BULLHEAD CITY – Dot Foods, Inc., North America’s largest food industry redistributor, and its affiliate trucking company, Dot Transportation, Inc. (DTI), announced they will raise pay for warehouse floor employees and drivers at the company’s Arizona distribution center. The $1/hour increase for the warehouse floor team means material handlers can now start at up to $16.50/hour.
“We hope this is good news for our warehouse floor team,” said John Long, Dot Foods senior vice president of warehousing. “We closely watch what’s going on in the labor market in our communities. The competition for great talent is very stiff right now, and we always want to be among the best-paying employers in the region. This increase will help us do just that. We want to keep the great people we have working in our warehouse, and hopefully attract more of the best talent.”
Dot is growing its warehouse team companywide this year to keep up with demand. Volume is surging with businesses and communities re-opening, and in Arizona, the company looks to hire 20 warehouse material handlers in 2021. Beyond this increase, the vast majority of material handlers earn a raise after six months of work and another raise after their first year.
“I was at my previous job for 10 years and maybe got two raises in that time,” said Dan Diaz, warehouse material handler. “I’ve been at Dot for two years, and I’ve already seen more increases than that, and they’re more substantial. Last year, with the pandemic, was hard for everyone. But now, places are opening back up, and it’s keeping us extremely busy. And that’s a good thing. So, this was a really great surprise that shows how much Dot cares.”
On the transportation side, the mid-year raise effective this week is a 6 percent increase on DTI’s mileage rate, which means drivers will take home up to $4,700 extra this year. It marks DTI’s second pay increase since the start of the year, meaning driver’s mileage rate has gone up 11 percent in 2021.
“Our drivers are the best out there, and this is one way we show our appreciation for the work they do every day out on the road and on our customers’ docks,” said Bryan Langston, Dot Transportation President. “This is a challenging job. Our drivers work hard and play a critical role in our business. DTI is committed to making sure we’re providing the best pay and benefits 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.”
DTI’s pay structure is activity-based, something that sets the company apart from other carriers. DTI drivers are paid for every part of their job including: mileage, stops, pickups, deliveries, layovers, detentions, drop and hook, and more. Drivers are also part of the company’s bonus program and therefore eligible for quarterly and annual bonuses.
“I was amazed when the announcement went out,” explained Kansas City terminal driver Jeff Rubesch. “It was a great, 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.”
All 12 Dot distribution centers across the country and DTI’s 27 terminal locations are currently 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 salary 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 401(k) company match and profit sharing and offers tuition reimbursement.
“We’re growing our driver workforce by more than 10% across the country this year,” Langston said. “We have excellent 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, 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 career opportunities in the Dot Foods warehouse or apply, visit https://dotfoodscareers.com/higherwages/. To learn more about compensation at Dot Transportation or apply to join our team, visit https://drivefordot.com/working-at-dti/compensation-and-benefits/
