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The ADVANCE, June 9, 2021 /Page 9A
Dot Transportation, Inc., Gives
Drivers a Mid-Year Raise
Young
continued from page 1A
wants to know how he can
lend support,” said Andrew
“Drew” Young II, field
representative for Sena
tor Warnock. Young met
with Montgomery County
citizens in Mount Vernon
Thursday morning before
coming to Alamo. Wheeler
County was the 32nd coun
ty he visited out of the 51
he serves as a staff member
for the Senator. “Your needs
and concerns are important,
and we plan for someone
from the senators office to
visit every county in Geor
gia by October,” Young said.
Among those attending
the Wheeler County session
were representatives of lo
cal government, education,
law enforcement, the legal
system, the local Chamber
of Commerce, and social
services.
Young outlined Sena
tor Warnock’s top priorities
for funding as housing, the
needs of rural Georgia, lit
eracy and education, as well
as putting more focus on
supporting and empower
ing children.
Wheeler County, with
a population of about 7,000,
is largely rural and has been
consistently listed among
the states most impover
ished counties. Its biggest
employers are a private pris
on, the school system and
the logging industry. The
county’s privately-owned
hospital closed in 2013 and,
although there is a medical
clinic in Alamo, the near
est emergency facilities are
approximately 30 minutes
away in any direction. The
county has been experienc
ing a decline in the general
population over the last two
decades and industrial pros
pects are at a standstill.
Among the issues and
concerns voiced by commu
nity leaders in the session
Thursday with Young were
lack of county-wide broad
band service and inadequate
cell phone service which
hamper the community’s
ability to attract industry
or new residents who may
want to work remotely; lack
of a hospital or emergency
care within close proxim
ity; lack of higher educa
tion within close proximity;
lack of a transportation sys
tem which impacts health
care and higher education
connections; lack of a gro
cery store within the entire
county; and stagnation in
industrial development and
overall community prosper
ity.
Young said that while
rural Georgia is facing a
broad range of issues, in
every single session he
has conducted, the lack of
broadband services is “a
big truth.” He said that “ev
erybody from the governor
down knows this is a big is
sue and there is funding in
the system to address this
issue across Georgia.”
He added, “Anybody
not figuring out how to
make it work is kind of be
hind the eight ball. There is
funding and momentum.
We realize this not a luxury,
it is essential and it will hap
pen. The question is, will
you be on the front end or
back end?” He pointed out
that a number of electrical
membership corporations
have already partnered with
broadband providers, refer
encing Alma and its recent
deal with the Altamaha
Electrical Membership
Corporation. He pointed
out that the focus is now on
the area of the state south of
Macon.
He noted, “I encourage
anyone to not let yesterday
define what you are going
to do tomorrow. Eventually,
everybody will have it and
long-term it will be profit
able. It is cheaper to do it
now when it’s competitive
than down the road. I en
courage community leaders
to start having that conver
sation.”
Alamo City Council
member Patricia Wood
ward advised Young of the
city’s need to rejuvenate
overall and to build a new
city hall. She referenced the
lack of a big tax base and the
quest to locate resources to
accommodate the projects
needed within the city.
Young noted that build
ing a City Hall is usually a
locally-funded effort, but
securing grants may depend
on the building’s use. For
instance, if the new City
Hall is a municipal complex
with emergency rescue, fire,
and police under its roof,
the project might qualify
for funding from sources
like Homeland Security
and FEMA. Other fund
ing for community projects
may come from sources like
a Community Develop
ment Block Grant available
through the Department
of Community Affairs; the
Department of Housing and
Urban Development; and
the Department of Health
and Human Services.
Tri -County Connec
tion Director Kristy Ben
nett said she has been ad
vocating for a four-day-a
week after school program
in Wheeler County for sev
eral years. One concept for
addressing this need is to
use the county’s present el
ementary school in Alamo
as an after school program
site. The current elementary
school will be vacated once
the county’s new school
opens (projected 2022) and
the elementary classes are
incorporated into the new
building.
Young said, “In general
when it comes to youth pro
grams and funding, it is eas
ier to fund programs than
buildings. If you have an
existing facility, it is easier to
staff programs.”
Young suggested apply
ing for a CDBG grant. “This
is a state-managed program
that is federally funding.
The federal dollars are al
ready allocated to the state.”
He noted that certain cit
ies with bigger populations
cannot compete for these
funds, which “makes the pot
larger.”
Young added, “If it
(an After School program)
proves to be something that
is federally fundable for this
county, I would strongly
suggest it be a conversa
tion between any groups
that work with children and
make it an application that
benefits the whole county.
It could be a program that
also creates wrap-around
services like transportation,
meals, and broadband.” He
suggested that Family Con
nections is an ideal orga
nization to spearhead that
project. “Family Connec
tions can also bring in pri
vate funding, ” he advised.
Wheeler County Com
missioner Rochelle Culver
asked for assistance in sort
ing out the use of current
CARES funds. “I have a
fist of 12 items we might
be able to use this money
for, but everything is so
general. It needs to be nar
rowed down,” she said of
determining federal guide-
fines for how the funds are
applied.
