Skip to main content
Friday, November 13, 2026Nov 13
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

Chattanooga’s Steam Logistics offers buyouts as the freight market slows

Staff Photo by Dave Flessner / The Chattanooga-based freight broker Steam Logistics, which moved into its new downtown corporate headquarters in January, recently offered $2,000 to any employee who wanted to quit to help ensure those on the job want to be there, officials say. Steam Logistics has grown to 635 employees in Chattanooga.
Staff Photo by Dave Flessner / The Chattanooga-based freight broker Steam Logistics, which moved into its new downtown corporate headquarters in January, recently offered $2,000 to any employee who wanted to quit to help ensure those on the job want to be there, officials say. Steam Logistics has grown to 635 employees in Chattanooga. Staff Photo by Dave Flessner / The Chattanooga-based freight broker Steam Logistics, which moved into its new downtown corporate headquarters in January, recently offered $2,000 to any employee who wanted to quit to help ensure those on the job want to be there, officials say. Steam Logistics has grown to 635 employees in Chattanooga.

By Dave Flessner 4 min read

Chattanooga’s biggest freight broker is offering $2,000 to anyone who wants to quit the company.

Steam Logistics isn’t trying to cut its staff after hiring 450 workers last year and moving into a new corporate headquarters earlier this year. Company founder and CEO Jason Provonsha said the offer is simply intended to allow those not wanting to stay with the company an easy way out and help ensure those staying on with Steam Logistics are passionate about their work.

“This incentive is something we have done periodically for many years, and it’s not tied to the current market conditions,” Provonsha said in an emailed statement outlining the offer to employees. “If team members are on the fence about their long-term commitment to their role, we can offer this as a way to help with an easier transition and have that seat available for someone else.”

Provonsha said the idea is patterned after a program online retailer Zappos began a decade ago under what was known as “The Offer,” which provided new employees who decided they were unhappy a $2,000 bonus to quit following a four-week training period.

The practice was designed to weed out those who weren’t enthused about their work or employer and was seen as a way to bolster overall workforce happiness.