From the Driver's Seat: Investing in People, Infrastructure, and Technology

Welcome to From the Driver Seat, the Averitt podcast for all Averitt drivers to keep up with news and information across our network. Make sure to subscribe on your preferred podcasting app to make sure you're notified as soon as every episode drops. And now hosting from the driver's seat, director of driver services, David Broyles. Hey, everybody. It's Dave Broyles. Got a great podcast today. Got a great guest. Really doesn't need an introduction. It's Barry Blakely. How are doing, Barry? I'm doing great. Thank you for having me on. Well, looking forward to it. Always always great to have you. And, you know, it's it's been a challenging year. Right? It has. Been a good year, though, but it's been a challenging year. Right? Has. You know? Mean, there's so much uncertainty right now between tariffs and a stagnant economy. You know? It's it's been it's been a challenging year for sure. Everybody's talking about the freight downturn how it's been for the last year or so. But I think we're starting to see signs of a little bit of an improvement. But we've done well as a company, in my opinion, even though we've had that freight downturn, we as a company have done a good job and you've done a great job leading us with the executive group and getting us in a position where we are. Don't you think we've done a great everybody's done a great job? I I really do. You know, think first off, you know, we're so we're so blessed to have such a strong team. But, you know, in spite of the fact that bill count's been down, we have managed it well. I think the fact that we offer premium services has allowed customers to continue to ship, maybe not at the levels that we've seen over the last couple of years, but yeah, we've done well and our OR has remained strong all year long. Yeah, I look around at the other, I see, know a lot of folks at other companies, I'm sure you do too, you know, but I think about Averyt and I always look to see what Averyt's doing and you know, we're building things, our infrastructure's growing, we're doing all the things to make sure we're preparing ourselves, not for this year, we're already looking past this year, right? We're looking to 2026, 2027, 2028 and the infrastructure things. Talk about the infrastructure, what we're doing on infrastructure, just that, that's huge. Really, we're we're working the same plan we've had now for a couple years, you know, and we're yes. We're focused on infrastructure. We're focused on technology. We're focused on our associates. You mentioned infrastructure. We probably have more property enhancements or construction projects on the docket than we've ever had in one year. We've recently finished new facilities in Tyler and Dothan, and I hope I don't leave any out here. Mobile. Mobile. Yeah. Absolutely. And new new construction to start in West Palm, Fort Myers, Oklahoma City, a remodel of a new facility in Tulsa. But we've added on in San Antonio, where we've added on in in Knoxville. And we're gonna open our a new facility in Ocala, Florida, which we're really excited about that. Ocala is really gonna help us strengthen our presence in the state of Florida, and it'll help us to continue to improve service within that state and also take cost out of our system. And I think that's part of looking forward to Ocala. We're growing into a different region or area within Florida. We're looking at, hey, what's gonna happen in twenty twenty six in Florida and twenty seven, right? Kind of what we're looking forward to and why we're building that. Florida has really had a good few years here. They've continued to grow and the operating ratio is really good. Service is great. Just a really strong team there. I'm excited about what Ocala's going to do for us in the state of Florida. We gave increases out this year, and that's kind of unique to the industry, I think. There are not a lot of people in the industry giving increases out like Avery did, I said we're continuing to invest in our people, and certainly compensation change is part of that. But in addition to that, you know, we've also invested in our associates' future. Last year, you know, six percent six point eight percent of our wages were, given back to us in terms of profit sharing, and we're having a good year this year. I think June was at seven point seven percent, believe it was, So another good year. I mean that's impressive when you think about it. People talk about Christmas bonuses, but hey, you hit seven, eight, and a couple years ago we got nine percent, I think, on one year. You get that seven, eight, nine percent, that's like a bonus. It really is, right? Yeah, we're doing this in a year where, know, as we've already said, it's a little more difficult, but you see other companies are pulling back on programs like that and we're continuing to invest heavily in our associates. Our industry is ever changing and with that, we have to change as well. You know, not change just for the sake of changing, but making sure that we're making the right decisions for our associates and the right