Young responded,
“The issue of clarity in how
CARES funding is used
is a recurring request.” He
promised that clarifying
documents will be dissemi
nated as soon as they be
come available.
Commissioner Culver
also brought up the issue of
the county’s lack of a hos
pital or emergency medical
care closer than 30 minutes
away. She pointed out, “Too
many people do not have
transportation. They cannot
afford to go to Dublin or Vi-
dalia or Eastman.”
Young said that having
a hospital in any one small
community is very diffi
cult, but there might be a
solution if contiguous ru
ral counties work together.
“Instead of considering this
a Wheeler issue, think of it
as an issue for several coun
ties. There should be some
type of facility which is rea
sonably accessible to sick
people no matter where you
five.” He said he would carry
this matter to the Senator
as an official ask so that this
area might be able to get
some assistance and direc
tion in resolving its health
care dilemma.
Councilwoman Wood
ward, who noted that she
moved to her husband’s
hometown of Alamo from
Atlanta, said the small com
munity has a lot of ameni
ties. “We have a lot of cohe
siveness. We are close knit.
We don’t need to depend on
government to do the things
we can do for ourselves. I
am OK with that. We need
to be of one accord.”
Young responded,
“One of the great advantag
es of living in a community
like this is that you literally
can know everybody. You
can have major kitchen
table conversations that bet
ter the whole county. You
can have brain-storming
sessions that result in small
group assignments. You can
do a lot with just a few small
groups of people working
on projects.”
He suggested hiring
independent researchers
and grant writers to help de
velop master plans and find
grant resources, and whose
salaries could be a percent
age of the grants they secure.
“Or make a commitment to
do it on your own. It’s with
in your reach, but someone
has to be proactive, “ he said.
He noted that all fed
eral grants must have a com
munication component.
“Nothing is hidden. This
information can be found.”
He advocated applying
for grants to start momen
tum. “You may not get ev
ery grant, but if you have
your name in the pools of
agencies like HHS, HUD,
FEMA, they start to pay
attention. You will create
momentum around get
ting your projects funded.
You will get eyes on you for
things you didn’t even know
you qualified for.” He added,
“Right now, the way govern
ment money is flowing it is a
good time to do it,” he said.
He noted that once the
local legwork is done and
the community has a clear
vision of its needs, he can
help put together a poten
tial funding package. He
also recommended that
the community look into a
feasibility grant to assist in
the development of a plan.
“There are feasibility grants
available all over the federal
government.”
Young emphasized,
“My goal is finding how
to be of the best service to
your community—once
your community has a plan.
I don’t create the plan; I
don’t knowyour county and
your needs. Once you have
a plan, I can advise what
funding might be available.
Your mission is to tell me
what you are working on
and what you want and I
will point you in the right
direction.”
DTI drivers can
earn up to $4,700
extra per year
Dot Transportation,
Inc. (DTI), the affiliate
trucking company of Dot
Foods, North America’s
largest food industry re
distributor, announced
today it is raising pay for
all drivers fleetwide. The
mid-year raise effective
this week is a six percent
increase on DTI’s mileage
rate, which means driv
ers can take home up to
$4,700 extra this year. It
marks DTI’s second pay
increase since the start of
the year, meaning drivers’
mileage rate has gone up
11 percent in 2021.
“Our drivers are the
best out there, and this is
one way we show our ap
preciation for the work
they do every day out on
the road and on our cus
tomers’ docks,” said Bryan
Langston, Dot Transpor
tation President. “This
is a challenging job. Our
drivers work hard and play
a critical role in our busi
ness. DTI is committed to
making sure we’re provid
ing the best pay and bene
fits possible. It’s something
we’re always monitoring,
and while we typically
make annual adjustments,
this year we’ve done two
pay increases, because our
drivers deserve it.”
DTFs pay structure
is activity-based, some
thing that sets the com
pany apart from other
carriers. DTI drivers are
paid for every part of their
job, including mileage,
stops, pickups, deliver
ies, layovers, detentions,
drop and hook, and more.
Drivers are also part of the
company’s bonus program
and therefore eligible for
quarterly and annual bo
nuses.
“I was amazed when
the announcement went
out,” explained Kansas
City Terminal Driver Jeff
Rubesch. “It was a great,
Parker
continued from page 5A
Per data from Pew
Research Center, in 1970,
three years before the Roe
v. Wade decision, around
10% of Black adults over
25 had never been married.
By 2012, this had more
than tripled, to 36%.
Abortion undermines
the values of the traditional
family. And traditional
family values provide the
offramp from the cycle of
poverty.
Nitty
continued from page 6A
aggressive and 100%
dedicated to their journey
— some have been found
375 miles upriver in the St.
John’s River in Florida.
The Roe Shad (female)
and the Buck Shad (male)
travel together until they
reach the end of their
journey.
When the Roes and
Bucks reach their spawning
ground and the spawning
is complete — the female
will deposit the eggs and,
unlike the salmon, the
adult fish will immediately
begin their journey back to
the ocean. After hatching,
the young shad will remain
in the river until fall, when
they’ll begin their journey
unexpected surprise.
