INFORMING OUR ASSOCIATES ABOUT ALL THINGS AVERITT • VOL. 7 • 2025 COMMUNITY CHALLENGE matters
CELEBRATING YOU: DRIVER APPRECIATION WEEK SEPT. 14-20 P2 INTENTIONAL GROWTH: FRONTLINE LEADER STARTED IN ADMIN ROLE P3 A 'KICKING' SOLUTION: MULTIPLE SERVICES HELP US DELIVER SUCCESS P4
A HOME-RUN HIT
The annual Averitt Cares For Kids Family Softball Tournament brought more than 1,300 associates, family members and friends from throughout our network. This event was an outstanding example of our team culture, and we thank you for making it a resounding success! See the results, team pictures and more on P5-7
TEAM NOTES FROM GARY SASSER
DRIVING FORCE OF OUR SUCCESS
Driver Appreciation Week is one of my favorite times of the year because it’s a special opportunity to celebrate you – our associates – for making us the best transportation team there is . Whatever your role, I want you to know that I’m thankful for you. You are the driving force for our success, and I’m proud of the way you help us achieve excellence. Your commitment is recognized by our customers and our industry. We're known for being a rock-solid team that is dedicated to professionalism, safety and outstanding service. And it’s all because of you. I’m proud to wear the Averitt name each day because of the way we come together for a common goal – helping
people succeed. Every safely loaded trailer and every delivery that arrives on time, on target and intact is a direct result of a team effort. That culture of teamwork makes us a leader in our industry, and it will move us forward for many years to come. If you attend one of our cookouts during Driver Appreciation Week, I hope I have the opportunity to personally thank you for all you do. Either way, I hope you know how grateful I am for your efforts. As we like to say, we appreciate you during Driver Appreciation Week... and throughout the year! T m
A SPECIAL WEEK TO CELEBRATE YOU Driver Appreciation Week Set For Sept. 14-20 For many years, Driver Appreciation Week has been a special tradition for our team. And we have even more reason to celebrate you this year! Your efforts have kept us strong throughout 2025, and as our industry begins to get closer to traditional business levels, we’ll be in an even better position for a bright future. Driver Appreciation Week is scheduled
Check out our special Driver Appreciation Week thank-you video at InsideAveritt.com/DAW2025.
for Sept. 14-20 , and during this year’s event, you can expect plenty of food days, daily giveaways, cookouts and other special treats throughout our network. All these things are among the many ways we say thank you for being the best team in transportation! T m
Make plans to attend a cookout near you! View more appreciation cookouts on the Events Calendar at InsideAveritt.com . UPCOMING COOKOUT EVENT SCHEDULE
S E P T EMB E R
OC T OB E R
NOV EMB E R
Nov. 11 Costco College Park 2-8p Nov. 12 Costco College Park 7-11a Nov. 13 Costco Eastaboga 10a-4p
Sept. 15 Mercedes (DAW) Sept. 16 Memphis (DAW) 2-8p Sept. 17 Jackson TN (DAW) 7-11a Sept. 18 Knoxville (DAW) 7a-5p Sept. 19 Nashville (DAW) 11a-5p Sept. 29 Greensboro 2-8p Sept. 30 Charlotte 2-8p 1-6p
Oct. 1 Charlotte Oct. 21 Norfolk Oct. 22 Richmond Oct. 23 Roanoke
7-11a 7-11a 7-11a 7-11a
COMMUNITY CHALLENGE matters
vol. 7 2 0 2 5
2
INTENTIONAL GROWTH
New Frontline Leader Started In Admin Role
When Savannah frontline leader JO MERKSON came to Averitt as an admin associate, she was very intentional about that choice. That focus has served her well, and it’s one of the reasons she’s been able to grow in her Averitt career. Jo has worked in a variety of fields, including leadership positions as well as an over-the-road driver for several years. “After driving OTR teams for three years, I was ready to be home,” recalls Jo, who came to Averitt in May 2022. A PURPOSEFUL DECISION Jo had several options for her next career move, but the transportation industry was in her blood. “My father and all of my uncles have worked in logistics in one aspect or another,” she explains. “I enjoyed being a driver, and I was sure I could use this love along with my previous experience to work in logistics behind the scenes.” Jo was impressed by our team’s strong reputation, and that caused her to decline an immediate leadership role with another company and instead come to Averitt in an admin role. “I wanted to be part of the best in the industry, and Averitt was and still is that,” Jo says. “If I had to start at the bottom and work my way up, I had no problems with that. I just wanted an opportunity.” Jo’s interest was further piqued by some encouragement from RHONDA EVANS of our Distribution & Fulfillment leadership during the interview process. “She told me that Averitt believes in taking care of its own and promoting from within,” Jo recalls. “I said, ‘I’m sold – when do I begin?’ I've not regretted it or looked back since.” After serving in the admin role for more than two years, Jo moved to
