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Frame The Importance of

Commercial Truck Insurance in Marietta, GA

  • Let's face it - truckers in America have always been the backbone of our great country. They still are in modern times. On any given day, thousands of trucks traverse our highways and local roads, delivering goods and products on time so that businesses and consumers have what they need to live life. And while commercial trucking can be an incredibly lucrative way to make a living and put food on the table, it can also be risky and expensive.
  • Whether you're the owner of a fleet, an independent trucker, or have a business that uses big rigs to transport goods, you need commercial trucking insurance to protect you and your client's investments, shield you from liability, and more.
  • That's where working with a reliable truck insurance agency comes into play. Unfortunately, for many commercial truck insurance providers, serving the needs of truckers is low on the proverbial totem pole. At Independence Insurance Agency, nothing could be further from the truth.

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percent The Commercial Truck

Insurance Agency in Marietta, GA You Can Trust

Much like you pride yourself on running a successful trucking business, Independence Insurance Agency prides itself on its years of experience providing truck insurance for hardworking men and women across the country. And in our experience, insurance rates for truckers are just too high - so high, in fact, that they eat away at their bottom line, making it more difficult to run a business and make a profit. Fortunately, at Independence Insurance Agency, we provide truckers the freedom they need from astronomically high insurance rates so they can stay on the road and keep driving America forward.

As one of the most trusted commercial trucking insurance agencies in the U.S., we understand the challenges that you face daily as a trucker. We also know how important it is to protect your business. That's why we go above and beyond to find you the best-priced coverage available, whether you're an operator, own a small fleet, a large fleet, or something in between.

Commercial Truck Insurance Marietta, GA

We Put Truckers First Because Others Don't

 Truck Insurance Marietta, GA

Truckers across the country choose to work with Independence Insurance Agency because we put their needs first before anything else. As experts in transportation insurance, we proudly offer a range of quality insurance products that are both practical and affordable for them. Our industry-leading carriers provide coverage that caters to the unique challenges faced by the trucking industry, ensuring that your business is protected at all times.

At our core, we are committed to finding the best possible price for your coverage without compromising the quality of service you deserve. The truth is, we understand how essential truckers are to the United States and take pride in making their insurance experience more streamlined and affordable.

One way we do so is by simplifying the insurance process. Our transportation specialists take the time to understand your specific needs and budget to tailor a comprehensive plan that works for you. You won't ever have to worry about cookie-cutter plans or uninterested agents when you work with our commercial trucking insurance agency. We take an educational approach to ensure that the entire big rig insurance process is quick, painless, and easy to understand. If there's something you don't understand, we're happy to take the time to explain. After all, the success and safety of your business are on the line.

Looking to the future, we are committed to providing innovative new products that cater to the ever-changing needs of truck drivers. As your one-stop shop for commercial trucking insurance, we are dedicated to your success, one policy at a time.

If you're a commercial trucker looking to ensure your rig, you can rest easy knowing that Independence Insurance Agency provides:

  • Affordable Trucking Insurance Plans for Any Budget
  • Exemplary Customer Service
  • Seasoned Transportation Specialists Who Customize Plans to Your Needs
  • A+ Carriers Across the Country
  • Simple, Easy Quote and Bind Process
  • Multiple Insurance Carriers Quoted to Find You the Best Rates
  • Truck Insurance for New Ventures

Call us or send us a message today to learn more about the best 18-wheeler insurance options for your trucking business.

chart The Commercial Truck

Common Types of Big Rig Truck Insurance in Marietta, GA

At Independence Insurance Agency, we offer several types of insurance coverage for local, intermediate, and long-haul trucking needs. Here are just a few categories of trucking insurance coverage that our agency offers.

As the foundation of your insurance policy, liability coverage is required by law in most states in the U.S. It provides coverage for damage or injuries caused to properties or other people if your 18-wheeler is responsible for the crash. Without liability coverage, it's almost impossible to drive a truck or run a trucking business without major legal consequences.

Having physical damage coverage is an essential component that shouldn't be overlooked. This insurance is responsible for covering the expenses related to repairing or replacing your truck in situations such as accidents, theft, vandalism, and other damaging events. By having this coverage, you can rest assured that your business won't be affected significantly by unexpected incidents, and you can continue running your operations smoothly even in challenging times.

