INFORMING OUR ASSOCIATES ABOUT ALL THINGS AVERITT • VOL. 4 • 2024 COMMUNITY CHALLENGE matters
FROM DRIVER TRAINEE TO OPS MANAGER: LEADER SHARES HIS STORY P3 ‘MORE OF A CAREER THAN A JOB’: KNOXVILLE DRIVER REFERS PEOPLE LIKE YOU P5 DECADES OF SAFETY: ASHEVILLE DRIVER PROVIDES TIPS TO SUCCESS P8
TECHNOLOGY FOR TRUCKLOAD
Our Truckload team is in the process of introducing tablets, and the feedback on our test run has been a resounding success. Read more about this process – as well as driver testimonials – on P2 .
PEOPLE LIKE YOU REFERRALS = LASTING CULTURE What would you say if you had the opportunity to choose the people you work alongside? People who you know and trust. People who are a good
fit for our team-oriented culture. That’s exactly what our People Like You referral program provides. And that’s why we focus on the importance of referrals and offer lots of ways to recruit people to Averitt.
When we hire and develop people we already know to be the best in the industry, we create more opportunities to deliver innovative and creative solutions to our customers. In a way, People Like You referrals are an P2
TEAM NOTES From Gary Sasser
‘EVERYTHING IS RIGHT THERE’
Truckload Drivers Share Their Positive Experiences With New Tablets We’re in the process of introducing tablets to our Truckload team, and this technology offers the benefits of a simplified workload and more efficiency.
with Averitt for about eight years after previously serving in the Navy. “It’s easier to handle. You pull it out of its holder, use the stylus and input all your data. That’s easier than Omnitracs, where you had to switch back and forth between screens and get rid of the keyboard. It’s a lot better.” Another aspect Doug likes is the visibility of his Hours of Service. “It’s a little different, but after that first week, you learn what you can do with it, and you can watch your Hours of Service, your on-duty time, your drive time and when you will reset,” he says. “Everything is right there.” We anticipate completing the rollout to all Truckload drivers by the end of the year. Like Doug, Rudy believes our driving force will quickly see the benefits of the transition. “It’s easier, and I think other drivers will like it,” Rudy says. “Once they get used to the tablet after about a week, they’ll love it.” T m DOUG MERRELL
Cookeville Truckload driver RUDY EADS was one of the first drivers to get started on the tablets, and he prefers it to our former Qualcomm and Omnitracs units. “The Qualcomm froze up a lot and shut down, and it had a lot of bugs in it,” recalls Rudy, who has been with Averitt for close to 26 years. “The tablet seems to work really smoothly. There are a couple of bugs that are being worked out, but all in all, I love it. It’s got a good GPS
RUDY EADS
system on it, and using it is really easy. I like it.” Fellow Cookeville Truckload driver DOUG MERRELL has had a similarly positive experience. “After about a week, I got used to it and found out that once I learned the commands, it was a lot better than Omnitracs,” says Doug, who has been
Make plans to attend a cookout near you! View more appreciation cookouts on the Events Calendar at InsideAveritt.com . UPCOMING COOKOUT EVENT SCHEDULE
MAY
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June 18: Greensboro June 19: Charlotte June 20: Costco CLM June 21: Greenville
11a-5p 7-10a 7a-2p 7-10a 11a-2p
May 14: Louisville May 15 : Cincinnati May 16: Lexington
2-8p 2-8p
11a-5p
June 29: Cracker Barrel
FROM GARY SASSER PG. 1 important key to our belief in Always Averitt . Because the people you refer share the same values we do, they help us build on our strong foundation of success. And referrals are more likely to stick with our team for the long haul, so that ensures stability and a unique culture that will last for years to come. I want to say thank you to the many teammates throughout our network who refer People Like You. I’m proud of your efforts, and I’m even more excited about our future as we
hire more like-minded associates. I encourage you to continue to be on the lookout for people who would fit our culture, whether it’s friends, family or others you meet as you go about your day. We’re growing, and I know the best way to do that is to start with you – people who know what Averitt associates look like.