operations support in September of 2024. And earlier this year, she was promoted to her current position. ‘IT’S BIGGER THAN ME’ In addition to the way we Promote From Within , there are several reasons Jo believes she has been able to grow in her Averitt career. “Consistency, integrity, hard work, great customer service and realizing that it's bigger than me,” Jo explains. Jo also has straightforward advice for associates who want to prepare for their next step. “Be impeccable with your word, and be impeccable with your actions,” she says. “I have this written on my board. I read it every day. It's a reminder and sometimes a reality check.” TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP If you're ready to take the next step in your Averitt career, visit InsideAveritt.com/Opportunities . That's where you can see available positions on the Job Hotline and learn more about growth opportunities. T m Savannah frontline leader JO MERKSON (right), pictured with Service Center Director KEVIN FLENNIKEN (left), came to Averitt in an admin role and moved into operations support before being promoted to leadership.
BENEFITS ENROLLMENT READY FOR TAKEOFF
Get ready to blast off with Benefits Enrollment launching Oct. 6-24 ! You will find many familiar offerings, as well as some additions to our plans. COLONIAL LIFE INSURANCE This year’s benefit enrollment will include a new Colonial Life voluntary benefits offering, with a chance for you to enroll without any health questions (guaranteed issue) across all product lines. Benefits are also enhanced with generally lower costs. To take advantage of these enhancements and continue payroll deduction, you MUST make an election under the new offering during annual enrollment. If you choose to continue your current Colonial Life plan (except for voluntary life) as-is, it will not be payroll deducted in 2026. You may continue your current coverage by paying Colonial directly, and you'll receive instruction on how to do so from Colonial. The Colonial Life benefit counselors are available
during annual enrollment, and ready to help guide you through the Colonial Life plans as you make decisions about the best coverage for yourself and your family. Starting in 2026, you’ll also have access to a dedicated Averitt customer service line to get you the help you need! TELADOC Great news! High Deductible Health Plan members will have a $0 copay when using Teladoc services starting in 2026. Teladoc is great for minor conditions such as fever, sore throat, and congestion as well as for behavioral health concerns including stress, anxiety, and depression. The 2026 Benefits Enrollment Guide will be sent to your home address to assist you with choosing your benefits. Don’t forget to enroll in all of your benefits Oct. 6-24 , and call your Averitt Benefits team with any questions you have! T m
vol. 7 2 0 2 5
3
A ‘KICKING’ SOLUTION Multiple Services Help Us Deliver Success To Speaker Company Our ability to deliver multiple services opens many doors with our customers, and Kicker is a prime example of that. When this Stillwater, Okla.-based car and marine audio company needed to streamline its operations, it turned to us. The results have been fantastic, and Kicker’s leadership is thankful for the relationship we share. HEADS CAROLINA, TAILS CALIFORNIA Before Kicker expanded its partnership with us, it based much of its operations out of the port of Los Angeles. However, many of Kicker’s customers were on the eastern side of the country, meaning there were a lot of wasted miles in its supply chain. “We took a hard look at Charleston, S.C.,” recalls Director of Port and Distribution Sales TIM SHUSTER . “All of the ports that they were sourcing from in the Pacific Rim, they could bring those goods into Charleston just as easily as they could L.A. or Long Beach.” Our solution included warehousing at our Charleston Distribution & Fulfillment facility, drayage and transloading from the ocean port, and LTL and small package fulfillment from Charleston. Kicker also uses our Warehouse Management System for order visibility and fulfillment management, and our Averitt Connect technology for simplified quoting. All those services mean more opportunities to move freight throughout our network and a happy customer – a win-win for everyone! “The end result was Kicker saving money on transportation,” Tulsa transportation specialist DAN WENTZ says. “It also allowed them to be a day faster on their service to get it to their customers. That was a big win for Kicker.”
