From the Driver's Seat: Transfers A Win For Everyone

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. We got a great podcast today. Got a guest that's been with me many, many times, so he doesn't even need an introduction, but it's Dan Singer. How are doing, Dan? I'm doing great, David. Thank you. Good to see you again. And we're gonna talk about transfers today, and I think that's something that's really important, not just to Averitt, but every every business unit that we have. Right? Oh, absolutely. I think it's well, and and we'll get into it, but I think it's a differentiator, that separates Averitt from from, the peers in our industry. Absolutely. And I don't think I don't I can't I don't know of another company that has the ability to transfer drivers to positions within the company home daily, dedicated accounts, shuttle, city, truckload, whatever anybody's looking for for a driving position, we have it. And when somebody comes in, they can go to one position and then transfer to another position to another position. You don't have to stay at one position forever, and they get what they want. It makes them happy. Right? Yeah. Absolutely. And and it also I I I have always thought that it kind of allows them to take positions that fit their lifestyle as their life is changing. So, you know, what what's right for for a guy or girl who's thirty years old and, you know, can really hit that freight is gonna be a lot different than a guy or girl my age. So That's true. You know, as your family grows, people you know, and kids start playing ball, parents wanna stay home and watch ball more Exactly. We have that opportunity. It really is an opportunity, isn't it? Yep. It sure is. You know, from your perspective, from from you know, obviously, your business unit is dedicated. Let's talk about dedicated for a minute and how important transfers are to dedicated. Oh, it's anytime we bring up a new operation, and and even ongoing, because there's there's always gonna be some some amount of churn, we are actively targeting internal transfers. And and while I don't have the the percentages right off the top of my head, I mean, I think it's internal transfers are the biggest source of our quote unquote new hires within the dedicated business unit. And it's perfect. Well, I believe it's good for the associate, but it's perfect for dedicated because our customers get the benefit of a well trained Averitt associate that already knows knows the company, knows our values. They gotta learn the operation, but that's the easy part. Plus you get that you get that little cadre of people in the beginning that are all already Averitt. When the new drivers start coming in, they start spreading that Averitt culture. Oh, yeah. And that's really huge. Right? Oh, absolutely. Especially more so in Dedicated. It's probably similar to Truckload because in many cases, we aren't operating inside of an Averitt facility. So those internal transfers, the current Averitt associates, really serve to help us create the foundation of our culture. And when when you're operating in somebody else's building, that that's that's sometimes, like, it can be it can be more difficult. So when you bring over an experienced associate who already embraces our culture, knows what's important to us, and and and they exhibit that, that just sets the tone for the rest of the operation. Plus it makes it really nice that a driver gets the opportunity maybe to be from a to move to a home daily position. Oh, yes. Or a position where they know they're gonna be gone Monday to Friday, and they're gonna know what time they were gonna leave Static routes. No tugs. All those type of And plus the the consistency of income, which that's a good that's a that's a plus too. Oh, yeah. Yep. And, you know, that helps us with everybody. I hope I think it helps all the drivers get to where they eventually wanna be. And some drivers wanna stay in Truckload, some drivers want to stay in Dedicated, and then some drivers like to move around. I've seen drivers that's been twenty years that's transferred multiple, multiple times in a twenty year period. Or or sometimes that they're the the same city position. So, I think our ability to offer that flexibility, I I think that's a direct contributor to the the size of our over twenty team. Oh, absolutely. Drivers stay when they're happy, and everybody stays when they're happy. And if you're not happy with what you're currently doing, if you can move somewhere else, it makes you happier and you're to be happier at job and you stay forever. Know, and part of the part of it is, you know, years past, we necessarily at corporate did not know what drivers what drivers they wanted to go which drivers wanted to go to a home daily position or which drivers wanted to go to LTL or Truckload or Or consider relocation or whatever. I mean Didn't know. But now, you know, we're we're starting to find that out and we're keeping that information. So if this for instance, if Dan Singer wants to go to a dedicated position Yep. We would know that, and we'd be able to help Dan get to a position he wanted to go or relocate. Yeah. Yeah. And that and that's that's huge because every time that we bring up a new operation, obviously, we're working hand in hand with your team. And it's like, okay, we're opening this site in Crossville, Tennessee, and you probably already have pre identified associates across all business units, maybe not even currently living in Middle Tennessee, that would be interested in those positions. So I think that is just that that's that's a win all the way around. It's it's great for the company. It's great for the associate because we're on the lookout for what they want to do. That's right. And it all goes back to, you know, doing a good do good for the customer, and we'll have a long term relationship with that customer, and we continue to grow, and we continue to stay profitable. And that's really what it's all about. Right? Right. Doing good for the customer and doing right by our associates because they are our lifeblood. That's the nice thing about Averitt Express. We post all new requisitions as they come out for jobs. They're posted on my portal. Yep. And they go in on Mondays and Thursdays. And you just have to drivers have to pay attention to my portal. Yep. And they can look at whatever job they want. Also, let driver services know what you're looking for, and we'll help them. So we do everything we can to promote that. I think that's a that's a great thing that Averitt does, in my opinion. I'm sure there's instances where we have associates who might be interested in other positions, but they aren't necessarily looking on my portal to see what's coming up. So that's the beauty of the proactive approach that we're taking in surveying our driving associates about what they might be interested in. Because there could be an opportunity that comes up, they aren't actively looking for it, but we know that they have interest, so we'll reach out to them. That, in my mind, that's a perfect scenario. And, know, I think when drivers are talking to other drivers, not with Averitt, but they're thinking this driver might make a great Averitt driver. This is a this is an absolutely home run Yep. For helping helping recruit a new driver. Yep. Because if we don't have a home daily position, you can say, hey. You can go over to this position. When one comes open in your area, you're gonna be able to transfer to this. It's not like you're gonna have to stay there forever. That's gotta be the best recruiting tool in the world in my mind. Right. Right. And and, you know, not everybody wants the home daily, but the beauty of Averitt with the multiple operating units, I I feel confident. We got a position that a driving position that will would be great for for everyone out there. And it's not just drivers having to go to driving positions. They're eligible to go to office positions anywhere at corporate or out in the field or wherever a position comes up, and there's tons and tons and tons of drivers we all know that have moved into those positions. Right? Over half the leadership and and dedicated, promoted from within. So I think the entire company has an exemplary track record of promoting from within. And I I'd venture to say the the exact same thing is true of every service center Yep. And in our in our Truckload leadership leadership group as well as as well as ADF. I mean, I just I think that's that's kind of It's our culture. Right. It's our culture. It's our DNA to promote from within. Yeah. Well, Dan, I appreciate you coming on. I think I think it's really important. Transfers are important. It's part of our culture. Yes. And it leads the way, part of our culture. So I think it's really important that we get get information out there about it. So I appreciate you coming in and talking about it with me. Absolutely. And as always, I appreciate the opportunity to to come in and and and speak with the group. And before we part ways, I would just like to encourage everyone. We're having some nasty weather right now. Please, please, please use your best judgment on when it is safe and not safe to be out on the road. Thank you. Absolutely, Dan. That's a great point. I appreciate that. Obviously, we wanna make sure our associates at Averitt Express are as happy as they can possibly be. We have opportunities that no one else has, and that's something you need to think about when you're talking to other drivers and you're thinking about the People Like You program. This is a huge benefit that not other companies have. Nobody has the the amount of business units that we have and the opportunities. It's something that sets us totally apart from everybody else. Keep that in mind when you're talking to other folks about coming to work for us. Appreciate you so much. Look forward to seeing you out on the road.