Averitt Express, Inc. :: Think Red Instead

Celebrating 40 years

Averitt celebrates 40 years of service in 2011. We’re proud to say we’ve been moving freight In and Out of the South since 1971. We hope you enjoy this special “Then and Now” 40th birthday feature story.

Making Safety a #1 Priority - Since 1971

Let’s face it: when it comes to safety, our industry has changed tremendously since the 1970s when Averitt was born.

According to FMCSA, nationwide fatalities per 100 million miles traveled were extremely high before safety was pushed to the forefront (see graph below).

Source: FMCSA

Fortunately, the industry has changed for the better in terms of safety. And through the years, Averitt has continued to grow in the ways we live up to our pledge: “Our Driving Concern Is Safety.”

Using a seat belt may have been optional in 1971, but today’s it’s the law. The government’s hours of service rules have changed a few times in the last 40 years, but we’re still as serious about following them as ever.

Technologies that didn’t exist back then are now helping us do a better job of staying safe. Some examples:

Predictive analysis software allows fleet managers and load planners to identify drivers who exhibit high fatigue scores in order to evaluate potential load assignments and avoid those that are most likely to result in accidents.

Hard-breaking event identification systems notify safety leadership of hard-breaking events to allow for immediate driver feedback and coaching.

Collision-avoidance technology uses "fighter-jet" radar to see through fog, heavy rain, and darkness. The system issues visual and audio proximity alerts when it detects a nearby object.

“Safety is a priority for many reasons, the main one being the welfare of our associates and the public with whom we share the road,” says John Walton, our director of safety. “Focusing on safety in the workplace also helps keep our expenses down, which means better value for our customers.”

Because of our ongoing focus on safety, Averitt welcomes government safety initiates such as CSA. We believe CSA gives us an opportunity to improve our already-strong safety record and provide better service to our customers.

> Learn more about how Averitt is prepared for CSA.

> Learn more about Averitt’s safety performance and training here.

Home | Site Map | Site Assistance