Hear what else Kicker has to say about our team by watching the testimonial video at Averitt.com/Kicker. Averitt.com/Kicker.
Our ability to deliver multiple services has created many more opportunities with Stillwater, Okla.- based car and marine audio company Kicker.
YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN What makes our solution come together is the quality of service that you provide. Your commitment to excellence has made an impression on Kicker’s Director of Distribution, Dave McDonald. “It’s showing up without damage,” Dave explains. “It’s on time. Our customers have great relationships with Averitt’s drivers. In a nutshell, I think it’s really working out well for everybody. And we’re really happy it’s going in this direction.” A COMMON CULTURE Kicker's founder, Steve Irby, is very intentional about seeking out partnerships with like-minded people. And he believes he’s found one in our team. “We want to partner with people who have that same service mindset,” he says. “We want to work with people who are interested in continuous improvement and working together and partnering. Those things are super important to us.” Tim agrees, “It didn’t take long to realize how special Kicker is, what their culture is and how similar that is to Averitt.” We’re excited to see what the future holds for our partnership with Kicker. And we’re thankful for the way you deliver outstanding service, because when our customers spread the word, that creates more opportunities for increased bill count and density throughout our network! T m
NEW LEADERS
For a list of September milestone service awards, including the newest members of our Over 20 Team, visit InsideAveritt.com . SAFETY AWARDS For a complete list of Safety Award winners, including five- and 10-year recipients, visit InsideAveritt.com. RETIREES Thank you for your service to our team! Derryll Banks Mercedes Michael Benton Mercedes Carlin Caldwell Shreveport Diana Cavarretta Corporate
Kathy Finley Byron Hyche
Corporate Mercedes PetSmart Mercedes
Tony Turner James Uptain Wade Winters
Knoxville
Birmingham Nashville Cookeville Gadsden
Charity Bailey
Dir. Business Development CORPORATE
Deborah Knight Tommy Mahan Susan Parker James Stoker Steve Sutton
Charles Wogoman
OVER 20 TEAM We’re proud to add members to our Over 20 Team! The following associates joined our team in September 2005: Ibrahin Borges Miami Renfroe Caver Dallas Larry Chandler Tyler Stuart Gantt Corporate Philip Gorham Dallas Bobby Odom Dothan David Turner Tyler Mark Wolfe Cincinnati Frontline Leader MILWAUKEE Jennifer Morris Dir. International Solutions Sales CORPORATE Lydia Fernandez
Mobile
Russell Wright
Cracker Barrel Owensboro
30 YEARS Jeffrey Lannom 25 YEARS Michael Reid Mark Riffo Larry Rogers John Sweet 20 YEARS Casey Chittum Orlanda Clemons Mark Galant Willie Howard
Richard Howe Kevin Keeney Jeffory Lundquist Jeffery McMillon 15 YEARS Fred Ball Printice Chinn Ernest Coleman Jr. Stephen Lewko Johnny Livingston Jr. Barron Robertson Reginald Stanton
Knoxville Roanoke Knoxville Memphis
Nashville
Knoxville Orlando Memphis St. Louis
AO Smith Atlanta West Memphis Atlanta East Owensboro Mercedes PODS
Knoxville Atlanta West
35 YEARS James Granner
Mayfield
Orlando Opelika
COMMUNITY CHALLENGE matters
vol. 7 2 0 2 5
4
Softball Tournament Once Again A Resounding Success KNOCKING IT OUT OF THE PARK
