Cookeville-based Averitt won the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Clean Air and Transportation Solutions, announced Monday.
Averitt Vice President of Marketing and Communications Gina Billings said the recognition is not just an honor, but recognition for the company’s sustainability efforts. Billings said Averitt is committed to sustainability, which is important for the entire transportation industry.
“It’s a resource that’s obviously very very important,” Billings said. “And we want to make sure we’re doing our part, to the best of our ability to take the steps and the measures necessary to, just to be good stewards.”
Billings said Averitt’s commitment comes down to an investment in new, environmentally friendly equipment. Billings said creating sustainable facilities is also a focus for the company.
Billings said this commitment has its benefits. She said it is important not only to put conservation at the forefront, but for employees and customers to know the environment is a priority.
“Whether it is equipment, facilities, lighting in our facilities or you know, wastewater runoff, or whatever it might be,” Billings said. “It doesn’t really matter what it is, we do give a lot of thought and consideration to those practices.”
Averitt’s innovations have paid off, as it eliminated some 290 million pounds of carbon dioxide from the roadways in 2024. This is the equivalent to the annual emissions of some 30,000 vehicles.
In addition, Averitt facilities are outfitted with energy efficient LED lighting. Vehicles are equipped with fuel saving devices like auxiliary power units and Transtex Skirts.
Billings said there are more investments in the works. She said there has been lots of conversation about electric vehicles and alternative fuel sources.
“We’ve been involved in testing in various locations for several years, actually,” Billings said. “And we’ll continue to do that. We’ll continue to test, continue to stay abreast about new technologies, new types of fuel sources, and keep doing what we’ve always been doing. Which is trying to be very very smart, very forward thinking, and being committed to being the best community citizens we can be.”
Averitt was founded in 1958, and continues to pioneer sustainability efforts in the transportation industry. Averitt was one of nine Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award winners statewide.
