JANUARY 2026 – Watco Greens Port in Houston is a round-the-clock operation. Safely and efficiently unloading large vessels requires a fleet of heavy equipment. Operator Jose Hernandez not only runs these machines but makes sure they’re ready to go when needed.

When a vessel arrives at Greens Port, crews work 24/7 to unload thousands of tons of cargo and load it onto trucks or move it to storage. It wouldn’t be possible without excavators, front-end loaders, skid-steers, and forklifts working in the vessels and on the dock.

Typically, each operator is assigned a machine for their shift. Hernandez meticulously checks fluid levels, filters, and error codes. He even washes the machinery when needed. If anything looks off, he immediately files a report so it can be addressed before the machine has to be taken out of service.

“Maintenance is one of our biggest expenses and causes of lost time,” said Albert Bolivar, port superintendent. “Jose inspects his equipment every day and lets me know if anything needs to be addressed before it causes an issue. When he knows we have vessels coming, he’ll go through every piece of equipment so we can perform maintenance ahead of time, rather than waiting for something to happen while we’re unloading.”

Recently, Greens Port was expecting a bulk vessel containing a material that produces a lot of dust. The equipment working inside the ship can get clogged and have to be taken out and repaired. Hernandez checked all the air filters while the equipment was being staged. He then notified Bolivar that they’d likely need spare filters on hand.

“I reached out to the maintenance team and they didn’t have enough spare filters stocked,” Bolivar said. “It took several days for the new filters to arrive, and we needed them as soon as we had them. His ownership and diligence prevented costly downtime on the dock.”

Hernandez’s ownership and expertise have made him the go-to trainer for new team members. Operators aren’t typically as involved with maintaining their equipment. Bolivar says his understanding of both operations and maintenance makes him a great trainer.

“His habits set him apart, but we don’t want him to be the exception,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what equipment or job, Jose is there showing new team members how to operate safely and make sure their equipment is taken care of properly. He’s saved Greens Port a lot of time, and money, through his professionalism.”

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