Teammates, family members and friends from all corners of our network made the recent Averitt Cares for Kids Family Softball Tournament a resounding success. More than 1,300 came to Cookeville to celebrate our team culture, a great day of diamond action and our support for the good works of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This year’s event included a near-record total of 23 teams. On the men’s side, Corporate defeated Knoxville in the championship game to claim the title. In the co-ed division, Cracker Barrel was victorious over the Risk Management squad. As always, the tournament provided a special opportunity to highlight our partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. We’re incredibly thankful for everyone who made the trip to Cookeville, from Texas, Florida, Milwaukee and everywhere in between. In honor of everyone who participated, volunteered or cheered their teams on, a donation of $60,000 was made to Averitt Cares for Kids ! We also want to say a special thank you to the more than 35 volunteers who gave their time to make it a wonderful day. Your efforts created a memorable experience for all of us! To see more of the action, visit InsideAveritt.com/2025Softball . T m
SCOREBOARD BY THE NUMBERS ATTENDEES Games Volunteers Teams Home Runs 1,346 44 36 23 18
1
1 st
st
CO-ED CRACKER BARREL
MEN’S CORPORATE TEAM
5
vol. 7 2 0 2 5
MEN
3 rd
2 nd
ATLANTA WEST
KNOXVILLE
TEAM PICTURES
DECATUR
HOUSTON
MEMPHIS
NASHVILLE
ORLANDO
REGION 5
SOUTH TEXAS
COMMUNITY CHALLENGE matters
vol. 7 2 0 2 5
6
To see more photos and a highlight video, visit InsideAveritt.com/2025Softball
CO-ED
3 rd
2 nd
RISK MANAGEMENT
TRUCKLOAD 1
CORPORATE NASHVILLE & COSTCO
ON TOUR LOGISTICS 1
LOUISVILLE & LDF
OS&D
REGION 3
ON TOUR LOGISTICS 2
SAFETY
SAVANNAH 1
SAVANNAH 2
TRUCKLOAD 2
vol. 7 2 0 2 5
7
SERVICE AWARDS
Below are the five-year milestones of associates WHO HAVE SERVED 20 YEARS OR MORE with our team. To view all available photos of our latest service awards, visit InsideAveritt.com.
Dedicated Central Staff associate STEVE STOUT (center, 40 years) with Dedicated Director of Analysis & Administration Nick Fields (right) and Vice President of Dedicated Operations Dan Singer (left)
Shreveport associate JAMES LEE (left, 25 years) with recently retired Service Center Director Carlin Caldwell (right)
Eastern NC associate RICHARD PITTS (25 years)
Tifton associate LARRY GIDDENS (right, 25 years) with Service Center Director Todd Hall (left)
When we go above and beyond to provide excellent service, it shows that Our Heroes Wear Red! These associates went the extra mile to represent Averitt with pride – and our customers said it showed! COMING THROUGH ON OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE
TRAVIS HERRING – Raleigh Travis is wonderful. He has made it a point to remember names of everyone here and he is always a kind and caring person. His customer service skills are outstanding. We cannot say
BRITTANY ZIMMERMAN – Waco Brittany has always given us top-notch customer service. Our recent experience has proven to us that Averitt is a strong partner with ICS. I would like to personally commend Brittany for her persistence and tenacity. The continual assistance went above and beyond the typical customer service level and it was truly appreciated. Michelle, ICS Jail Supplies – Waco, TX DANIEL GONZALEZ – Jacksonville Daniel was such a gentleman and went out of his way to help me with getting my shipment to my location. He was very helpful, and it was a perfect transition with my delivery. Excellent customer service! Chartel, Parker Image – Gainesville, FL
enough positive things about Travis. Baron, Brady Parts – Durham, NC
REX HYATT – Atlanta West Rex is an absolute rock star. He always goes above and beyond with each shipment with his dedication and commitment to excellence. He is the reason why a lot of people here in Peachtree City overlook the lower-priced carriers and use Averitt, and we can't thank him enough for all of his help. Brandon, East Coast Metal Distributors – Peachtree City, GA
COMMUNITY CHALLENGE matters
vol. 7 2 0 2 5
8
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter