INFORMING OUR ASSOCIATES ABOUT ALL THINGS AVERITT • VOL. 1 • 2025 COMMUNITY CHALLENGE matters
PROFIT SHARING: RISING TO THE CHALLENGE FOR A STRONG PERFORMANCE P3 'YOU CAN MOVE AND GROW WITH AVERITT': SHUTTLE DRIVER SHARES HIS STORY P4 CREATING MEMORIES: USING RED THINKIN' REWARDS TO TAKE DAUGHTER TO CONCERT P8
We're excited to enter the new year, and we can't wait to see what's in store for our team in 2025. Whatever comes our way, we'll move forward with professionalism and an eye on doing things the right way. MOVING FORWARD WITH PROFESSIONALISM
TEAM NOTES FROM GARY SASSER
PROFIT SHARING STANDS TEST OF TIME
As we approach our 54th anniversary, I’m proud of what that milestone says about our stability. We have remained strong by doing what we do best – delivering outstanding service, focusing on people, and preparing for the future with the best plan, equipment and facilities. Something else that has stood the test of time is Profit Sharing . We’ve seen contributions every single quarter since the program began. Think about that. Through any challenge we’ve faced over the years, we’ve risen to the occasion every time. Our plan is unique in that it inspires each of us to focus on teamwork, innovation and being efficient. And the
better we do together, the better we all do individually. What makes Profit Sharing so exciting to me is that we see the results of our efforts in real time. When I visit with associates across our network, I’m encouraged by the passion they have for Profit Sharing and what it means to them. That it is proof positive that the health of our team is strong… today, and in the future. I look forward to seeing us build on our Profit Sharing strength even more in 2025. The sky is the limit, and I’m confident that our commitment to excellence will bring us success. T m
Lifting up our communities
2024 team UP community challenge totals coming soon In 2024, you showed us new ways to be generous to the people around us through our Team Up Community Challenge . From cancer walks to food drives for
out for the official final tally along with a special recap in the next edition of Team Matters ! As the new year begins, it is important to remember that Team Up hours are matched by company contributions to Averitt Cares for Kids. For more information about the Team Up Community Challenge, visit InsideAveritt.com/TeamUp . T m
animal shelters, you and your teammates are always cooking up fresh ideas to keep Team Up events fun and exciting. And here’s some more great news: it looks like we’re going to set a record for Team Up hours in 2024! Keep a look
KEY INSERTS IN THIS EDITION In this edition of Team Matters, every associate will receive our Key Contacts card. Additionally, driving associates will get our Quick Reference Guide that highlights the amenities at facilities throughout our network. Drivers will also receive a handy Hazmat Information Sheet with important tips to remember. T m
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RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
FINAL SCORE FROM 2024
6.8% Profit Sharing 9% fewer preventable accidents 11% fewer workplace injuries 96% LTL on-time service – best on record! 0.24% overall cargo claims ratio – best on record!
Outstanding Profit Sharing, Operational Performance Time and time again, you show what happens when we work together for a common goal. The results from 2024 speak for themselves – despite a challenging industry environment last year, your efforts produced outstanding results. Here’s a look at some of our successes: • 9% fewer preventable accidents companywide • 11% fewer workplace injuries companywide • 96.0% LTL on-time service – that's our best performance on record! • 0.24% companywide cargo claims ratio – that's also our best number on record! All of those fundamentals had a direct impact on the amount of Profit Sharing you earned. In 2024, an amount equal to 6.8% of your pay was contributed to your 401(k) retirement account ! That continues our trend of impressive Profit Sharing contributions, and it’s significantly more than the average match that most companies offer! We want to say thank you for the role you play in keeping us strong for the future. And you can bet that as we continue to do things the right way, we’ll Share the Effort and Share the Reward with more Profit Sharing! To see how you make a difference in our Profit Sharing contributions, go to InsideAveritt.com/ProfitSharing . T m
A ST. JUDE SUCCESS STORY Truckload Driver Was Cured Of Cancer As A Teen If there’s anyone who knows the difference we make through our donations to Averitt Cares for Kids , it’s Knoxville Truckload driver ROBERT JACKSON . better solution for the new patients today.”
