I Start With Averitt in January 2012

I had a short weekend this weekend. Exactly 34 hours to the minute. Spent time in New Orleans and Baton Rouge last week. Now it's off to Green Bay WI to start the week. Shut down north of Indy and will finish it off way early in the morning.

Jan 9th is my 1 year anniversary with Averitt. No cards please...I prefer cash.

 

Delivered in Green Bay this morning and then was sent an empty move to our Milwaukee yard. Looks like an LTL load tonight. At the start of my break on Monday I am at almost 900 miles. Gotta love that start to the week.

 

Today I hit one year with Averitt. In my year I have had approximately a dozen auto parts/auto related loads. The rest have ranged from furniture, pet supplies, hazmat, tires, cola, beer, snack foods, etc etc etc. In short, Averitt won't have it's throat cut if the auto industry hits the skids. We have a rather expansive customer base in all kinds of freight.

I've talked so so many drivers who have spent 10-20 years with the company. Folks don't stick around that long unless they are treated well and love what they do.

As for Schneider tanker division...I have a buddy who drives for them. He started out with Schneider dry van and didn't care for it at all. Since moving over to their tanker division he loves it. Mega company benefits and support but a small company feel since the divisions are operated separately.

I would look at Averitt for the long term or go another route. Lot's of folks who come here from the bigger starter companies know this is a much better place to work for. Just make sure you go to the place that is the right fit for you.

Lay offs at Averitt are not something I am worried about in any way shape or form. We are a privately owned company that shows profits every quarter. And if there is a big downturn in the economy, it's going to make for lean times at all logistics companies. Some weather the storm better than others, some will disappear all together. I don't see Averitt being one of those.

Hope this helps.

 

What a friggin' day this has been. I should say one situation has made this a less than enjoyable day. My fleet manager calls me and tells me a customer I delivered to over a month ago emailed Averitt yesterday and said when I was leaving the dock my trailer door flew open and damaged a fence next to the dock. Ironically, as I was opening the doors of my trailer to back INTO the dock I made note of the damaged fence and talked to the guy in receiving about it and he told me "It's been messed up." Thankfully I took note of it in my "trip book" that I keep. I don't know why I did but I am glad I did.

Risk had me call them and make an official statement and send in that same statement in an accident report. It just ticks me off that my driving record with Averitt and safety points could be at risk because somebody wants to get their fence paid for and they figure Averitt will do it. I am being told that it will all work out and they will fight it but it still felt like someone had pooped in my wheaties.

I'll let you know how it all works out.