Get to know your Friendly Neighborhood Forklift Mechanic

10 years ago, I had no idea this was a real job or that there was an entire industry built around it. At that point I had spent 10 years in the restaurant business, started out washing dishes and eventually worked my way up to line cook. It was the perfect job for a young, single guy. It didn’t pay all that great but I didn’t have many responsibilities. Plus I loved the people I met and worked with. I spent the first summer out of high school working as a roofer. My dad told me, “If you don’t have a job by then, you’ll come work with me.” Sweet, I didn’t have to look for a job! Had a great summer, working hard and spending my money on going to any rock concert that I could. When the roofing season came to a close and work got slow I was “let go”. I knew it was coming so not a huge deal. Spent a couple months only half-heartedly looking for work. The local restaurant was always hiring, I was hired on and spent many good years there, learning about life, hard work, and really just growing up.

 Cut to about year 8.  Decided to get married and have a baby.  All of a sudden the restaurant wasn’t going to be my long term goal.  I needed something with health insurance and the possibility for advancement.  Spent my last couple years there really struggling.  Almost out of nowhere, the company that my father in law worked for was hiring for a shop apprentice.  I knew he drove a semi and delivered forklifts but I had no idea they also had a shop where they also worked on them.  They were looking for someone that they could teach and mold into what they wanted, not stuck in old habits.  Plus it was a union job.  Sounded great!  Didn’t hurt that the manager was dating my wife’s Aunt.  I started right away.  

I had to learn everything from scratch.  I had no idea how to drive a forklift.  Didn’t have any tools.  Most of the other mechanics had been there for 30 years!  But I showed up every day, did every crap job they didn’t want to do and I would take every opportunity to learn.  That helped break the ice with the old guys.  They ended up taking me under their wing and I got some really good experience in the shop.  A year and a half later the economy took a crap.  2 guys that were hired on after me were laid off.  Salesmen were being let go, parts guys were getting cut.  They were cutting back on office people too.  I talked to the manager and he said they were going to hire a dispatcher and he offered me the job.  I was really hesitant.  But he was honest and said if the economy doesn’t turn around fast there would be more cuts in the shop and I was the next on the block.  So I took the office job. 

I didn’t want to but I couldn’t be out there looking for another job with a wife and baby at home. Paid the same but I was stuck behind a desk all day. I was in direct contact with all the mechanics on the road. They knew me from the shop so I would constantly ask questions about fixing things. They would always take a few minutes and explain things a little more, knowing I would understand. I spent a few years behind that desk. It was good experience. I was able to learn another side of the business. It gave me time to build relationships with the other mechanics and also the customers that would call. Plus, I was still listed in the company’s website as a mechanic so I could still take online training. Glad I did!

Rumors of our company getting bought out by the main competition had been circling for years.  Then one day, on April 1st of all days, it came true.  We were to be part of an asset acquisition.  We would all have to interview for jobs.  I was sure they would take all the mechanics because that’s a valuable skill.  What did I do?  I answered the phone.  And I was getting pretty tired of it.  Had the interview and was offered the one office position they had available.  I told them I would think about it.  The next day they called back.  They looked at my certifications online and saw I was certified as a maintenance tech.   I was offered a road tech job.  Like a Jiffy Lube on wheels.  Much higher pay, take a company truck home every night.  Plus, I was in a good spot to learn more.  Was doing that for about 3 years.  Learned a lot in that time.  Enough to justify them giving me a shot at a regular service tech job.  I have been doing this now for about 9 months.  There is a lot that I know and even more that I don’t know but I’m out there trying.  Having built strong relationships with my customers from my time as a maintenance tech has helped me take the next step.  I’m always up front and honest with them if I cannot find or fix the problem.  

So that’s a little bit about how I got to where I am now.  I love music, mostly heavy metal and rock and roll, but I’m a guitar guy and anything with a cool guitar part will catch my ears.  I picked up my first guitar about 15 years ago.  I have a few now.  I’ve never taken any lessons but it was never my goal to be in a band or anything.  I started out learning to play parts of my favorite songs.  Most people start with Mary Had A Little Lamb, I started with Enter Sandman.  I also like to write.  I had a blog over the years and would add an entry a couple times a month.  Nothing major, mostly football or music related.  When I heard about Steemit, I did a little research and decided to sign up.  Writing is just something that I do for fun and I figure I have diverse enough interests that my ideas and stories might be entertaining to some.  I also tend to ramble as you can probably tell by now.  I’ll try to keep that in check.  

Thanks for reading,
Mike

P.S. Yes, I have a giant goatee. I keep it tied up like this in a little ponytail when I'm working. Safety First!