For Gilbert Longoria, his five years at Nippon Sanso Matheson have been about more than just building a career. They’ve been about finding a place where his experience is valued, his voice is heard, and he can still make it home to the people who matter most.
A Houston, Texas, native, Gilbert has more than 14 years of experience driving commercial vehicles. Before joining the Houston plant, he spent several years driving over the road for work, which required long-distance trips and extended time away from home. As his children got older, he realized how much he was missing with his family and knew it was time for a change.
“I knew I was missing out on so much and I knew it was time for a change,” he said.
Joining Nippon Sanso Matheson gave Gilbert the opportunity to continue his career closer to home. In fact, he grew up just three minutes from the Houston plant, making it a natural fit both professionally and personally.
Today, Gilbert helps train and mentor new and experienced drivers on safe and efficient driving practices. As a driver trainer, he facilitates the training process through hands-on ride-alongs, allowing new drivers to perform real-time deliveries before transitioning to supervised deliveries once they are cleared to drive. His experience has also earned him the trust to serve as a certified crane trainer, truck-mounted forklift trainer, Smith System trainer, and driver trainer. He considers these accomplishments among his proudest moments at Nippon Sanso Matheson.
As a driver, Gilbert runs assigned routes and covers routes when needed. He also works with truck-mounted forklifts that help drivers deliver more efficiently. Used to support deliveries to customers ranging from medical facilities and plants to private customers, truck-mounted forklifts help improve speed, safety, and efficiency on the job.
What Gilbert values most about the company is the culture. He appreciates that employees’ voices are heard and that safety remains the top priority. For Gilbert, safety is more than a workplace priority; it’s a way of life at Nippon Sanso Matheson.
“You are not just a number like most driving jobs,” Gilbert said. “Everything is in place to make sure we make it home at night.”
Safety is also a major reason Gilbert enjoys his role as a driver. He values the autonomy and independence that come with the job while knowing that safety remains at the center of the work.
When he’s not working, Gilbert spends his time with his family, taking trips and going on cruises. And these days, he’s discovered a new hobby: napping.
His advice to his teammates is simple: work hard, stay humble, be dependable, and treat everyone with respect. “Attitude, work ethic, and consistency will take you a long way,” he said.
For Gilbert, those values are at the heart of his work at Nippon Sanso Matheson, supporting his teammates, sharing his experience, and helping make sure everyone gets home safely to the people waiting for them.
Inspired by Gilbert’s story? If you’re a safety-focused CDL driver who is dependable, willing to learn, and committed to doing the job the right way, a career with Nippon Sanso Matheson may be the right fit for you. Our drivers play an important role in safely delivering products to customers while representing the company on the road and in the communities we serve. Success in the role takes a strong work ethic, attention to detail, consistency, teamwork, and a commitment to following safety procedures. At Nippon Sanso Matheson, drivers like Gilbert help keep our customers supplied, support their teammates, and make safety a priority every day. Explore our open opportunities and discover where a career with Nippon Sanso Matheson can take you:
About Nippon Sanso Matheson
Nippon Sanso Matheson, Inc. is a single source for industrial, medical, specialty and electronic gases, gas handling equipment, welding and safety supplies, proprietary purification systems including NANOCHEM® which can purify to 99.99999999% levels, cryogenic food freezers which are engineered, designed and manufactured in house to customer specific needs, inventory management systems, engineering and gas management services, and on-site gas generation with a mission to deliver innovative solutions for global customer requirements. As part of the Nippon Sanso Holdings Group, Nippon Sanso Matheson is one of the world’s largest suppliers of gases for industrial, medical, specialty and electronic applications, and has expertise in supplying semiconductor and chip manufacturers, with leading technical support.
The Nippon Sanso Holdings Corporation is the world’s fourth-largest supplier of industrial, electronic, and medical gases, operating in four geographic regions – Japan, U.S., Europe and Asia & Oceania – covering over 30 countries and regions. In addition, the Thermos business supplies THERMOS branded products to more than 120 countries worldwide. Since its foundation as Nippon Sanso Ltd. in 1910, the group stands for creating social value through innovative gas solutions that increase industrial productivity, enhance human well-being and contribute to a more sustainable future. With more than 20,000 employees, together, we are “The Gas Professionals” and we all have the same goal: “Making life better through gas technology”
