how much better things are here compared to a lot of other things I’ve done in my life. “There’s a real sense of ‘team’ around here. We really help take care of each other. And I can say from experience, once you get your foot in the door, there are opportunities for growth – whether it’s city driver, shuttle driver, or even leadership – those possibilities are here. It’s just a matter of how far you want to go and what your attitude is.”
CHRIS WHITE City Driver
Chris White may have joined our team in 2022, but his admiration for the company started much earlier. “I wanted to work with Averitt ever since I started driving trucks eight years ago. I’d see the fleet out on the road, and they always looked well organized. Uniform-wise, trailer-wise, equipment-wise – everything was on point. And I said, ‘I’m going to drive for them one day.’” Before he started driving, Chris spent over two decades running his own business as a brick mason. But when health challenges forced him to change careers, he found a new passion behind the wheel. “I liked driving right away,” he says. “I worked for a couple of other companies, but nothing compares to here. When my last company shut down, Averitt brought us in. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.” As a city driver, Chris enjoys the variety that comes with being on an unassigned route. “I don’t want to go to the same place every day,” he explains. “If you’re out, I’ve got you covered – that’s my approach.” Chris also takes pride in representing our professional image. “When I step out of the truck in my Averitt red, it’s like a confidence boost. Customers see you and know you mean business.” For Chris, it’s the culture of respect and support that sets Averitt apart. “I hurt my foot a while back and had to go on workers’ comp,” he recalls. “The whole time I was off, my dispatchers and coworkers kept calling to check on me. It’s not like other places where you’re just a number. Here, you’re part of a team that looks out for you.” At home, Chris enjoys firing up the smoker and playing pool. “It’s the perfect way to relax after a week on the road,” he says. Family is also a big part of his life – he and his wife have five grown kids and six grandkids. “I’ve got two sets of twins,” he laughs. “They call me Superman without the cape.”
33
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter