I think another reason is that the material handling industry does not have any tech schools dedicated to the industry. If you want to be an auto mechanic, there are auto mechanic programs offered in every community college and there are plenty of auto mechanic tech schools offered.

I believe if there were programs in our local community colleges or tech schools that taught this industry there would be as much intrest in this field as with the auto mechanics.
I know a lot of kids and some adults who ask me where i went to school to be a forklift mechanic and i tell them that i was in the Army for 12 years working on Tanks and heavy equipment and when i got out i was hired in a forklift company where i learned the trade and was sent to schools through the dealerships.

Unfortunately the dealerships that i know do not want to hire young people that have no experience or mechanical background, so thats why we need programs in our local colleges that will promote and teach the material handling industry.

I hope i did not repeat myself to many times, thanks for listening.