‘IT WAS MY LIFE’ When he came to Averitt, Robert did not know about our special relationship with St. Jude through Averitt Cares for Kids.
“It started back in 1977. I got sick, had my tonsils removed and they found leukemia,” recalls Robert, who has been with our team for about 13 years. “My doctor sent me to St. Jude. I got there on Feb. 14, 1978.” After about three years of treatment at St. Jude, Robert was in remission. LIFELONG CONNECTIONS And because of St. Jude’s commitment to cure all children who are battling cancer, patients like Robert continue to get checkups throughout their lifetimes. “They bring us back there every five years and run studies on you,” Robert explains, “and they compare it back to 20 years ago in order to find a
Scan the QR code to watch a video about Robert's story
“At orientation, they asked us to donate to Averitt Cares for Kids,” he says. “Of course, that was natural. I love what Averitt has done.” For the nearly 96% of associates who are members of Averitt Cares for Kids, Robert has a simple message. “One dollar a week means a lot,” he says. “It’s a
baby’s life. It’s a teenager’s life. It was my life back in the day. That’s what I tell people. Donate. It’s a life you’re saving.” To learn more about how we support the good works of St. Jude through Averitt Cares for Kids, visit InsideAveritt.com/AverittCares . T m
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‘YOU CAN MOVE AND GROW WITH AVERITT’ Shuttle Driver Started In Truckload Like many of the more than 1,400 members of our Over 20 Team, Decatur shuttle driver JEFF LANDROM has taken advantage of several driving opportunities with Averitt. Jeff came to Averitt in 1996 as a Truckload driver, and he stayed in that role for about 10 years. He then served as a city driver for about 18 years before recently moving into shuttle. “When I was first interviewed, the interviewer said, ‘What are you looking for?’ I didn’t want to be at a company where you get locked in and you have to stay in one place,” Jeff recalls. “I wanted a company that was big enough to where you could move around. I’m a creature of habit. I hardly ever get tired of doing anything. But you can move and grow with Averitt. I wanted a company I could retire with, and that’s exactly what I told the interviewer.” After being referred by a mutual friend, Jeff quickly found out the difference in our culture. In particular, he was struck by our customers’ respect for our professionalism. That trend continued from Jeff’s Truckload days to when he moved to city, and he tells a humorous story about one interaction he had with a customer. “I came in with the red shirt, gray shorts and the Averitt socks. And the customer said, ‘Do you have Averitt on your underwear too?’ ” Jeff says with a laugh. “She said, ‘You all show professionalism and neatness everywhere you go. And your equipment is clean.’” Because of his prior background in retail sales, Jeff says taking care of our
Decatur shuttle driver JEFF LANDROM (right) came to Averitt in 1996 as a Truckload driver, and he also served in city before recently moving to his new role.
customers is something that has always been important to him. “I knew my customers, and I built trust with all of them,” he explains. “That’s the reason I stayed in city for so long. Since I’ve moved to shuttle, I
still have customers call me to see how I’m doing.” Jeff says our work environment is the total package.