For trucking companies, the goods they transport are crucial to their operations. To protect these goods from damage, loss, or theft while in transit, cargo insurance is essential. This coverage provides much-needed peace of mind for both you and your clients, allowing you to reimburse clients for any losses sustained while protecting your reputation and brand identity.

Non-Trucking Liability Insurance is designed to cover property damage or bodily injury that may occur during personal time when the driver/truck is not under dispatch. This coverage can be applied with or without a trailer and is added to a commercial policy as an endorsement.

While Independence Insurance Agency has built a reputation of excellence in serving the needs of truckers, we also offer general liability. Also known as Truckers General Liability, this coverage insures for bodily injuries or property damage that happen due to business activities that are NOT the cause of operating a truck. It covers accidents that occur in parking lots, rest stops, also while loading or unloading. General liability can also cover losses related to theft and vandalism. Most brokers and shippers will require this coverage to work with you.

Bobtail insurance is a type of coverage that is comparable to non-trucking liability, which is designed to offer protection when driving a truck without a trailer attached. This is commonly referred to as "bobtailing." With bobtail insurance, the tractor is covered at all times, even when it is not attached to a trailer, regardless of whether or not the truck is under dispatch.

Trailer interchange insurance is a must-have if you're involved in a trailer interchange agreement. This essential coverage offers protection for trailers owned by other parties that you're using under a contractual agreement. It covers damages caused by collisions, fire, theft, and vandalism, providing assurance to all parties involved.

Curious whether our commercial truck insurance agency in cityname, state offers additional coverage? The following options can be bound in your insurance policy:

  • Business Interruption Insurance
  • Reefer Breakdown Insurance
  • Occupational Accident with Contract Liability Insurance
  • Rental Reimbursement Insurance
  • Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist Insurance
  • Towing Insurance
  • Electronics Insurance
  • Much More

Three plus 3 Safe Driving Tips to

Lower the Cost of Truck Insurance in Marietta, GA

Keeping your drivers safe on the road is crucial not only for their own well-being but also for the safety of other motorists and the financial stability of your business. The Department of Labor has identified the trucking industry as one of the most hazardous sectors in the U.S. In fact, trucking and logistics fleets are known for their high injury and fatality rates. By improving how safely your truckers drive, you can help reduce expenses related to claim payouts, accidents, and insurance premium hikes.

Whether you own a large fleet or you're the owner and operator of a single rig, keep these safe driving tips in mind to help lower your insurance costs.

Implement Preventative Maintenance Plans

Ensuring the safety of your drivers begins with the safety of their vehicles. Trucks and tractor-trailers that do not receive regular maintenance, such as oil and brake pad changes, are more likely to experience breakdowns while on the road. Telematics devices provide real-time insight into engine and odometer data, including fault codes.

This information enables your mechanics to create comprehensive preventative maintenance schedules based on mileage, history of previous breakdowns, days, and more. Additionally, they can receive immediate notifications for critical fault codes. By implementing routine maintenance and proactive repair schedules, you can ensure that your vehicles are in top condition, minimizing the likelihood of breakdowns, which can help reduce the cost of trucker insurance.

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 Trucking Insurance Marietta, GA

Practice Defensive Driving

This approach aims to mitigate the risk of fatal crashes and injuries by proactively identifying and responding to potentially dangerous situations and making informed decisions while driving. By adopting defensive driving techniques, drivers can reduce their likelihood of accidents, thereby minimizing the need for expensive repairs, claim payouts, and increased insurance premiums.

Some of the easiest ways for you or your drivers to practice safe driving include:

  • Be Wary of Blind Spots: Operating a reefer or tractor-trailer means driving high off of the ground, which can make visibility limited, especially in blind spots. To check your blind spot, look over your shoulder and out of your windows while changing lanes.
  • Be Ready for Emergencies on the Road: It's important for drivers to be ready for unexpected situations when driving, especially during long trips. They should be equipped to handle emergencies such as poor driving conditions or big rig breakdowns.
  • Use the Three-Second Rule: Truck drivers should try to maintain a three-second gap between their vehicle and the car in front of them. This means that the truck driver should reach a certain point on the road three seconds after the car in front of them has passed that same point.
  • Always Use Right and Left Turn Indicators: It's important for drivers to always use their turn signals when changing lanes or exiting highways, even if they don't see any other cars around. This is not only required by law, but it also reduces the chances of accidents occurring on the road.
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 Commercial Liability Insurance For Truckers Marietta, GA

Find Ways to Prevent Distracted Driving

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), distracted driving is the primary reason behind truck driver accidents. Any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the road or the steering wheel is considered distracted driving. Distractions can come in various forms, such as eating while driving or gazing at a billboard outside the window. However, the most frequent form of distracted driving is the use of cellphones, specifically texting while driving.