Gary spends some time with Tampa dock associate ELI IPINA during a recent visit to our facility there.
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Operations Manager Began As Truckload Driver Trainee ‘HOME SINCE I WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR’ After spending a year in Truckload, Bobby transferred to an inbound dock role. He spent six months there before moving to outbound, then a chance encounter opened the door for his next opportunity. Bobby volunteered to help with city driving at another facility, and the experience went so well that he moved into a city role back at Birmingham. Bobby served several years in city, then he decided to grow even further, earning a nod as a dispatch frontline leader. He spent a few years in that If there’s anyone who is a poster child of our commitment to growing the Averitt Way, it’s Birmingham operations manager BOBBY HORNE. Bobby came to Averitt 10 years ago as a Truckload driver trainee, and through the years he’s developed to advance to where he is today.
Birmingham operations manager BOBBY HORNE (left) was recently honored for 10 years of service by Service Center Director MATTHEW SMITH (right).
position before being promoted to his current role. “It seems like it just fell in my lap,” Bobby says. “I wanted to learn about trucks, the dock, everything about Averitt. I tell people all the time that Averitt has felt like home since I walked through the door.” Bobby’s advice is simple for associates who want to grow in their own careers. “I would say apply yourself 100%, and everything will fall in place,” Bobby says. “I’ve always tried to get involved. And I’ve always tried to apply myself and learn as much as I can. Even now, not a day goes by when I don’t learn something new.” READY FOR YOUR NEXT STEP? If you’re ready to take the next step in your Averitt career, we encourage you to check out our enhanced Career Opportunities page at InsideAveritt.com/Opportunities . There, you can see a list of open positions, learn more about our Leadership Development Program and Dock-To- Driver Training Program , and find instructions on how to apply for a new position. T m
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND Softball Tournament Scheduled For Aug. 17 The 2023 Averitt Cares for Kids Family
all the highlight-reel action on the diamond throughout the day. Our softball tournament is also an opportunity to raise awareness for Averitt Cares for Kids and the difference every member makes for children in need. In fact, Averitt's matching contribution to support the good works of St. Jude was boosted by the number of volunteers, attendees and participants at the 2023 event. So we encourage you to mark your calendar for this year’s tournament. And if you’ve never attended the event, we hope you’ll come out and spend the day with teammates from throughout our network! T m
Softball Tournament was one to remember, featuring a record 25 teams and more than 1,350 associates, family members and friends. The event marked the first time that it was hosted in Cookeville, and because of the incredible feedback we received, we’re making it a return engagement! This year’s tournament is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 17 , and it will once again take place at the Cane Creek SportsPlex. As always, the Averitt Cares for Kids Family Softball Tournament is a free, family-friendly occasion with plenty of food, drinks and activities for kids. And of course, there will be
NEW LEADERS
Bruce Fuehr William Holt
Cracker Barrel Little Rock Jacksonville
Andy Patterson William Tyree John Walton Michael Zukywich
Knoxville Nashville Corporate Houston
RETIREES Thank you for your service to our team! Lazaro Castro Del Rio Alan Eckelman Tampa Allison Floyd Charlotte
Laura Miller
Transportation Specialist CHARLOTTE
Randal Kirkland Lawrence Krise Todd McClain Roger Morgan
Houston Nashville Knoxville
James Moore
Frontline Leader CHARLESTON
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TALKING SHOP NEW MAINTENANCE FACILITIES PUT US IN POSITION FOR GROWTH We continue to build for the future with our focus on facilities enhancements. And that equation includes new maintenance facilities in several locations throughout our network. Some of our recent enhancements are: • Cookeville – a new shop office and break area, updated parts room and new bathrooms as well as a new Driver Support Center. • Houston – upgraded shower room and driver’s break area in the shop, refurbished the two existing shop bays, added two additional bays, enhanced the truck wash, and completed a separate break area and bathroom. • San Antonio – will complete a new shop this year that includes two bays, drive-through fuel bays and a wash bay, an automatic truck wash and a Driver Support Center. “Staying on the cutting edge of preventive maintenance facilities is important for our entire team,” says Vice President of Operations LARRY MASON. “It gives our maintenance associates the amenities they need to perform to the best of their ability. And it allows us to keep our trucks rolling
and dock operations running smoothly, all of which result in continued outstanding service to our customers.” We’re proud to provide our associates with top-of-the-line amenities now, and these investments put us in position to be ready for growth in the future. We look forward to even more projects in the future that give our associates the best possible quality of life on the job! T m Our Cookeville shop is one of several that has recently undergone enhancements. This includes the addition of a Driver Support Center, providing a lounge, kitchen area and laundry facilities among other amenities.