“When you’ve got the owner calling you to tell you he appreciates your work and to congratulate you on your years of service, other people tell me, ‘We don’t have anything like that,’” Jeff says. “And we have things like Red Thinkin’ Rewards. I just got me a new grill. Other people have told me, ‘We can’t even get us a party.’ Averitt has created an atmosphere and a place where you can retire from.” Thank you, Jeff, for your commitment to excellence, for making your career with Averitt and showing some of the many opportunities we have to offer! T m
Something that makes us so unique is our commitment to career-growth opportunities. We want to see you succeed in your chosen position and any other advancement opportunity you pursue. And in 2024, lots of associates moved into different roles in their career paths. To learn more about how you can grow with Averitt and make us your career home, visit InsideAveritt.com/Opportunities. ROOM TO GROW NEW LEADERS Amanda Arnsdorff Frontline Leader SAVANNAH Marshall Begley Transportation Specialist TRI-CITIES David Butler Systems Security Leader CORPORATE Jennifer Chaffin 3PL Business Development Leader CORPORATE Robert Collier Marcus Johnson Site Manager PODS MERIDIAN Anthony Kemp Frontline Leader COSTCO Amanda Lee Frontline Leader CRACKER BARREL Dexter McMiller Service Center Director HOUSTON James Miller Frontline Leader MOBILE
70+ 270+ Promotions to leadership in 2024 Transfers to new positions in 2024
Ray Robertson
Site Manager BOISE CASCADE-GREENSBORO
David Ashby Frank Caldwell David Collier
Hickory Roanoke Corporate
Brandon Sherer Frontline Leader ATLANTA EAST Charlie Stallsworth Tech Support & Imaging Leader CORPORATE Scott Thompson Transportation Specialist KNOXVILLE Brock Wheeler Senior Operations Manager DEDICATED RETIREES Thank you for your service to our team!
Rosendo Contreras Carmen Deleon Christopher Fuller Ronald Hall Sylvia Harris Michael Pratt Thomas Sango Charles Floyd
PODS
Jacksonville Greenville Milwaukee Cookeville Corporate Knoxville Cracker Barrel
Frontline Leader FAYETTEVILLE NC Frontline Leader COSTCO
David Parker
Service Center Director GADSDEN
Gil Walser
Savannah
Michael Draghi
Charles Watkins
Montgomery
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perfect match for you!’ I knew his character and what he could bring to the table. I wanted to make sure he had the opportunity to join Averitt.” His next referral was a classmate from CDL training, someone he connected with while discussing their career goals. While many of Cortney’s referrals are people he knew from CDL training, he looks for more than just years of experience. “I look for diligent character, strong work ethic and excellent customer service skills,” he explains. “You’ve got to have strong customer service skills because not everyone fits the Averitt way.”
DRIVING SUCCESS THROUGH REFERRALS
Costco Frontline Leader Refers Friends To Be Averitt Teammates Costco frontline leader CORTNEY WILLIAMS has always been fascinated by trucks. He remembers sticking his head out the car window as a child, signaling for truck drivers to sound their horns. This lifelong fascination of transportation led him to Averitt in October 2022, where he started as a shuttle driver. Within two short years, he was promoted to frontline leader for our Costco account. LEARNING WHAT MAKES AN AVERITT ASSOCIATE From his early days as a driver to his current leadership role, Cortney has gained valuable insight into what makes an Averitt associate. This understanding explains his remarkable success with referrals, landing three outstanding hires in 2024 alone. What makes Cortney’s approach unique is that many of his referrals come from long-term friendships. He explains his first referral: “He was a friend from high school. I knew he had obtained his CDL and was looking for a good company where he could be home more often. I told him, ‘I've got the Smarter Features. Safer Roads. Learn your tractor’s automated safety systems.
CONVERSATIONAL TACTICS When it comes to how Cortney discerns who is right for the Averitt culture, he employs what has become something of a lost art – getting to know people through conversation. “I am a talker,” says Cortney. He believes a strong work ethic is essential for any candidate. These are the ideal people Cortney seeks out. Thank you, Cortney, for being a driving force behind Averitt's success! Your commitment to finding the right
CORTNEY WILLIAMS
people and your genuine connection with potential candidates are a perfect embodiment of our People Like You referral program. Through referrals like yours, we build a stronger team that thrives on our shared values. Looking to follow in Cortney's footsteps and refer like-minded people to our team? Learn more about our People Like You referral program, including the rewards of referring talented individuals to Averitt, at InsideAveritt.com/PeopleLikeYou . T m
Watch our training module at InsideAveritt.com/SafetyFeatures
OVER 20 TEAM We’re proud to add members to our Over 20 Team! The following associates joined our team in January 2005: Bruce Bade Louisville Jess Boykin Kasai North America MS Diana Cavarretta Corporate Trica Cessna Corporate Kenneth Chambers Atlanta West Lori Christian Corporate Dean Clary Owensboro Denise Daniels Corporate Abram Escobedo El Paso Nathan Gideon Memphis
25 YEARS James Hale Richard Laning 20 YEARS James Edwards David Solano 15 YEARS Daren Haney John Hargess James Holden Harvell Mabry
Ramiro Herrera Christopher Hitt Jeffory Lundquist Joseph Orman Hiram Parker Stephen Pickle Harley Putnam Johnny Ray Larry Reynolds Gary Shaw Elliot Sheffield Mark Sisson Ruth Wilson April Pryor
Laredo Nashville Knoxville Tupelo Norfolk
For a list of January 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.