Assuming you or your driver's rigs are equipped with dual-facing cameras, try reviewing footage of an unsafe driving incident. Coach your drivers on ways to correct their unsafe behaviors or look up ways to do so yourself if you're the one operating the big rig. The bottom line is that when your drivers aren't distracted, they drive safer. And when they drive safer, the cost of 18-wheeler insurance in cityname, state can be reduced.

phone Call Now
 Commercial Truck Insurance Quote Marietta, GA

Ensuring the safety of your drivers begins with the safety of their vehicles. Trucks and tractor-trailers that do not receive regular maintenance, such as oil and brake pad changes, are more likely to experience breakdowns while on the road. Telematics devices provide real-time insight into engine and odometer data, including fault codes.

This information enables your mechanics to create comprehensive preventative maintenance schedules based on mileage, history of previous breakdowns, days, and more. Additionally, they can receive immediate notifications for critical fault codes. By implementing routine maintenance and proactive repair schedules, you can ensure that your vehicles are in top condition, minimizing the likelihood of breakdowns, which can help reduce the cost of trucker insurance.

 Low Priced Commercial Truck Insurance Marietta, GA phone Call Now

This approach aims to mitigate the risk of fatal crashes and injuries by proactively identifying and responding to potentially dangerous situations and making informed decisions while driving. By adopting defensive driving techniques, drivers can reduce their likelihood of accidents, thereby minimizing the need for expensive repairs, claim payouts, and increased insurance premiums.

Some of the easiest ways for you or your drivers to practice safe driving include:

  • Be Wary of Blind Spots: Operating a reefer or tractor-trailer means driving high off of the ground, which can make visibility limited, especially in blind spots. To check your blind spot, look over your shoulder and out of your windows while changing lanes.
  • Be Ready for Emergencies on the Road: It's important for drivers to be ready for unexpected situations when driving, especially during long trips. They should be equipped to handle emergencies such as poor driving conditions or big rig breakdowns.
  • Use the Three-Second Rule: Truck drivers should try to maintain a three-second gap between their vehicle and the car in front of them. This means that the truck driver should reach a certain point on the road three seconds after the car in front of them has passed that same point.
  • Always Use Right and Left Turn Indicators: It's important for drivers to always use their turn signals when changing lanes or exiting highways, even if they don't see any other cars around. This is not only required by law, but it also reduces the chances of accidents occurring on the road.
Commercial Truck Insurance Marietta, GA phone Call Now

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), distracted driving is the primary reason behind truck driver accidents. Any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the road or the steering wheel is considered distracted driving. Distractions can come in various forms, such as eating while driving or gazing at a billboard outside the window. However, the most frequent form of distracted driving is the use of cellphones, specifically texting while driving.

Assuming you or your driver's rigs are equipped with dual-facing cameras, try reviewing footage of an unsafe driving incident. Coach your drivers on ways to correct their unsafe behaviors or look up ways to do so yourself if you're the one operating the big rig. The bottom line is that when your drivers aren't distracted, they drive safer. And when they drive safer, the cost of 18-wheeler insurance in cityname, state can be reduced.

 Truck Insurance Marietta, GA phone Call Now

check light FAQs About

Independence Insurance Agency

If you're looking for a commercial trucking insurance agency for your business, chances are you have some questions - and we've got answers. Keep reading to learn more about some of the most commonly asked questions we hear from truckers like you.

Why go with a "jack of all trades" when you can work with specialists who focus exclusively on transportation insurance? We have excellent relationships with major trucking insurance carriers and, as such, can provide the best assistance and reasonable rates.

Typically, companies will look at claims that date back three years or less.

