Footwear retailer Shoe Carnival has contracted with Averitt Express to move all shipments from the retailer's distribution center in Evansville, Indiana, to stores across the country.

"Averitt's drivers are an extension of our team here at our distribution center," says Shoe Carnival traffic manager Richard Hyland, commenting on why the retailer picked Averitt.

Another thing that greatly influenced Shoe Carnival's decision, he says, was the carrier's flexibility and willingness to "think outside the box. Averitt has shown they can be innovative and make changes quickly when needed. They're always aware that things can change in the future, and they have to be ready to adapt."

For Hyland, the number one thing is communication. "Without communication, this kind of partnership suffers. Averitt has shown that they value good communication as much as we do.

"We were looking for someone who could help us go from the 300 or so stores we have now, to more than 700 in the future. We feel that with this relationship, we can experience long-term growth together."

Visit www.AverittExpress.com, www.ShoeCarnival.com