The kids of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have a special place in the heart of Laredo Truckload driver Gerry Palacios. Not only is he a member of Averitt Cares for Kids, our associate-driven charitable organization that supports the good works fo St. Jude, but he is also making a significant impact by using his Red Thinkin' Rewards points in a unique way. Find out how when Gerry joins host David Broyles on this episode of the From The Driver's Seat podcast.

3...2...1... BLASTOFF! It's time to launch into Benefits Enrollment for 2026! And this year, we're introducing new offerings from Colonial Life that include generally lower costs and enhanced coverage. Benefits Manager Marsha Brock joins host David Broyles on this edition of From the Driver's Seat.

It's Driver Appreciation Week, and we're kicking things off with a conversation with Vice President of Operations Larry Mason. We appreciate our drivers all year round, and this week gives us the opportunity to slow down and thank our entire team for everything they do.

Despite the states of the economy and freight market, our team has performed well and has continued to focus on controlling what we can control. President and COO Barry Blakely joins host David Broyles to give a mid-year update and set goals for the rest of 2025 and beyond.

For the last 12 years, our Driver Development Centers have helped shape our culture of safety. From backing to turning to pre-trips and everything in between, Gary Craighead and the other instructors have taken pride in developing one of the safest driving groups in the industry. Gary and Director of Safety and Compliance Jason Bolton join David Broyles to highlight this unique opportunity we provide to our driving force on this episode of From the Driver's Seat.

Get a quality check on your health with our annual health screenings! Many of our locations are hosting on-site screenings, including Saturdays for our over the road drivers. Health screenings are free for all associates and for spouses who are enrolled in our benefits. Marsha Brock with our Benefits team joins host David Broyles to share even more details, including the chance to win an extra week of PTO!

Our On Tour Logistics team is growing, and we're looking for elite drivers to join this exciting career path! With a guaranteed salary when touring, extended runs that include intermittent home time, and a team that sets you up for success, OTL might be the right choice for you! Scott Ulmer of our OTL operations leadership steps into the studio to talk with host David Broyles about all things production and event driving.

When we say "Our Driving Force Is People," we mean it. That's why we're excited to announce a compensation increase for our Truckload drivers! This nearly 7% increase is one of the most aggressive pay adjustments we've made, and it's because of our associates' commitment to delivering outstanding service and driving safely that we can make this investment. Listen in as VP of Corporate Transportation Danny Crooks joins host David Broyles on this edition of From The Drivers Seat.

The relationships our associates build with each other help make us a better team. Truckload driver Joe Ramsey is a strong believer in that, and he shares this and other thoughts -- including how he keeps his truck clean -- with Brian Dudney from our Truckload leadership and host David Broyles on this episode of the From The Driver's Seat podcast.

Our drivers represent our customers to THEIR customers, so it's important for our team to look the part every day. And according to Truckload driver Chad Osborne, uniformity goes beyond our uniform program -- it's our attitude and the cleanliness of our equipment, too! Chad and his fleet manager, Craig Elliott, join guest host Jeff Auberson to talk about uniformity and more on this episode of From The Driver's Seat.