We proudly work with more than 20 carriers to provide our clients with the most advantageous options at competitive prices, catering to the needs of owner-operators and big fleets alike.

Permit filings are typically done by insurance companies on the next business day. Federal (FMCSA) filings are completed online and updated immediately, while some states may take up to three weeks to process.

Independence Insurance Agency: Committed to the Trucking Industry

There's no question about it - you've got to protect your staff, your rig, and your trucking business with insurance. But choosing the right insurance partner isn't always easy. Thankfully, with Independence Insurance Agency by your side, you can rest easy knowing you're covered no matter where the road takes you. If you're in need of a commercial truck insurance agency in Marietta, GA that caters to truckers like you, pick up the phone and contact one of our transportation specialists today. That way, you can get back on the road with confidence tomorrow.

 Trucking Insurance Marietta, GA

Latest News in Marietta, GA

25 books banned from Marietta City Schools reading center

MARIETTA, Ga. - Twenty-five books have been banned from the Marietta City Schools' reading center.Last month, the district voted to ban 23 books. Since then, parents have filed appeals to keep every single one of those books on the shelves.Before the vote Tuesday night, parents on both sides argued their points."It's about removing sexually explicit material paid for by taxpayer funds," said Matt Anderson."Show me the data about the harm these books cause because the data is telling...

MARIETTA, Ga. - Twenty-five books have been banned from the Marietta City Schools' reading center.

Last month, the district voted to ban 23 books. Since then, parents have filed appeals to keep every single one of those books on the shelves.

Before the vote Tuesday night, parents on both sides argued their points.

"It's about removing sexually explicit material paid for by taxpayer funds," said Matt Anderson.

"Show me the data about the harm these books cause because the data is telling us they only create positive outcomes," said Jenny Storino.

These 23 books are in addition to two books that were removed back in the fall, "Flamer and Me" and "Earl and the Dying Girl."

Tuesday night, the school board rejected the appeal by a vote of 6-1.

Karla Jacobs is with Marietta in the Middle, a group of parents that wrote the appeals.

"We're disappointed in what happened tonight. The biggest losers in this whole book ban debacle are the students who have lost important books from their media center that speak to their lives and experiences," said Jacobs.

Becky Simmons is pleased children will no longer have access to these books in the school library.

"I am so grateful for a school board and having Dr. Grant Rivera for having a set standard of what should be allowed in our school system," said Simmons.

Mark Oshiro is an author of children's books who lives in metro Atlanta. While none of his books were pulled from the Marietta City Schools' libraries, his books have been banned in other states.

"I've been dealing with this for six years since my first book banning. I'm not a stranger to it, it's just increased in intensity. I'm very happy to see so many other parents and educators fighting back," said Oshiro.

Supt. Grant Rivera says a committee of educators spent thousands of hours determining which books were not appropriate for students. He's hoping the district can now move forward.

"I want to bring this community back together in the way that this created divisiveness and hope to continue to make decisions for the kids," said Dr. Rivera.

Boil water advisory lifted in south Cobb County after water main repaired, officials say

MARIETTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The Cobb County Water System lifted its boil water notice Saturday morning after a large water main break was repaired.Water testing confirmed the water is safe to consume, the department said. Some may experience low pressure or discolored water, which you can fix by running cold water for several minutes.The pipeline originally ruptured around 1 a.m. near Macedonia Road and Red Rose Drive on Friday. This area is part of the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority system, but it also caused a ...

MARIETTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The Cobb County Water System lifted its boil water notice Saturday morning after a large water main break was repaired.

Water testing confirmed the water is safe to consume, the department said. Some may experience low pressure or discolored water, which you can fix by running cold water for several minutes.

The pipeline originally ruptured around 1 a.m. near Macedonia Road and Red Rose Drive on Friday. This area is part of the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority system, but it also caused a loss of pressure in the Cobb County Water System, officials said.

BOIL WATER ADVISORY LIFTEDThe Boil Water Advisory issued for portions of south Cobb County has been lifted. Test results obtained by the Cobb County Marietta Water Authority (CCMWA) have returned negative for bacteria and indicate the water is safe to consume. pic.twitter.com/uYPQxj2wF5

— Cobb County, GA (@cobbcountygovt) January 20, 2024

The break affected cities like Powder Springs, Austell, Mableton, and sections of Marietta and Smyrna. The Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority said the burst was most likely weather-related, as pipes can move underground when it’s cold outside.

