COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Averitt has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Clean Air and Transportation Solutions. The award recognizes companies and organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership in improving air quality and advancing sustainable transportation practices across Tennessee.
L to R: Jim Bryson, Commissioner of the Department of Finance and Administration; David Salyers, Commissioner of the Department of Environment and Conservation; Kent Williams, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing at Averitt; Dr. Charlie Hatcher, Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture
Averitt was chosen for its longstanding commitment to sustainability and measurable results in reducing emissions. In 2024 alone, the company eliminated more than 290 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), the equivalent of removing 30,000 passenger vehicles from the road for an entire year. Since becoming a founding member of the EPA SmartWay® program in 2004, Averitt has reduced more than 689 million pounds of CO2 through forward-thinking investments in technology and innovation.
“Sustainability has been part of Averitt’s identity for decades, and this award highlights the positive impact our team is making every day,” said Barry Blakely, president and chief operating officer. “We are proud of the results we have achieved and remain focused on driving meaningful progress in environmental stewardship across our industry.”
Among Averitt’s sustainability initiatives:
- Auxiliary Power Units on tractors, saving over 18 million gallons of diesel by reducing idle time.
- Transtex Trailer Skirts that improved fuel efficiency and cut 256 million pounds of CO2.
- Electric and propane-powered forklifts that reduced emissions by 13.2 million pounds annually.
- Transition to ultra-low-sulfur diesel and renewable diesel, lowering particulate matter.
- Use of on-site biodiesel (B10), cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 10% and decreasing fossil fuel consumption.
Beyond fleet improvements, Averitt has focused on facility and resource management. The company has saved more than 14 million kWh of energy by upgrading to LED lighting across Tennessee facilities, eliminated 10.7 million pages of printing annually, repurposed nearly 91,000 gallons of used oil, and extended the life of more than 28,000 tires to reduce landfill waste.
Averitt also provides sustainability-focused solutions for its customers. These include AI-driven route optimization, freight consolidation and intermodal services, and greener packaging and shipping options. The company partners with manufacturers, innovators, and policymakers to test and implement next-generation green technologies, such as aerodynamic trailer designs and alternative-fuel vehicle pilots.
Headquartered in Cookeville, Tennessee, Averitt integrates sustainability into every aspect of its services, from Less-Than-Truckload to global logistics solutions.
For more information about Averitt’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, go to Averitt.com/CSR.
About Averitt
Serving shippers for over 50 years, Averitt is a leading provider of freight transportation and supply chain management solutions with an international reach of over 100 countries. Averitt's “Power of One” service structure provides shippers access to LTL, Truckload, Dedicated, Distribution & Fulfillment, and Integrated services that cover every link in the supply chain. Averitt’s team has been awarded the highest honors in the industry in the past year, including three Quest for Quality Awards, numerous customer awards, and a top ranking in MASTIO & Company’s shipper survey. Averitt's 8,000+ associates are dedicated to delivering the most reliable services within the industry and promoting a company culture centered around people, communities, sustainability, and giving back. For more information, call 1-800-AVERITT (283-7488) or visit Averitt.com.
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