Averitt's Over 20 Team sets the company apart in longevity of associates

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Averitt Express, a Tennessee-based provider of freight transportation and supply chain management, has many unique offerings and opportunities for professional drivers. But one of the most noteworthy aspects of the company is its Over 20 Team.

The Over 20 Team includes all associates who have been with Averitt for 20 years or longer. As of July 2020, the team has over 1,379 associates, making up 16% of Averitt's total workforce.

"This is a very tangible way you can see how Averitt takes care of our associates," says Elise Leeson, Vice President, Human Resources. "The longevity of our team members shows that these individuals have found the right place to spend their careers, they've found something special at Averitt. And they're from all walks of life and work roles, not only one area. As a matter of fact, every role at Averitt is represented in the Over 20 Team."

For example, among those on the Over 20 Team, the majority of them are Averitt's professional drivers with 726. Dock associates are well represented on the team with 149, while leadership, managers and directors have 268. Various other operations areas also have members on the team including mechanics, sales, administrative support, customer service and freight clerks.

There are 145 new inductees to the Over 20 Team this year. More than 500 team members have 21-24 years of service, with the next largest group of 259 having between 26 and 29 years. According to Averitt, the average age of the Over 20 Team member is 57, while the youngest on the team is 40. The company has 11 associates with more than 40 years of service. Among those is Wayne Spain, president and chief operating officer, who joined Averitt in 1980. The company credits his longevity, leadership and focus on teamwork as being instrumental in developing its unique culture and position as a leader in the transportation industry.

Associates who are celebrating 30 years of service this year are Mike Scott, a Lexington, Ky., city driver who has 27 years of safe driving under his belt; and, Michele Wilborn, director of information services, who has served Averitt as a systems analyst and systems development leader before taking her current role in 2015.

"We know that Averitt is exceptional in this area," Leeson says. "It makes us very proud to hear these irreplaceable associates talk about why they've stayed over the years. The people are the heart and soul of this company, and we're so glad they're here."

 Averitt associate Allen Harris, who is new to the Over 20 Team this year, joined the company on the recommendation of a friend. "I must say it was the best decision I ever made job-wise. I started my first day August 8, 2000, and now 20 years later I am still here. I hope that new associates have the same experience here as I have," says Harris.

Robert McNutt, a driver associate out of Knoxville, Tenn., says, "[Early on] I felt like I'd found a good place to stay and evidently I have, I've been here 35 years!"

William Watson, a driver associate from Greenville, N.C., says he thought he'd be a driver for just a handful of years, but realized as the years progressed he did not want to leave. "I have great people I work with; everyone knows me by my name, not a number, and treats me just like family. I don't want to leave the family, that's what it comes down to. It's been an awesome experience."

Many associates have held multiple roles through their decades with Averitt due to the company's philosophy of promoting from within. Service Center Director Melissa Goff, of Baton Rouge, La., says her position with Averitt has grown immensely since she joined the company in 1999 as a part-time employee. "In 2006, I went full time, and in 2010 I became a front-line leader and just worked my way up from there. I did everything I could possibly do and learned everything I could possibly learn to get where I am now."

Members of the Over 20 Team are represented by a full wall in the company's corporate headquarters displaying their names for all new associates or visitors to see.

About Averitt Express

Averitt Express is a leading transportation employer with more than 100 locations throughout the United States. The company features many amenities to serve its driving force, such as state-of-the-art facilities, driver support centers for its over-the-road drivers, dynamic safety technology on its equipment, finishing schools and other training programs, and much more. It also has a strong benefits package, including health, dental and vision insurance, a company-funded profit-sharing retirement plan, an incentive program for referrals, a uniform credit, and paid holidays. These benefits, combined with a team-oriented culture and opportunities for career growth, help Averitt show unity throughout its network and to its customers. For more information about Averitt, as well as a list of job openings, call 1-888-AVERITT or visit AverittCareers.com.

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