COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (October 1, 2004) – Averitt Express, one of the nation’s leading providers of freight transportation and supply chain management, is now providing less-than-truckload (LTL) service to and from all points in Canada.

The service expansion is the result of a strategic partnership between Averitt and CF “Managing Movement,” the parent company of regional Canadian carriers Canadian Freightways and Epic Express and a subsidiary of Transforce, the largest transportation company in Canada.

With this service expansion, Averitt will now be able to provide seamless LTL service to and from all 10 Canadian provinces and three Canadian territories. For the past seven years, Averitt has provided direct service only to the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

“The trade between the United States and Canada represents the largest two-way flow of goods and income in the world,” said Phil Pierce, Averitt’s Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Partnering with Canada ’s largest transportation company to provide extended cross-border service is resulting in huge benefits for our customers, including better transit times, improved service reliability and real-time visibility.”

Averitt officials point out that the partnership between Averitt and CF “Managing Movement” is unique to most carrier partnerships, beginning with the seamless relationship between the two providers and the online shipment visibility that comes as a result.

“Averitt and CF ‘Managing Movement’ have shared systems for paperwork, pickup, tracking, claims, and customer service. And since shipments will move via one freight bill throughout the process, we are providing unparalleled, real-time tracking across the border, including instant visibility on our web site,” adds Pierce. “ With this system in place, we have one of the best tracking systems available in the industry for a U.S./Canadian partner relationship.”

Averitt’s seamless relationship with CF “Managing Movement” is one of several strategic relationships Averitt has been building through its global partner service network, which includes Averitt’s domestic transportation partners as well as its ground, air, and ocean partner providers around the world.

With the partnership agreement, Averitt shipments originating in the U.S. will be picked up by Averitt and transferred to CF “Managing Movement” carriers Canadian Freightways and Epic Express depending on their ultimate Canadian destinations.

Canadian Freightways will provide delivery service for shipments bound for customers in the Western provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the territories of Nunavut, Yukon, and Northwest Territory . Epic Express will deliver shipments bound for the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.

For shipments originating in Canada, the process works in reverse with Canadian Freightways providing the pickup and Averitt making ultimate delivery through its distribution network in the Southern U.S.

To help ensure goods flow smoothly across the Canadian border, Averitt has worked closely with federal agencies to earn certifications for several important cross-border security programs, including the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program, Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), Partners in Prevention (PIP), and Customs Self Assessment (CSA) program.

CF “Managing Movement” has also received cross-border certifications that accelerate the customs-clearing process, including FAST, PIP, and CSA-certifications.

For domestic shipments bound for Canada , U.S. customers can call Averitt’s toll free customer service line 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-AVERITT (283-7488).

About CF “Managing Movement”

CF “Managing Movement’s” pickup and delivery network is the largest and furthest reaching in Canada . Through its “Surefire Networks,” it provides service quality on par with Averitt’s service in the U.S. , including deliveries before noon , industry-leading on-time service levels and damage-free delivery levels, and an extensive infrastructure that boasts more local terminals, more equipment, and more coverage than any Canadian based or U.S. based carrier offering cross-border service.

About Averitt Express

Established in 1971, Averitt Express is a leading provider of freight transportation and supply chain management services with international reach to over 100 countries. The company specializes in delivering customized solutions with a single source of accountability for service offerings that include less-than-truckload, truckload, dedicated, time-critical, international ocean and airfreight, and supply chain management. Backed by successful execution for hundreds of customers, Averitt’s supply chain capabilities include consolidation, distribution, warehousing, port management, transportation network design, and complete transportation management. For more information, call 1-800-AVERITT or visit www.averittexpress.com.

Contacts:  
 
Brad Brown
Marketing and Communications Leader
Averitt Express 
(931) 525-5398
bbrown@averittexpress.com