Houston city driver RICHARD WALTON (left) – pictured with operations manager SHANE DEAR (right) – was honored for 25 years of safe driving. Thank you for showing Our Driving Concern Is Safety! 25 YEARS OF SAFE DRIVING
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
JT SMITH – Montgomery “JT is a great truck driver who is always very nice and always has a big smile on his face.” Salon Centric – Millbrook, AL
STORMY BROWN – Corporate “Stormy was thorough, gave me all the information I needed and was detailed in letting me know the plan. She helped ensure that the shipment we needed was delivered on time and contacted the warehouse to pre-schedule the shipment.” Melissa, Alfred Williams & Co. – Greenville, SC JERMAINE EVERY – New Orleans “Jermaine delivered 3 pallets of Lakeshore materials to us in the storm with a smile. He had to put one pallet in a shed that was a tight fit and then had to move the truck to fit the rest in a room where the pallet could not fit through the door. He offloaded the materials for us with a big SMILE and polite manners. He was a pleasure to work with and should be commended for his efforts with us today.” Michele, Terrebonne Parish School District – New Orleans, LA
KENNY JONES – Greensboro “We really do appreciate the job that Kenny does for us. He always has a good attitude and is always willing to help us with our pickups and deliveries. The service we get from Averitt is far superior to any other LTL service we use, and Kenny goes above and beyond!” Matt, Border Concepts - Lexington, NC
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Knoxville Shuttle Driver Shares His Experience With Referrals JODY MIGA was looking for a new career after retiring from the California Highway Patrol. After getting into the transportation industry and moving to Tennessee, he found his perfect fit with Averitt. The experience has been such a positive one that he referred his brother, his best friend and two acquaintances from his CHP days. Referring People Like You has been an easy sell for Jody. He says his friends can tell the difference in his demeanor since he came to our Knoxville team three years ago. “People who knew me in the past see that I’m happier, I’m more outgoing, and I'm not stressed all the time,” says Jody, who started in a nighttime shuttle role and moved to daytime shuttle a year ago. “I go to work every day happy, and I go home happy.” Jody has been able to connect with others who have moved to the area, and he’s found they’re interested in his Averitt story. “I tell them exactly what Averitt does,” Jody explains. “How you get a uniform allotment. How you’re treated like family. You’re not just a number. You come in and the service center director says hi to you. It’s family oriented with great pay. I just sell it to them, and I look for people like me who want to work hard and stick with something long term. This is more of ‘MORE OF A CAREER THAN A JOB’
a career than a job. If you’re looking for something you can stay with and it won’t burn you out, this is it.” In addition to the atmosphere, Jody talks about our strong benefits package. “I tell people about the Profit Sharing and the percentage we’re getting, and they’re like ‘OK!’” he says. “I sell all the benefits of it, and people who are coming from other areas just eat it up. It’s a small-town feel but with all the huge benefits you get. People who have come here from out west are like, ‘That’s what we’re looking for, and that’s why we moved here.’” Thank you, Jody, for helping us grow by referring like-minded people to Averitt! We appreciate your efforts, as well as those of associates throughout our network who are referring People Like You each day! PEOPLE LIKE YOU REFERRAL PROGRAM To learn more about our People Like You referral program, including a list of open positions throughout our network, and information about how you can earn referral rewards and Red Thinkin’ Rewards points, go to InsideAveritt.com/PeopleLikeYou. T m
