INFORMING OUR ASSOCIATES ABOUT ALL THINGS AVERITT • HOLIDAY EDITION • 2025 COMMUNITY CHALLENGE matters
FROM DOCK TO DIRECTOR: NEW SERVICE CENTER DIRECTOR SHARES GROWTH STORY P3
A SEASON OF GIVING: DRIVER SHARES RED THINKIN' POINTS WITH ST. JUDE P4
INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE: 5 TRUCKLOAD DRIVERS WIN NEW TRUCK ASSIGNMENT P5
Watch this year's holiday video at HappyHolidaysFromAveritt.com
TEAM NOTES CELEBRATING OUR FAMILY CULTURE FROM GARY SASSER
The holidays remind me of the importance of family. During this time, many of us gather with loved ones to celebrate the season, enjoy special meals together and reminisce about the previous year. Similarly, I think of Averitt as a family. And there are many reasons that description fits. Families are tight-knit, and they look out for each other. They celebrate wins together, and they grow closer during challenges. Above all, they stand the test of time because of their common bonds. Our Winner’s Circle is a simple way of describing what makes our family atmosphere so unique. We’re united by our commitment to outstanding service for Our Customers . We take care of Our Associates by providing strong career opportunities and the best possible quality of life on the job. And we look toward Our Future
through facility and equipment investments, as well as innovative and creative solutions that keep us on the cutting edge in the transportation industry. Ultimately, what makes a family atmosphere possible is our people. That’s why I’m thankful for every associate. You’re the reason we deliver excellence each day. You’re the reason we’re able to meet every challenge we face. And you’re the reason our future is as bright as it’s ever been. 2026 is just around the corner, and I’m confident that we’re in prime position to experience a successful year. I hope your holiday season is filled with joy and memories with your families, and I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year ! 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 D E C EMB E R Dec. 9 Jackson MS 2-8p Dec. 10 Mercedes 2-6p Dec. 11 Decatur 2-8p Dec. 17 Nashville 2-8p Dec. 18 Nashville 7-11a
inside this edition Just in time for 2026, inserted in this month’s edition of Team Matters is our Children’s Art Calendar! Additionally, you’ll find our dashboard calendar that will keep you up to date throughout the coming year.
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New Austin Service Center Director Started As Part-Time Dock ‘YOU HAVE EVERY TOOL YOU NEED’
As he got steeped in our culture, Donnie was impressed with how his leadership was intentional about his interest in growing. “My operations manager at the time, JASON WHITAKER , and my frontline leaders all treated me like part of the family,” Donnie says. “I would ask questions at other jobs, and people would say, ‘You don’t need to know that.’ But at Averitt, they would answer my questions and show me how it worked. That made me fall in love with the business and with Averitt.” After six months on the dock, Donnie went full time as an operations support associate. Following a year in that role, Donnie was promoted to frontline leader in 2010. He served nine years there before being promoted again, this time to operations manager. THE NEXT STEP From there, Donnie got some sage advice from Region 6 Vice President of Operations CALVIN RACKLEY . “He said, ‘Be very good at what you do, and be willing to learn what you want to do,’” Donnie recalls. “I said, ‘I’m killing this ops thing. I really want to move up.’ He said, ‘You’ve got to have some kind of sales experience.’ So I continued doing my operations manager job and kept myself available for ride-alongs with the transportation sales specialists or customer tours. I did that for a year and a half to get myself ready for the next step.” When longtime Austin Service Center Director RICK COUCH recently retired, In 17 years with Averitt, new Austin Service Center Director DONNIE REAGAN has seen some impressive career growth. Donnie came to Averitt in 2008 as a part-time dock associate, and he has steadily moved forward, acquiring new skills and taking the advice of mentors along the way.
Austin Service Center Director DONNIE REAGAN has steadily moved forward in his Averitt career, acquiring new skills and taking the advice of mentors along the way.
