The biggest obstacles to get lift truck techs that I have seen is pay and work environment. If a tech works for an auto dealer he is working in a clean comfortable well organized shop. They also have the potential on Florida's pay scale to make the better part of $70,000 a year where as a master grade tech that has to work in the field, in some of the worst environments, weather, disgruntled customers, etc. In Florida a master grade lift truck tech will make at best $55,000 a year.

The right person to be a lift truck tech are few and far between anymore. The work ethic, the desire, just isnt the same as it was 20 or 30 years ago. The guys that are master grade techs are getting to the age of getting out of the business and retiring or getting into an area of the business less abusive on the old body.

The industry as a whole needs to step up and decide to bring up wages and benefits. Make the job more appealing and really step up to the plate with good apprentice programs because vocational schools aren't getting the demand for classes on lift truck education.