Averitt Transportation FAQ
Are kits being picked up and returned at the same time?
Not necessarily. In the past, your school system has provided transportation and assigned someone to facilitate the exchange of kits at the AMSTI Materials Center. Averitt is a large-scale logistics company, so freight is routed through local distribution centers (think UPS, USPS, etc). The shipment of kits may or may not coincide with the order to pick up kits from your school. *We're hoping to change this and have Averitt pick up the returns at the same time as the delivery.*
How do I stack kits on the pallet(s)?
You can stack up to 24 tubs on a pallet (unless they’re just too heavy). Four columns of tubs can fit on a standard 48”x40” pallet. Please use the smallest number of pallets in order to save on transportation costs. I.E. If you have 20 tubs, it is best to stack all 20 on 1 pallet instead of stacking 10 on one and 10 on another. It costs us more to ship 2 pallets than to ship 1.
How do I get the shipping documents?
When your school’s pallet(s) are ready to return, a pickup request should be submitted for AMSTI to dispatch the order with Averitt. Once AMSTI has scheduled your pickup, the shipping documents (shipping labels and a bill of lading) will be emailed from AMSTI to whoever is specified on the pickup request form). If Averitt arrives and the shipping documents have not been printed, Averitt will assign a new order and tracking number and we lose our ability to track the shipment and it creates extra steps for the billing department to use our discounted rate.
Where will they pick up the kits from my school?
Averitt needs a clear path (paved or concrete) to move pallets from the school to their truck. The Averitt drivers will not hand load tubs into the trucks like someone from your school or district has done in the past – they will move pallets of materials using a pallet jack. Pallets of kits should be near a door wide enough to get a pallet in and out (pallets are 48”D x 40”W). Averitt will typically call before arrival to either schedule the pickup or inquire about the pickup location. **Please also keep kits inside or securely under a covered area - AMSTI kit tubs are not waterproof**
Do kits have to be on a pallet? What if we don't have a pallet?
Yes, Averitt requires kits to be on a pallet. We are asking each school to save the pallets used to ship the kits. If you are unable to locate any pallets at your school, please contact materials.uauwa@amsti.org for options.
Why are we using Averitt now?
AMSTI is hoping to provide its own transportation service in the future, allowing us to better serve our teachers. Our partnership with Averitt is a first step in removing the school system’s burden of transportation kits to and from the AMSTI Materials Center.