Fairchild Equipment celebrates major safety milestone, growth in Stockton
By Brandi Makuski
STOCKTON — Fairchild Equipment celebrated a major workplace safety milestone on May 7, crediting its company culture, leadership, and employee commitment for more than a decade of safe operations in Stevens Point and Stockton.
The company’s Stockton branch was recognized for surpassing two years without an OSHA-recordable injury and over 10 years without a lost-time injury — a record officials said reflects over 120,000 injury-free work hours. The achievement is part of an ongoing emphasis on safety across the company’s 11 locations.
“This group here in Stevens Point is spectacular,” said CEO Chad Fairchild. “They’ve hit safety milestones year after year, and the customer service feedback we get from this location is incredible. This might be our strongest team across the company.”
Founded in 1985 by Gary Fairchild, the company originated in Green Bay after Fairchild purchased a struggling forklift dealership from its Michigan-based partners. Under his leadership, the company grew steadily, eventually expanding to include branches across Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota.
The company expanded to Stevens Point around 1997, initially located in a 10,000-square-foot facility on Heffron Court. The company outgrew the space and relocated in November 2021 to its current 25,000-square-foot site, formerly home to Martin Machining at 6800 Hillcrest Dr. in Stockton. The move allowed the company to expand its offerings and operate more safely, Fairchild said.
“We now have rental equipment, overhead cranes, and space to operate our aerial lift business in central Wisconsin,” he said.
Fairchild Equipment specializes in forklift trucks, aerial lifts, JCB construction equipment, railcar movers, yard spotters, warehouse design, and more. Roughly 85 percent of its technicians work in the field, diagnosing and repairing customer equipment on-site — a business model that sets the company apart, according to Gary Fairchild.
“Eighty percent of our forklift service calls are fixed at the customer’s site the same day,” he said. “It’s more like a mobile dealership.”
Fairchild said the company’s longevity and success are rooted in its culture — a mix of family values, accountability, and a “win at all costs” work ethic.
“If we mess up, we fix it. If we don’t fix it, fire us — we don’t deserve your business,” he said. “That culture has been there since 1985.”
Chad Fairchild said internal promotion and values-based hiring are central to maintaining the company’s identity as it grows.
“We want people who work hard but also go to their kids’ events. Family comes first,” he said. “We’ve got core values posted at all our facilities, and they’re not just words. They shape everything we do.”
The company employs about 360 people across its 11 locations. The Stockton branch, led by Sam Budridge, now has 25 technicians and eight office staff. Fairchild said internal promotions are encouraged, and the company partners with technical colleges and high schools to build its future workforce.
Safety Director Marty Schumacher was recognized at the celebration for helping drive the company’s strong safety culture, which has steadily improved since 2017.
A key indicator of that improvement is the company’s MOD rating — short for Experience Modification Rating — which insurers use to adjust workers’ compensation premiums based on a company’s past claims history. A rating of 1.0 is considered industry average. Fairchild said the company’s rating has dropped below that benchmark in recent years.
“If you’re above a 1.0, you may have trouble accessing certain job sites,” he said. “We’ve steadily improved our rating every year since 2017. That’s thanks to the team’s focus on safety, top to bottom.”
As the event wrapped, Gary Fairchild reflected on the company’s growth — and his pride in seeing his son take the helm.
“He wanted to be here, and he’s done a terrific job,” he said. “Despite how wonderful I think I am, Chad and the other managers are doing it even better.”