Donnie was promoted to fill that spot. Donnie says it was the culmination of strong mentoring that he’s received through the years. “ JASON WHITAKER , he was my mentor and got me learning all the operations. He really got me ready to take his role once he got promoted to Houston Service Center Director,” Donnie explains. “And DAVE MILLEA , the Dallas Service Center Director, he really pushed me with sales and got me in the right direction. They have been huge in my career.” Donnie says your next step is simply a matter of raising your hand and being willing to learn. “Don’t be scared. Ask questions. Be curious,” Donnie says. “If you want to move up, your leadership will push you. They’ll give you every tool to be successful and work with you hand in hand to get to where you want to be.” OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND If you’re ready to grow in your Averitt career, we encourage you to check out our Opportunities page at InsideAveritt.com/Opportunities . There, you’ll find information about our Dock-To-Driver Training and Leadership Development programs, a list of openings, and video testimonials about how we Promote From Within . T m
HIGH PRAISE FROM CUSTOMERS
INDUSTRY STUDY EVALUATED 1,600+ CUSTOMERS, 160+ CARRIERS
Because of your focus on quality, on-time service and professionalism, our team has been recognized as one of the most respected and trusted carriers in the industry! Mastio & Company recently revealed the results of its annual LTL customer survey. We exceeded industry benchmarks in multiple categories, and it's all thanks to our associates' commitment to
excellence. “These awards are more than titles – they reflect what customers actually think and feel about our service,” says President and Chief Operating Officer BARRY BLAKELY . "It’s the passion and commitment of our associates that make achievements like this possible. They continue to raise the bar and inspire excellence every day." To see more of the recognition
we’ve earned from customers, transportation industry media and research groups, visit Averitt.com/Awards . T m
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A SEASON OF GIVING
Laredo Driver Donates Red Thinkin’ Points To St. Jude
Red Thinkin’ Rewards is a unique way to celebrate the contributions you make to the team. This program lets you enjoy the rewards earned from your efforts in a fun and meaningful way. And if the items in the catalog don’t catch your eye, you can use the Just For You option to customize a reward that’s perfect for you. With a little holiday magic, anything is possible! This holiday season, that sprinkle of magic comes from Laredo Truckload driver GERRY PALACIOS for the children at St. Jude. During his 24 years with Averitt, Gerry earned an impressive 1,403,975 Red Thinkin’ Rewards points through safe driving, meeting KPIs, and achieving career milestones. Rather than using the points for himself, he chose to donate them all to the children at St. Jude. “I wanted them to get some toys for Christmas — or anything they want,” says Gerry. “I know they’re getting some Legos and AirPods, and I hope they get excited to get them on Christmas.” What began as a personal milestone became a meaningful act of generosity, turning Red Thinkin’ Reward points into smiles for St. Jude kids during this holiday season.
As a member of our Driver Advisory Council, Gerry has made two visits to St. Jude in Memphis. “We got to see the history of all the past doctors who have studied there,” Gerry recalls. “We also got to see the kids riding in wagons. It was touching and wonderful to see where all the Averitt Cares for Kids contributions go.” Gerry’s selfless act resulted in a matching contribution being made to Averitt Charities in honor of Gerry’s generosity, doubling the impact for those in need. Gerry’s generosity reminds us what the holiday season is truly about: giving from the heart and making a difference in the lives of others. His decision to turn years of well-deserved rewards into gifts for the children of St. Jude shows the spirit that drives our team. You can join in on the holiday spirit by exploring the Red Thinkin’ Rewards program ! Visit InsideAveritt.com/Rewards to see all the ways you can redeem your points for prizes or even customize a reward just for you. It’s a great way to celebrate your contributions and make this season a little brighter. T m Laredo Truckload driver GERRY PALACIOS (right) recently joined DAVID BROYLES (left) on our From The Driver's Seat Podcast. To listen to Gerry's Red Thinkin' Rewards story, visit InsideAveritt.com/Podcast .
What Does 1.4 Million Points Get For The Kids Of St. Jude?
40 Crayola washable paint sets
20 Lego sets
10 Beats headsets
10 Beats earbuds
10 Crayola Imagination Art cases
6 Puzzle sets
WIN BIG AND UNLOCK MORE Want To Win A 40-Inch Smart TV?
Have you checked how far your Red Thinkin’ Rewards points can take you? Whether it’s that getaway you’ve been dreaming of, new furniture for your home, the latest electronic upgrade, or tickets to an unforgettable live concert, your points could be the key to making it all happen. Simply log in to your account now at InsideAveritt.com/Rewards to check your current points balance. While you’re logged into your account, your name will also be entered in a drawing to win a 40-inch smart TV — if you log in by Dec. 31 ! Red Thinkin’ Rewards is a special program that allows you to reward yourself with items from our extensive catalog, as well as customized prizes through the Just For You option. Redeeming your points is not the end of your journey to reward yourself. You can continue earning Red Thinkin’ Rewards points toward your next adventure by being safe, reaching service milestones, or achieving performance goals.
