Fast Route

Fast Route

Averitt Express reaches out to quickly fill trailer needs.

Averitt Express recently found itself in an unusual predicament. The provider of transportation and supply chain management services had landed a new customer. That was the good news. The dilemma it faced was the need to add 170 trailers to service that customer in less than 30 days.

Sometimes you need to look at things differently and seek out a new partner, notes Steve Maxson, vice president of equipment at Averitt Express. Delivering on the carrier’s strong reputation for providing exceptional customer service was paramount, he adds, so that’s exactly what the company did.

After 22 years with Averitt, Maxson knew exactly what the company needed. “We prefer composite trailers,” he relates, “and Wabash National DuraPlate models are our first choice. That design has proven to be the best for our business. The trailer’s smooth interior means it’s less likely to get damaged, which means it won’t tear up our customers’ freight.”

Right foot
With a limited window, Maxson got started immediately. In looking for DuraPlate trailers .He found that the trailer manufacturer required a ten-week lead time, about six weeks more than he could afford if Averitt wanted to get started on the right foot with its new customer.

Averitt is very strict about the appearance and type of trailers it runs, which is why the company had never before considered purchasing used equipment. But after talking with several of his connections in the trailer business, Maxson discovered used equipment lead times were more reasonable and could alleviate the time struggle, while Averitt could still maintain its equipment standards.

Initially, finding quality, late-model used equipment was a challenge, but Maxson soon found a supplier that looked promising. Averitt found its answer in Ervin Equipment Inc., a provider of pre-owned trailers and trucks headquartered in Toledo, Ill.

Straight shooter
“From an ad I saw, it looked like Ervin Equipment might have a good selection of quality, used trailers,” Maxson says. “We reached out to see what solutions they could offer in a time crunch. Our Ervin salesman was a straight shooter. He followed through on his promises, and we had complete confidence that all the details were being handled. That’s critical when you are making a big purchase.”

Maxson also was pleased with Ervin’s inventory and buying power. With its geographic presence, Ervin is able to buy and sell large fleets of new and used trailers and trucks.

“Ervin is very active in the transportation industry and they have aligned themselves with many key fleets and manufacturers,” Maxson states, “allowing them to tap into a consistent flow of inventory.”

Quality condition
Coincidentally, the Wabash National DuraPlate trailers that Averitt sought make up 70% of Ervin’s dry van sales. Ervin quickly tracked down 170 used 2005 and 2006 model year DuraPlate trailers in quality condition.
 steve maxson, vice president of equipment
Timing was also crucial. Since Averitt didn’t have a lot of time to spare, Ervin needed to follow through on collecting the trailers in a timely manner, which wasn’t a problem. Ervin stages trailers at multiple locations across North America, which not only helps companies like Averitt in a crunch, but also provides a significant advantage for long-term customers. Multiple staging locations mean providing maximum convenience and timeliness. Customers even have the flexibility to drop off trade-in trailers at one location and pick up upgrades at another.

“The availability of the used trailers from Ervin meshed well with our requirements at that time,” Maxson says. “We were able to get off the ground when we needed to and do so quickly.”

Impressive fashion
After only 30 days, Averitt had enough of the used Wabash National trailers to serve its new dedicated customer. And, shortly after the sale, Maxson decided a similar purchase would be soon to follow. “We responded to our new customer’s needs in an impressive fashion,” he says. “We met our goal by helping them meet their objectives, so we plan to stay connected with Ervin for future used equipment needs.”

Based in Cookeville, Tenn., Averitt Express has been providing freight transportation services for customers for 41 years. The company’s service offerings include cross border/domestic offshore, dedicated, expedited, intermodal, international ocean/air, local customization, less-than-truckload, Portside, transportation management, truckload (dry van, flatbed, brokerage) and warehousing.

Averitt currently fields about 4,000 tractors. For the company, what sets it apart is going beyond the ability to move loads from point A to point B by offering the highest possible level of quality service.

Filling one customer’s needs for 130 trailers with a new approach to sourcing equipment quickly is just one example of how the company meets the demand for its services and addresses the requirements of taking on new business.  


DuraPlate dry vans
The ultra-wide design of the DuraPlate trailer provides an interior width of 101.5 in. (scuff-to-scuff)

The DuraPlate composite sidewall panel is constructed of a high-density polyethylene plastic core bonded between two high-strength steel skins.

Steel interior resists tears, punctures and related damage caused by repeated forklift impact.

Postless sidewall design provides a smooth interior wall to prevent the snagging of freight during loading and unloading.

High-strength, corrugated steel scuff is fastened to the DuraPlate sidewall every 8 in.

White interior provides a bright, work-friendly environment.

An optional DuraPlate nose liner is available for added damage resistance.

Manufactured in the United States, the high-quality DuraPlate panels come with a 10-year, limited warranty.

Additional Standard Product Features:
High-performance DuraPlate Doors
High-strength floor system
Heavy-duty rear frame

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