A good forklift driver knows what each bay needs next, depending on where they are in the building process.
“Like a puzzle,” said Fred Gomez, forklift operator for the Trailer Shop. “I was the first dedicated forklift driver, and now four shops each have their own.”
Fred, who has worked at Ledwell for almost a decade, said he has learned many skills since he started at Ledwell in 2011.
“You have to be able to work as a team,” he said.
“As a forklift driver, there are times when an object is too bulky for just one of us to lift. It takes a team to move it properly.”
Fred said sticking to a routine is vital for keeping a shop running successfully and efficiently.
“When your team is set up for success, they will be happier, which makes the day go smoothly,” he said.
Fred and his wife Sandy have two daughters and one grandson. When he isn’t at work, he spends most of his time with his family and watching football.
“Watching the Cowboys lose is a great day,” he said.
Family, Fred said, is what inspires him.
“Keeping everyone full and safe—that’s what’s important to me,” he said.