Nashville Nashville
Knoxville Houston
Birmingham Corporate Greensboro Corporate Cookeville Mercedes Memphis ZF Lemforder Corporate
PetSmart
30 YEARS Michael Mader Everett Reed Jr.
ZF Lemforder Baton Rouge Richmond Boyd Company Jackson MS
Nashville Nashville Memphis
John Street Kevin Wood
Dale Massek Joey Shows
Tupelo
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ALMOST A MIRROR IMAGE
Similarities With CUSTOMER Foster Strong Relationship
“Kicker is so similar to Averitt,” says Dan. “They just celebrated their 50- year anniversary in 2023. Thirty percent of their workforce has been with them for more than 30 years. And they do a lot of giving to charities, the city of Stillwater and Oklahoma State University.” We also share a passion for service, which is important to Dave McDonald of Kicker’s distribution leadership. “If you’re carrying our product, your customer service is a reflection of us,” Dave explains. “That’s important. We want that.” able to grow our partnership significantly since 2011. What started as a few pallets here or there has become a Power of One solution from our Tulsa and Charleston locations. We now provide LTL, truckload, warehousing and drayage services, as well as expedited for events such as trade shows. “We try to tap into every part of our market that we can with Kicker,” Dan says. BUDDING RELATIONSHIP As a result of our commitment to excellence, we’ve been When Tulsa transportation sales specialist DAN WENTZ looks at Kicker, he sees almost a mirror image of Averitt. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons we have such a strong partnership with the Stillwater-based audio equipment company. DAN WENTZ
And Dave has found another Averitt resource that he appreciates – our LTL transportation management system, Averitt Connect. “We’re using Averitt Connect on a regular basis,” he says. “Averitt Connect helped us because our shipping department was going from website to website to get quotes. That was inefficient. So this brought efficiency – we can go to one spot, get what we need and move on to the task.”
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION According to Director of Port and Distribution Sales TIM SHUSTER , our Charleston warehouse is uniquely positioned to further strengthen our ties with Kicker. “Three of Kicker’s 10 largest customers are on the
TIM SHUSTER
East Coast,” Tim explains. “Bringing goods into the Charleston port and storing and doing fulfillment from Charleston created much-improved speed to market, creating a significant savings in time and money.”
PROVEN SOLUTIONS Our dedication to quality – and our open line of communication – has opened new pathways to be a Power of One provider. Relationships like the ones we
have with Kicker allow us to add more bills to our system, and that means more opportunities for us to deliver outstanding service. Thank you for all you do to make that possible! T m
Have Additional Insurance? If you're enrolled in our BlueCross BlueShield medical benefit, it's important to let BCBS know if you also have other medical insurance (from a spouse's plan, Medicare, etc.). Even if you don't have additional coverage, BCBS needs this information so they can pay your claims correctly and on time. Head to bcbst.com/otherinsurance to let them know if you have additional insurance.
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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.