decisions for our customers, and certainly investing in people is is key. Yeah. And you know, a big investment that we're making, you mentioned it just a minute ago, was technology and we're doing a lot of things with the tablets and the workflow and the mastery and that's a big deal, right? By the end of this year, I believe every tractor will have a tablet in it. That's the game plan. And that's a huge benefit for our associates. It's a huge benefit for our customers. Just improves the workflow. We're also working on a new doc app for those that, that work the platform where we're hoping to become a paper free doc, operation. Also with, you can't have a conversation about technology and AI not be part of it. Right? Not nowadays. Right. So, you know, we we have some other, tools that are AI machine learning, whether, Maven, machines, which is helping us on our inbound dock. Our dock planning is also helping us on our our route or line haul planning. And then platform science has been been an addition and it's certainly mastery, more of a long term project, but that'll be our new TMS and we're looking forward to the benefits that that's gonna bring our team. And you know, that's why we're able to do all the things we're doing, think. All the things you mentioned there, the technology, the infrastructure, all the stuff that we do all the time, that's what keeps us sufficient. We have great associates that work hard, but all the stuff, the tools that you give everybody, that enables us to be efficient. It does certainly make us more efficient, but it's not just about efficiency. It's also about the value proposition that it brings our customers as well. It allows us to produce a premium product that customers enjoy using. I think that's key. Years and and years, we've always said, Hey, we deliver on time, we deliver intact. We look at delivering on time for our customers and we always try to make sure the customer's satisfied. That's different than a lot of places, I think, operate differently than Avery does and I think that's part of it. We're continually trying to raise the bar. It's not always just about transit time, but it can be about cargo claims. It can be just about how we present ourselves in front of the customer. Certainly our image is a large part of that. Now, how we keep our equipment, our facilities, and how we look in front of the customers as individuals. Our image is huge. It is huge, you know, and I think that speaks to how well we've done in recruiting and people like you has been a large part of that, wouldn't you think? Oh, it's huge. There's nothing like a referral. Know, the referrals are absolutely the best way for us to hire folks. Hopefully with referrals, the people come to Averyt and they understand what the job's gonna be before they get here and they're looking forward to working in that environment. You know, it's important, I think, to also know, as a company, what are we looking for? You know, what type of positions are we looking for? Are we looking for dock positions within the facility that you work or maintenance or or shuttle? So I think staying engaged and knowing what's taking place in the service center is is important to helping you identify potential teammates. Right. And I know you can't tell the future, but by looking at the input, are you what how do you think what what what's the economy gonna do? What's your what's your projection do you think? We just need to make sure that we do the things that we can control and do them well. Do them well. And, again, that's take as I previously said, that's taking care of the customer, offering positive good solutions for our customers, and and and being safe and productive in in our what we do each and every day. We are positioned very well for when the economy turns, and it will. Yeah. Oh, yeah. We're in a cycle, and it it will we'll we'll eventually work our way out of this, and I just I'm very excited about where we are, you know, and how well prepared we are for the future. You know, I appreciate you coming in and kind of give us a state of the union of where we're at in the company and what you see in the rest of this year. So I appreciate that. Any last word you got for any the associates out there? Just very proud of everyone and the job that everyone does and look forward to seeing you, during driver appreciation week. Yeah. Wish you and your families well. And hopefully, we'll see some folks at the right every softball tournament on August sixteenth. Right? Coming around here pretty quickly. Yeah. August sixteenth is the day for that. That's a great big deal. Yeah. You know? A lot of fun. Always a lot of fun. Always. And a lot of people. I'm looking forward to driver appreciation week. Again, always enjoy that week. It's a fun week for everybody, and we do appreciate our drivers. And Sure. We appreciate them year round, but we like to make a little effort Sure. On September. Right? Mhmm. Sure do. Alright. Well, I appreciate that, Barry. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks to everybody out there, and we will see y'all on the road. Appreciate everything y'all do.