Officials said the pipe was put back together overnight, but it won’t be re-integrated into the system until next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Cole Blackwell, Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority’s general manager, said this is the first time in about five years that the Water Authority has seen a water main break requiring them to issue a boil water advisory.

They advised residents to boil water or use bottled water for drinking, preparing food or brushing their teeth. People were free to use the water as-is for showering and doing laundry.

Resident Courtney Townsend said the break happened right outside of his home.

“I looked out the window, and I see an ocean in the front yard!” he said. “It was really dominating and pushing into the neighbor’s yard and going up toward their driveways where their cars were. As a matter of fact, one of their mailboxes was already underwater.”

Click here for updates from the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority.

Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.

More postal woes | New inquiry launched into Marietta USPS location over misconduct allegations

Georgia leaders launched the inquiry after allegations of multiple crimes being committed at the location.MARIETTA, Ga. — A new inquiry has been launched into the United States Postal Service (USPS) - this time over allegations of misconduct at a Marietta post office.Georgia leaders, including Sens. Rafael Warnock, John Ossoff, and Rep. Barry Loudermilk, are demanding answers about alleged fraud and mail tampering at the USPS location on Lawrence Street.“Well, I know mistakes happen, but continuously,” ...

Georgia leaders launched the inquiry after allegations of multiple crimes being committed at the location.

MARIETTA, Ga. — A new inquiry has been launched into the United States Postal Service (USPS) - this time over allegations of misconduct at a Marietta post office.

Georgia leaders, including Sens. Rafael Warnock, John Ossoff, and Rep. Barry Loudermilk, are demanding answers about alleged fraud and mail tampering at the USPS location on Lawrence Street.

“Well, I know mistakes happen, but continuously,” said Marietta resident Jennifer Walton. She told 11Alive that since November, she has been having issues getting her packages. She says confirmation shows the items were delivered to her home, yet she has evidence to the contrary.

“It says delivered mail, but it’s not delivered. So we have a Ring camera to monitor it, we have informed delivery to monitor it, and I run to the mailbox every time we receive a package, but it’s not there,” said Walton.

Walton says when she confronts USPS with that information, the responses are inconsistent.

"Yesterday, they said it was incorrectly marked delivered, and it really wasn’t, and today she is not really addressing it; they are just trying to find my package," she said.

Walton isn’t sure if her packages are being stolen, but she says she was recently informed that she got a new mail carrier. As she searches for answers, Sens. Ossoff and Warnock, along with Rep. Barry Loudermilk, have launched a separate inquiry into the Marietta Post office at 257 Lawrence Street for alleged crimes committed there, including mail theft, forgery, document fraud, and check washing.

Despite the claims, some still swear by the Marietta USPS location.

“I drove 25 miles to this post office,” said Hiram resident Meg Hunt-Williams, who says because of issues at her local USPS, she makes the drive to Marietta whenever she needs postal assistance.

“Coming to the Marietta post office is one big blessing because it’s one of the best-organized post offices here in the Atlanta vicinity, and these people know me when I walk in because they know how far I drive,” Hunt-Williams went on to say.

As for Walton, she says she just wants her items. “The rest of my mail seems to appear but when I order something from a retail environment, it’s delivered but not there," she said.

We reached out to Sens. Ossoff and Warnock’s offices, but they were unavailable for comment. We also contacted representatives from USPS, but so far, we have not heard back.

Georgia officials are changing how students are taught to read. Educators in Marietta are the blueprint

Dr. Jillian Johnson, Principal of A.L. Burruss Elementary School, leaves a kindergarten classroom after checking in as part of her daily routine. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)Principal Jillian Johnson regularly walks the halls of A.L. Burruss Elementary School in Marietta. The practice is part of her routine – a way to check in on her school family, literally.Johnson is a parent of two Burruss Beavers: Elizabeth, a third grader, and Caroline, a kindergartner.She stopped by Caroline’s class earlier this winter to wat...