There are a lot of reasons
I love driving for DTI.
The people are great and
always take time to help
each other and answer my
questions. That makes a
big difference. This kind of
thing is really the icing on
the cake.”
Lonnie Edmonson
has driven for DTI for 20
years and worked in the
transportation industry
for more than four de
cades.
“I’ve been around
trucking all my fife,” Ed
monson said. “When you
look at DTI, it’s such an
awesome company with
awesome owners. They’ve
been really good to me in a
lot of different ways. A lot
of places will tell you it’s a
family atmosphere, but it
really is like that at DTI. I
appreciate all the increases
they give us. They don’t
have to do that. All the
things they do for us driv
ers really mean a lot.”
All 12 Dot distribu
tion centers across the
country and DTFs 27 ter
minal locations are cur
rently hiring drivers. DTI
has both delivery and no
touch freight positions
available, with a variety of
schedule options. Driving
careers come with great
earnings potential. DTI’s
fleet-wide average sal
ary for drivers is $92,000.
Drivers also receive a
medical plan worth more
than $22,000 and paid
vacation after six months;
DTI provides a 40l(k)
company match and profit
sharing, and offers tuition
reimbursement.
“We’re growing our
driver workforce by more
than 10 percent across the
country this year,” Langs
ton said. “We have excel
lent career opportunities
to offer. We know pay and
benefits are major factors
in picking a carrier you
want to work for, because
they have a huge impact
on drivers’ lives and those
of their families. At DTI,
The persistence of
problems in Black
communities stems from
federal policies that
pretend to fight the sin of
racism with the sins of the
destruction of life and
family.
Now President Biden
not only wants to continue
this destruction; he wants
to use our tax dollars to
subsidize it.
Star Parker is president of
the Center for Urban Renewal
and Education and host of
the weekly television show
"Cure America with Star
Parker."
down the river to salt water.
Lee also said, “You
show me a fellow who
doesn’t believe in God —
let me take him shad
fishing and explain the
natural habits of the shad
that had to be endowed by
our Creator. After that, I
believe the fellow will do a
little soul searching — the
shad’s spawning experience
can’t just be something
that evolved after a ‘big
bang’ — no sir,” Lee said.
“When you think about it
— you must realize that it
had to be divinely inspired.”
Shad season is
February and March of
each year in South Georgia
and a special license is
required to use a drift net
to catch the fish.
e-mail: benniebo@aol.
we're going to take care of
you on pay and benefits.
And we go beyond that
with a team of people and
a culture that values and
supports you every step of
the way.“
To learn more about
compensation at Dot
Transportation or ap
ply to join our team, visit
https://drivefordot.com/
working-at-dti/compen-
sation-and-benefits/.
ABOUTDOT
FOODS AND DOT
TRANSPORTATION:
Dot Foods, Inc., car
ries 133,000 products
from 1,000 food industry
manufacturers making it
the largest food industry
redistributor in North
America. Through Dot
Transportation, Inc., an
affiliate of Dot Foods, the
company distributes food-
service, convenience, re
tail and vending products
to distributors in all 50
states and more than 55
countries. Dot Foods op
erates 12 U. S. distribution
centers, which are located
in Bullhead City, Arizo
na; Modesto, California;
Bear, Delaware; Vidalia,
Georgia; Burley, Idaho;
Mt. Sterling, Illinois;
University Park, Illinois;
Cambridge City, Indiana;
Williamsport, Maryland;
Liverpool, New York; Ard
more, Oklahoma; and Dy-
ersburg, Tennessee. Dot
Foods’ Canadian opera
tions are located in Toron
to, Ontario and Calgary,
Alberta. For information,
visit DotFoods.com.
Dot Foods and Dot
Transportation are both
looking to fill several posi
tions for full and part-time
drivers and warehouse
personnel at all U.S. loca
tions. To learn more about
careers at Dot Foods visit
DotFoods.com/Careers
and follow (a)DotFoods-
Careers. For more on op
portunities available with
Dot Transportation, visit
DriveForDot.com.
Guest
continued from page 6A
the All-Star Game. Now,
thanks to Stacey Abrams,
that boost will instead go
to businesses in the
majority-white city of
Denver.
Meanwhile, business is
booming for Stacey
Abrams, Inc. Despite her
failure to prevent Georgia
from implementing
common-sense safeguards
to protect the integrity of
our elections, Abrams did
manage to inflate her own
public profile with her ill-
considered tirades, and
she’s parlaying that into
book deals that will fine
her pockets and enhance
her standing with wealthy
white liberals whose only
concern is boosting
Democrat turnout, by
hook or by crook.
In many ways, Stacey
Abrams is Georgia’s answer
to New York Governor
Andrew Cuomo. They
both lie for partisan
advantage and get rewarded
with book deals. The
biggest difference between
them is that Abrams is
already a failed
gubernatorial candidate,
whereas Cuomo is about to
become one.
Vernon Jones is a former
Georgia State Representative
and current Republican
candidate for Governor of
Georgia.
com