Averitt Announces Joint Venture to Provide Supply Chain Management for Mercedes-Benz

Approximately 200 new jobs expected at 400,000 square foot facility near Tuscaloosa , Alabama

VANCE, Ala. (February 10, 2004) Cookeville-based Averitt Express has entered into a joint venture to provide supply chain management services at a new logistics center to support the future operations of the Mercedes-Benz sport utility plant in Vance, Alabama.

Ai3 is a joint venture between two supply chain management providers: Averitt Express, a provider of global freight transportation and supply chain management services, and Atlanta-based i3 Group, a minority-owned supply chain enterprise.

The 400,000 square foot logistics center, which is currently under construction, will be established to organize and assist in the sequencing of just-in-time materials and parts to the Mercedes-Benz plant. It will support the complexity of products that will be built at the plant in the future.

The plant is undergoing a $600 million expansion, which will double its production capacity in the future to support two product lines: the next generation M-Class sport utility vehicle and the all-new Grand Sports Tourer.

Ai3 will be responsible for the operations and management of the logistics center, including sourcing of labor. Approximately 200 new jobs are expected to be created at the new facility.

Construction on the logistics center is expected to be complete by January 2005.