Have you been thinking about becoming a professional driver? At Averitt, we believe in making the path to career success as simple as possible. It's why we prioritize promoting from within and have seen thousands of associates move into different roles throughout their careers as their needs grow and change. We've designed our unique Dock-to-Driver training program, which is for any non-driving associate in the company, specifically for those who want on-the-job training and the opportunity to grow their career. We've had over 150 drivers complete our Dock-to-Driver program since 2017 and the list continues to grow each week.
"I took advantage of this program and these trainers are some of the best we have here at Averitt," says Jose Martinez. "I've been here for 16 years, and I'm grateful Averitt has allowed me to grow with the company."
Our Dock-to-Driver program gives our associates the ability to earn an income working on the dock while learning the skills needed to attain their CDL. They'll go through four weeks of one-on-one training with an Averitt driver trainer and receive top dock wages and great benefits at the same time. The new federal Entry Level Driver Training mandate (ELDT) requires additional testing to ensure drivers have the skills to meet FMCSA's requirements for entry-level drivers. We send all our Dock-to-Driver associates to one of our driver development centers in order to meet this requirement.
"After I'd been here a while and got situated, I jumped right into the program and it's been excellent," says Jay Ozburn. "Getting your CDL and going to a driving school, you're going to spend $5,000-$10,000. That's a lot of expense and here at Averitt, you're getting to do that for free."
Once training is completed, these individuals become CDL-A qualified dock associates and will be considered for driving positions as they open up. Qualified dock associates use digital scanners and top-notch modern equipment to manage the day-to-day loading and unloading of freight. They also use their CDL-A license to make deliveries to local customers when needed.
"Making the transition from dockworker to driver is one of the best decisions that you can make," adds Brian Barnes. "Just take a chance. It will pay off for you in the long run."
Ready to join our team through our Dock-to-Driver program? Look for dock and warehouse openings near you. Once you're on the team, you'll be able to express your interest in the program as opportunities are available.