Tri-Cities associate KAREN SMITH (center, 35 years) with the Tri-Cities team
Memphis associate BRIAN HOPPER (right, 35 years) with Service Center Director Doug Granito (left)
Atlanta West associate FELIX REEVES (center, 30 years) with frontline leaders Angelo Williams (left) and Dwayne Burton (right)
Jacksonville associate ERIC NAZWORTH (right, 30 years) with Service Center Director Tommy Webb (left)
Cookeville associate GARY CRAIGHEAD (left, 40 years) with Director of Safety and Compliance Jason Bolton (right)
Birmingham associate MICHAEL GORDON (right, 25 years) with Service Center Director Mark McCombs (left)
Memphis associate THERON MALONE (right, 25 years) with Service Center Director Doug Granito (left)
Jackson MS warehouse associate TERRY ANDERSON (left, 25 years) with Jackson MS Service Center Director Michael Matherne (right)
Corporate associate TINA STOUT (center, 25 years) with Collections leader Jessica Sevier (right), and Director of Invoicing Collections and Cash Marilyn Hyden (left).
MOVIN’ ON UP At the start of 2025, our Over 20 Team now features more than 1,400 associates who have served 20 or more years. Atlanta West city driver PRINTICE CHINN (right), pictured with Service Center Director Zach Ervin, is one of our newest additions to the club! We look forward to seeing this group continue to grow throughout the year! Over 20 Team Enters 2025 At 1,400-PluS
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Wallen delivered an unforgettable night at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, filled with exciting surprises. One of which was an usher who, upon hearing about Drew’s birthday celebration, offered them seats closer to the stage. “We moved down a whole section from the very top to the middle section, right up front,” Amanda says. When asked which band Amanda would see if she had an infinite number of Red Thinkin’ Rewards points, she shared that she wanted to see Fleetwood Mac, but her daughter has already decided their next concert will be Post Malone. It is our joy to support Amanda and other associates like you in your personal hobbies and professional journeys. Remember: you can earn points by achieving KPI goals, as well as reaching service and safety milestones. Stories like Amanda’s inspire us to continue enhancing our Red Thinkin’ Rewards program, ensuring you have the opportunity to take advantage of your own memorable experience. To learn more about our Red Thinkin' Rewards program, and to see a catalog of prizes you could cash in on, log in to InsideAveritt.com/Rewards . T m Corporate associate AMANDA JOLLY made her daughter Drew’s birthday unforgettable, using Red Thinkin’ Rewards points for a night at Morgan Wallen’s live concert!
There are many ways we acknowledge and reward the efforts of our associates. One of those is Red Thinkin’ Rewards , a program that allows you to earn and redeem points for a wide variety of items. AMANDA JOLLY , a Corporate associate with our Truckload appointments team, used her points to share a special experience with a loved one. Amanda had never taken advantage of the points she acquired. It was not until her 10th year of being on the team that she decided to take advantage by attending a Rob Zombie concert with her husband. This time around, however, she wanted to celebrate with her daughter, Drew, by taking her to see country music megastar Morgan Wallen for her 8th birthday. “When I told her... she screamed for about 20 minutes! Then we went through her entire closet for what she was going to wear,” Amanda recalls. “She settled on some bell-bottom cowgirl pants.” Corporate Associate Celebrates Daughter’s Birthday with Red Thinkin’ Rewards CREATING MEMORIES WITH REWARDS
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
JOHN METCALF – Winchester I've never heard him complain. He’s one of the reasons I can’t stop praising the drivers from Averitt. It’s always a pleasure to work with him, because he is one of the best! TC, Lawn and Leisure – Sterling, VA
MICHAEL EMBRY – Austin He was so nice and did a great job with our delivery. Mr. Embry took his time to ensure that freight did not get damaged, which is saying something because that freight was not so easy to manage. It was quite impressive to watch. Customer, Abiding Lutheran Church – Austin, TX COY HASTINGS – Jackson TN Coy embodies the excellence that defines the Averitt brand. He is incredibly friendly and professional. You can tell he appreciates his job by how he speaks so highly of Averitt. Whitney Pickett, Firestone Airide – Nashville, TN
KELVIN NICKELS – Tampa Kelvin is always worthy of a shout-out. He has an outstanding, all-around personality and a great attitude. He’s the friendliest guy you’ll ever meet! Larry, Prime Time Sports – Bradenton, FL
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