Transportation Transitions: Averitt, Southeastern, and PlusAI strengthen teams to drive growth
Key takeaways
- Leadership changes at Averitt, Southeastern, and PlusAI strengthen teams supporting pricing, operations, and service efficiency.
- Averitt recently promoted Chris Thacker to VP of pricing and traffic
- Southeastern Freight Lines promoted Seth Whitener to service center manager in Little Rock, Arkansas
- PlusAI added new board members
Averitt names Chris Thacker VP of pricing and traffic after Mark Davis’ retirement
Averitt recently promoted Chris Thacker to VP of pricing and traffic following the retirement of Mark Davis. Davis spent 47 years with Averitt, including more than three decades leading the pricing and traffic team.
“Chris has spent his entire career developing a deep understanding of how pricing and operations work together,” said Barry Blakely, president and COO at Averitt. “He brings continuity, experience, and a strong grasp of our business, and we’re confident he will lead this team effectively as we move forward.”
In his new role, Thacker will continue guiding the pricing and traffic team while supporting solutions that align customer needs with network performance. Read more…
Southeastern Freight Lines promotes Seth Whitener to service center manager in Little Rock
Southeastern Freight Lines recently promoted Seth Whitener to service center manager in Little Rock, Arkansas. Whitener began his career at the Louisville service center and has held leadership roles in Nashville and Little Rock.
“Over the course of his career with our company, Seth has demonstrated an exceptional ability to lead, advance Southeastern’s culture, and serve customers at the highest level,” said Patrick Trahan, regional VP of operations at Southeastern Freight Lines. “He holds a deep passion for developing strong relationships with associates, customers, and partners alike—qualities that will drive continued success across our operations in Little Rock.”
Whitener most recently served as assistant service center manager in Little Rock. He and his family are excited to continue serving the Southeastern team in his new role.
PlusAI adds Peterschmidt and Harczak to board ahead of public listing and autonomous truck launch
PlusAI recently appointed David C. Peterschmidt and Harry J. Harczak, Jr., to its board in connection with its planned public listing via Churchill Capital Corp IX. The company, which develops AI software for autonomous trucks, is preparing for commercialization and scaling of factory-built autonomous vehicles integrated with its SuperDrive virtual driver.
“We are honored to welcome David and Harry to the PlusAI Board,” said David Liu, CEO and co-founder of PlusAI. “Their addition to the board reinforces our commitment to robust governance and financial stewardship as we transition into the public markets and prepare for the commercial launch and scaling of factory-built autonomous trucks integrated with our SuperDrive virtual driver.”
The appointments strengthen PlusAI’s leadership and governance as it readies for its Nasdaq listing under the ticker PLS. Peterschmidt and Harczak will help guide the company through milestones, including the business combination closing expected in Q1 2026. Read more…