SHOWING THE POWER OF ONE MORE Associates Referring People Like You, Earning Referral Rewards
OVER 20 TEAM We’re proud to add members to our Over 20 Team! The following associates joined our team in April 2004: Amber Adams Corporate John Beauchamp Richmond Frank Bennett Tampa Joshua Guzman Orlando Charlene Hancock Corporate Trevor Howard Corporate associates earned referral rewards after their referrals were hired to the Averitt team! People Like You are very important for our future success, because you know others who would be a great fit for our culture. These
Decatur transportation sales specialist CLINT DICKEY (left)
Knoxville shuttle driver DAVID PERRY
Corporate associate SHYANNE YBARRA
SAFETY AWARDS For a complete list of Safety Award winners, including five- and 10-year recipients, visit InsideAveritt.com. FEBRUARY 30 YEARS Ronald Clouse Corbin-London Dwayne Cox Jacksonville
25 YEARS Ronald Porter 15 YEARS Amos Fuller William McNabb Roger Slaven Jose Vasquez
Marilyn Jones Frankie Kitchens Jimmy Randolph Edward Salter Reginald Wiggins Michael Williams
Corporate Jackson MS Cincinnati Memphis Nashville
Nashville
Dallas
Bowling Green
Jackson MS Knoxville
Houston
For a list of April milestone service awards, including the newest members of our Over 20 Team, visit InsideAveritt.com .
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A prime example is Averitt Connect, our LTL transportation management system. We’ve partnered with a nationally recognized provider – MyCarrier TMS – to offer a one-stop shop for our customers. And through Averitt Connect, we’ve introduced dynamic freight pricing that allows us to respond to real-time market conditions. “Averitt Connect helps customers get more precise pricing,” explains Director of Corporate Business Development JEFFERY WILHITE . “They’re entering dimensional information, and it helps us because when we get that information after the customer creates the shipment, we know in advance exactly what we’re going to be picking up from the customer. That helps operations associates with their planning. It’s more efficient because we have preassigned PROs that we’re basically matching up in the tablet as opposed to doing additional work. It’s more simplified.” Jeffery says the dimensional pricing approach is where the industry is heading. “Instead of asking, ‘What does it weigh and what is the class?,’ the question is, ‘What does the shipment look like?’” Jeffery says. “Now we know where it’s starting, we know where it’s going, and we know what it looks like. We know how it’s moving in our network.” ‘FLOORING’ OUR CUSTOMERS All South Flooring is one customer that has taken advantage of Averitt Averitt Connect Technology A Win-Win For Customers, Associates One way we secure our future is embracing technology that serves our customers while simplifying processes for our associates. CONNECTING WITH AVERITT
Scan the QR code to learn more about our Averitt Connect service.