Dr. Jillian Johnson, Principal of A.L. Burruss Elementary School, leaves a kindergarten classroom after checking in as part of her daily routine. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

Principal Jillian Johnson regularly walks the halls of A.L. Burruss Elementary School in Marietta. The practice is part of her routine – a way to check in on her school family, literally.

Johnson is a parent of two Burruss Beavers: Elizabeth, a third grader, and Caroline, a kindergartner.

She stopped by Caroline’s class earlier this winter to watch her daughter learn to read. Mrs. Lauri Bruton led the lesson.

“[The] beginning of a sentence has to have a…” Bruton asked her class.

“Capital!” the students cheered in unison.

The kindergartners were digging into punctuation, spelling the sentence, “She can snap and skip.”

After sounding out “skip,” Bruton asks the kids how to punctuate the sentence.

“Period!” shouts one student.

“Why?”

“Because [it’s] a telling sentence!”

“It’s a telling sentence! Do you remember that big word we learned? Say it!”

“Declarative!”

Principal Johnson watched quietly from the back of the room with a grin.

A lot of other kindergartners are still learning the alphabet at this age. But not at Burruss.

A few years ago, Johnson and her staff changed how they teach students to read, transitioning from “balanced literacy” to “structured literacy.” The rest of the Marietta school system has done the same.

“We changed every single practice in how we teach children to read,” the Marietta principal noted. “It is a total 180.”

“Our percentage of students reading at or above grade level just continue to climb. And it was stagnant or regressing for years before that.”

Jillian Johnson, principal – A.L. Burruss Elementary School

In balanced literacy, teachers let a child figure things out themselves with context clues.

As Johnson describes it, structured literacy is explicit instruction — the polar opposite.

“[Structured literacy] teach[es] them what the letters mean, and how the letters represent sounds, and how the sounds come together to make words,” she said.

Johnson says the impact of structured literacy at her elementary school has been transformational. Last year, the third graders at Burruss had the second-highest gains in the statewide Georgia Milestones test.

“Our percentage of children reading at or above grade level just continues to climb,” Johnson added. “And it was stagnant–if not regressing–for years before that.”

Third grade is a big year for young readers. Experts call it the year students go from learning-to-read to reading-to-learn. But Johnson says it’s more than just that.

“Their sense of self develops so much,” she said. “It’s really incredible. We’re going through it in my home and then also leading kids through it here at school.”

A.L. Burruss and the Marietta school system inspired state officials.

Last year, the Georgia General General Assembly passed a sweeping piece of legislation – House Bill 538 – to make all public schools teach reading the way they do in Marietta.

Marietta City Schools is just one example of why structured literacy works.

Nationally, the state of Mississippi is the gold standard — largely because of Carey Wright, the former state superintendent. In the world of student literacy, she is held in the same esteem as Michael Jordan in the game of basketball.

“We changed every single practice in how we teach children to read. It is a total 180.”

Jillian Johnson, principal – A.L. Burruss Elementary School

Folks call the way that Wright improved reading scores in the Magnolia State the “Mississippi Miracle,” but the acclaimed educator pushes back on that.

“It is not a miracle,” she said. “It is hard work. And it’s hard work over time.”

As Wright reflected on what Mississippi did well, she said coaching teachers in structured literacy was part of a full-court press.

“We had teachers coming out and saying it was the best professional development they’ve ever had,” she said. “It was like an eye opener for some people to know that… there actually is a very strategic way to teach children how to read. And there’s decades of research behind it.”

Teacher professional development is also a big part of Georgia’s game plan.

The Georgia Department of Education (DOE) is training literacy coaches to help districts across the state implement structured literacy.

The implementation of this statewide coaching model is being overseen by J. Nicholas Philmon, who helped create a similar system for the schools in Marietta.

Ramona Brown is also helping to train literacy coaches across the state as the field implementation coordinator for an organization called Cox Campus, which has partnered with the Georgia DOE.

Earlier this year, she led a workshop in Columbus for dozens of literacy coaches, who will then train teachers at the district level.

Brown said the kind of explicit instruction that structured literacy requires works for all kids, including those with learning challenges like dyslexia.

Structured literacy is about equity, she continued.

If we equip [coaches] with the knowledge that we know benefits all children… that’s how we scale the work and that’s how it’s sustained,” she said. “Once [teachers] get a good grasp of it, they start seeing wins.

State lawmakers are eager to see wins too.