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INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE FIVE DRIVERS ASSIGNED BRAND-NEW VOLVOS
Maintaining one of the most modern fleets of trucks in the industry is an investment worth making. It’s one way we show our commitment to providing the latest safety technology and the most advanced comfort features for our associates. During Driver Appreciation Week , five lucky Truckload drivers were assigned brand-new Volvo sleepers. After an extensive test earlier this year, we are adding more than 200 Volvo VNL 860 models to our fleet.
The drivers whose names were selected for the new Volvo assignments:
THANG CAO , Jackson TN RACHEL FLANAGAN , Tupelo JONATHAN GONZALEZ , Chattanooga
BRANDON LANE , Knoxville ALEX THOMPSON , Charlotte
“Making this kind of investment in tractor technology is really an investment in our most valuable resource: our people,” says BARRY BLAKELY of our executive leadership. The Volvo VNL 860 features improved fuel efficiency and includes safety technology like Active Driver Assist, roll stability, blind spot warning, electronic braking, predictive cruise control and collision mitigation. Congratulations to these five associates for winning the drawing, and thank you for everything you do to serve our customers and secure our future! T m
Above, President & Chief Operating Officer BARRY BLAKELY (left) congratulates Jackson TN Truckload driver THANG CAO on his new Volvo sleeper assignment. From left in the group picture above, ALEX THOMPSON , JONATHAN GONZALEZ , THANG CAO , RACHEL FLANAGAN and BRANDON LANE won new truck assignments.
SUPPORTING STUDENTS’ EDUCATIONS Scott Wolf Memorial Scholarship Accepting Applications
The Scott Wolf Memorial Scholarship is an important way we support the future of our associates and their dependents. Applications for the 2026-27 academic year are now underway, and the deadline to apply is Feb. 1, 2026. The scholarship is open to all full-time and part-time Averitt associates and their dependents who seek to continue their education beyond high school. And because of the continued support of
RETIREES Thank you for your service to our team! John Kelley Memphis Prentiss Pernell Tupelo our team, each winner receives a $1,000 scholarship! Since the inaugural group in 2013, there have been 151 scholarship winners representing 16 states – that's strong support for education In And Out Of The South! ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP Scott Wolf served as our Vice President of Corporate Services until his
passing in 2012. Honoring his wishes, the Wolf family set up a scholarship in Scott’s name, hoping to find a way to give back to those who Scott cared so much about: his fellow Averitt associates. To learn more about the scholarship, visit InsideAveritt.com/ScottWolfScholarship .
NEW LEADERS
One way our retirees can stay connected to Averitt is by becoming a member of the Ambassador Team, a special group of retired associates who stay connected to our unique culture of giving back. Ambassador teammates are annual contributors to Averitt Cares for Kids and are welcome to participate in the Team Up Community Challenge, People Like You Referral Rewards, and more! Email Dusty Barrow in Marketing and Communications at dbarrow@averitt.com to learn how to join. STAY CONNECTED THROUGH THE AMBASSADOR TEAM
Brandon Bowen
Frontline Leader HOUSTON Frontline Leader DAIKIN
Pacedric Brewer
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HAVE YOU USED YOUR ALLOTMENT?
Take Advantage Of This Benefit, Sharpen Up Your Wardrobe
We’re proud to offer a yearly allotment of up to $150, because it shows our commitment to a strong professional image. That image is something our customers have come to expect from the Averitt team, and for many, it’s an important reason they choose to partner with us. The following is a good idea of the amount of clothing items you should have on hand: • 5 shirts • 5 pairs of pants/shorts • 5 pairs of black/gray socks • 2 hats Have you used all of your yearly Uniformity allotment? If not, time is running out to take advantage of this benefit that helps keep your apparel sharp and professional. • 1 pair of solid black work shoes • 1 black belt • 1 pair of gloves • 1 outerwear item
So if you need any of these items to round out your professional wardrobe, we encourage you to go to InsideAveritt.com/Uniforms and use any remaining allotment! T m
TAKING TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Do you have big plans for the holidays? It’s the perfect time to make sure you use all your available paid time off! Remember that unused PTO days do not roll over to next year. Additionally, please be aware that operational requirements may come into play during the holidays, so it’s important to submit your requests as soon as possible. To schedule PTO, log in to InsideAveritt.com/MyPortal and submit your request to be approved by leadership.