Connect, and it has been thrilled with the results. “We provide for them more than one service,” says Charlotte transportation specialist MARITZA AUTRY . “LTL, Truckload, Distribution & Fulfillment, local moves and Averitt Connect. All South Flooring is a prime example of The Power of One.” Greg Capell of All South Flooring’s leadership has become a big believer in the capabilities of Averitt Connect. “When Maritza approached us for Averitt Connect, we were able to see the practical application of the software, and it was a no-brainer for us,” Greg recalls. “It creates the ease of quoting shipments, generating bills of lading, and the paper and workflow that we have internally. Averitt Connect is a huge value-add for us.” The Averitt Connect technology is important for our entire network. Because of the ease of use for customers and the streamlining it creates for our team, our customers are more likely to partner with us. And when they see the outstanding service we provide, they take advantage of more services and add bills to our network. And that’s a win-win for all of us! To learn more about Averitt Connect and see All South Flooring’s video testimonial, visit Averitt.com/Connect . T m
In case you’re not subscribed to our podcasts or haven’t seen our videos on InsideAveritt.com, there’s a wealth of helpful information at your fingertips. And there’s something for everyone, including our Winner’s Circle and From The Driver’s Seat podcasts. To give you an idea of the range of topics, here’s what you may have missed in recent weeks: • ‘Keep The Left Door Shut’ – how the pros maximize their hours for more miles IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Loads Of Helpful News On InsideAveritt.com
• The Secret To A 40-Year Career – John Walton talks about starting as a part-time driver and growing into our Director of Safety & Compliance • State Of The Company – President and Chief Operating Officer Barry Blakely shares his thoughts on what the rest of this year can look like • Leading The Averitt Way – Angie Roach talks about how we prepare the next generation of leaders and how she aims to lead The Averitt Way To stay up to date on Averitt news, go to InsideAveritt.com and find more digital content like podcasts and videos.. T m
There ’ s something for everyone with our digital content on InsideAveritt.com, from our From The Driver’s Seat Podcast (pictured above) to the Winner’s Circle Podcast, as well as video testimonials from leadership and associates throughout our network.
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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.
Knoxville associate ANDY PATTERSON (center, 45 years) with Region 1 Vice President Bryan Snyder (right) and Vice President of Operations Larry Mason (left)
Montgomery associate ALLEN CLARK (35 years)
Corporate associate DEBORAH WEST (left, 35 years) with Director of Truckload Operations Mike Floyd (right)
Nashville associate JOHN HARRIMAN (30 years)
Corporate associate DENISE YORK (left, 35 years) with customer information leader Sandy Fleming (right)
Tri-Cities associate JEFF RIDDLE (right, 35 years) with Service Center Director Jackie Whitehead (left)
Atlanta West associate FRANKIE LAWSON (center, 30 years) with operations manager Dwayne Gribble (left) and Service Center Director Zach Ervin (right)
Memphis associate ERIC WALKER (center, 30 years) with operations manager Brian Hopper (right) and Service Center Director Mike Maynard (left)
Tupelo associate JERRY HESTER (left, 30 years) with frontline leader Justin Waters (right)
Atlanta East associate RICHARD HICKS (left, 25 years) with operations manager Darrell Richardson (right)
Cookeville associate ANGIE PENNYCUFF (right, 25 years) with Service Center Director Sammy Talent (left)
Corporate associate ALEX SWAFFORD (right, 25 years) with Vice President of Corporate Transportation Danny Crooks (left)
Atlanta East associate MUSTAFA MAHMOUD (25 years)
Memphis associate BEN PRESLEY (center, 25 years) with operations manager Brian Hopper (right) and Service Center Director Mike Maynard (left)
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Brent explained some of the things he focuses on when driving. “Following distance is an important one,” Brent says. “You need to leave a gap between you and the driver ahead of you because you never know when you are going to need to stop. Another one is mirrors. You need to be checking the small ones too. It’s easy to just check the big one, but it’s safer to check all of them.” Brent adds that overall awareness is important. “I pay close attention to the overhead clearance signs,” he says, “making sure I have enough space.” BRENT HAWKS
SIMPLE STEPS ADD UP TO 30 YEARS OF SAFETY DECADES OF SAFE DRIVING
Brent’s biggest tip for drivers is a simple one. “Slow down,” he says. “You don’t need to be in a hurry and put you and other drivers at risk of accident.” Congratulations, Brent, on achieving 30 years of safe driving, and thanks for all you do to help us deliver excellence on time and intact! T m
Asheville city driver BRENT HAWKS joined our team in 1993 as a shuttle driver, and in addition to his current role, he also spent time on the dock. Through his nearly 31 years with Averitt, Brent has achieved an incredible 30 years of safe driving.
Don’t compromise your driving due to your schedule. Aggressive driving doesn’t save time.
Watch our video at InsideAveritt.com/essentials
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