When last year’s big literacy bill was passed, it didn’t have any money attached to it.

This year’s budget puts money towards programs like literacy coaches and tests to track student progress. Republican State Senator Billy Hickman has sponsored legislation that would make it easier to do the latter.

“This is not a marathon,” Hickman said at a press conference about the legislation. “This is a 100-yard dash.”

The District 4 senator and other lawmakers have continually pressed the Georgia DOE for results.

However, education officials caution against expecting immediate improvements in student literacy.

“Folks who want to see immediate gains have to [consider if districts] have the resources that they need to implement with the same intensity that Marietta did,” said Ryan Lee-James, chief academic officer at the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy.

“I don’t mean financial resources,” Lee-James continued. “I mean buy-in and expectations from the school board. Buy-in from the superintendent.”

Principal Jillian Johnson at A.L. Burruss said the same.

“I think that the key is leadership,” she said. “That’s my biggest piece of advice to those who are new on the journey. I really have kind of taken it on as a personal mission … and my staff fully understands the assignment.”

South Cobb Drive closure: Portion to be closed for 2 months near Dobbins Base

COBB COUNTY, Ga. - Beginning at 10 a.m. on March 19, State Route (SR) 280/South Cobb Drive will undergo a full road closure from Fairground Street SE to US 41/SR 3/Cobb Parkway. This closure, following morning rush hour, aims to facilitate the emergency replacement of a culvert at the location.Motorists are advised to adhere to posted detour route signage to bypass SR 280/South Cobb Drive. The primary detour route suggests utilizing US 41/SR 3/Cobb Parkway SE, SR 120/South Marietta PKWY SE, and Fairground Street SE. A...

COBB COUNTY, Ga. - Beginning at 10 a.m. on March 19, State Route (SR) 280/South Cobb Drive will undergo a full road closure from Fairground Street SE to US 41/SR 3/Cobb Parkway. This closure, following morning rush hour, aims to facilitate the emergency replacement of a culvert at the location.

Motorists are advised to adhere to posted detour route signage to bypass SR 280/South Cobb Drive. The primary detour route suggests utilizing US 41/SR 3/Cobb Parkway SE, SR 120/South Marietta PKWY SE, and Fairground Street SE. Additionally, a secondary route has been identified: motorists can opt for US 41/SR 3/Cobb Parkway SE, SR 120/South Marietta PKWY SE, and Atlanta Street SE.

To manage traffic flow effectively, Georgia DOT will collaborate with city and county traffic operations teams. Signal timing adjustments will be made to alleviate congestion during peak travel periods.

The closure is anticipated to last around eight weeks, contingent upon weather conditions, with an estimated completion date in mid-May 2024. Real-time travel updates can be accessed via preferred wayfinding apps or by dialing 511GA.

Major Cobb County road shutting down

South Cobb Drive will shut down after Tuesday's morning rush hour and be closed for weeks for road repairs.

The need for the emergency culvert replacement arose on March 9, following a washout triggered by heavy rainfall. The culvert slated for replacement has surpassed its life expectancy.

"This project is sort of an emergency project that's being done to replace an old culvert that was built in the 1940s," GDOT spokesperson Natalie Dale explained. "Given the age of this culvert, and the conditions that we've seen lately we, upon inspection of this culvert, noticed that it is just compromised."

Georgia DOT urges motorists to expect delays and assures proactive coordination with city and county officials, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, and Lockheed Martin to minimize travel disruptions.

Every effort has been made to prepare employees ahead of the road closures.

"They told us about it and be prepared. Leave home a little earlier, 15-20 minutes earlier you know, for the traffic, because there are going to be a lot of cars out in the morning," said Tim Davis, who works at Lockheed-Martin.

"We are working directly with those who work at those facilities as well as Cobb Department of Education for their bus traffic. To make sure that those people are getting to where they need to get within this closure," said Dale.

All other motorists will be diverted around the road closures for the next 8 weeks. General motorists should use the detour route, "which is going to be Cobb Parkway, Marietta Parkway and Atlanta Road to get either up and around or over this closure for the time being," Dale explained.

For up-to-date traffic information, utilize 511GA services via phone, website (511ga.org), or the 511 Georgia mobile app before embarking on your journey.

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