OVER 20 TEAM We’re proud to add members to our Over 20 Team! The following associates joined our team in November 2005: James Davis ZF Carolina Rickey Flippo Nashville Jose Guerra Laredo Richard McCloud Tampa Pablo Ramos Houston Thomas Reynolds Mobile
25 YEARS Douglas Bell Kevin Harris Kelly Hogan Timothy Lyle Jason Moorehead Randy Sosh Arthur Thomas Jr. 20 YEARS Kenneth Benjamin Ibrahin Borges Malcolm Jones
Joseph Orman, Zachary Travis 15 YEARS Henry Dalan Brett Smith
Tupelo
For a list of November 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.
Mercedes
Baton Rouge
Dallas Tulsa
Roanoke Jackson TN Owensboro Bowling Green
Louisville Mobile
35 YEARS Keith Grindstaff David Kenyon
Dallas Miami Tampa
Kingsport Chattanooga
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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.
Corporate associate VIANN LOLLAR (right, 25 years) with Truckload nighttime leader BJ Vanhooser (left)
Corporate associate LISA JOHNSON (left, 25 years) with Truckload area operations manager Chris Stone (right)
Greensboro associate JOEL WEAVER (left, 35 years) with frontline leader Todd Mayer (right)
Tri-Cities associate JOHN LIVESAY (right, 35 years) with Service Center Director Jackie Whitehead (left)
NEED SOME HOLIDAY HELP? USE OUR EAP! The holidays can stir up stress, family challenges, or just keep you feeling out of rhythm. Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is here to help you get through the blues. With ComPsych provided by Voya, associates and their household
members can access up to three no-cost counseling sessions (in-person or virtual) for life’s everyday hurdles. Whether it’s financial stress, relationship challenges, or something else weighing on you, a counselor is just a call away. SPEAK WITH A GUIDANCE CONSULTANT NOW Phone: 877-533-2363 or TTY 800-697-0353 Web: www.guidanceresources.com App: GuidanceNow ID: My5848i
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
CAMERON WALLACE – Fayetteville NC “Cameron has been the driver for our last two orders. He is communicative, polite, and professional. Cameron went the extra mile both times in assisting with the offload. Beyond that, I find it even more telling of his character that he listens to suggestions rooted in experience. No ego, just teamwork. He is an asset to your company! Thank you, Cameron!” Adrienne, Mattress Emporium – Leland, NC TIMOTHY TRACY – Richmond “The driver was great! He showed up early and was done fast even though it was raining. He moved the delivery into my garage and put it to the side so it was easy to still use the garage, without me even asking him to. Honestly, it's rare these days to have somebody show up and do more than you're expecting, while being friendly and professional.” Paul, Residential – Warsaw, VA
COREY WINTERS – New Orleans “I want to really compliment Mr. Corey. He is simply AMAZING! He is so professional, and he takes a dedicated, disciplined, and diligent approach to delivering our shipments! Always
white glove service and always smiling!” Mary, SalonCentric – Covington, LA ANGELA TINNON – National Call Center
“Angela was wonderful! I was worried about a shipment that I couldn't figure out, and she worked with the service center to get it on a trailer and get it on its way. That was great! I've never dealt with customer service that handles it like that. I'm very appreciative of it." Lydia, TMD Oilfield Technology – Houston, TX
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TEAM UP FOR A CAUSE
This holiday season, you can spread some holiday joy by participating in a Team Up Community Challenge . Associate Sharing is one of our core values, and one way we demonstrate our dedication to helping others is through the year-round Team Up Community Challenge. Associates across our network are encouraged to participate in their local service projects. Recently, several associates from Houston PortSide (HPS) took the initiative to participate in a Team Up event. For the third year in a row, they proudly supported an event benefiting the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation, honoring one of their own who lives with one of these rare disorders. They had the opportunity to volunteer as event staff and contribute financially to the foundation, helping make a difference for those affected by bleeding disorders. The initiative exemplifies the spirit of our Averitt family when we work together to serve our local communities. Averitt honors our associates’ Associates Live Out Their Commitment To Give Back
COMMUNITY CHALLENGE
community service hours by making matching contributions to our non- profit charitable organization, Averitt Charities . By participating in local events, our associates help strengthen the communities where we live and work. Every act of service, big or small, reflects the values that drive our team every day. It’s never too early to start planning how you’ll give back this holiday season. Keep inspiring others, and don’t forget to send your Team Up hours and photos to TeamUp@Averitt.com . To learn more about how you can get involved, visit InsideAveritt.com/TeamUp . T m
Every Gallon Counts.
Small choices can make a big impact.
Learn more at InsideAveritt.com/FuelEfficiency
COMMUNITY CHALLENGE matters
12.25 Remove poster by December 31
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