Bashing ether dealers or independents is -very- counterproductive, and only shows a shortsighted understanding of the world (that is sometimes shortened to the single word; "ignorance") and your own place in it, and I direct that as much at forkliftchick and bigdogs as I do at whomever is "bashing" the dealer's techs, too. I would hope you might consider the harm it does to your reputation as a "straight shooter".

I have fought my nature to "weigh in" to much of this discussion, but now that I am here, I would like to ask forkliftchick what would constitute "properly trained" that should be allowed passwords and software/hardware for some brand not the same as the logo on the truck. Should/would a Yale tech who was a master tech be allowed the passwords for a Hyster? why not if "properly trained" was the reasoning?

To John's remarks re; cell phone cables. The I.E.E.E. is currently working to form a consensus for a universal cell phone charging and information downloading connection, and just maybe the I.E.E.E. will be who gets around tuit and formalizes a P.I.T. connection, but I would expect the standard to look far more like a bluetooth wireless networking connection about the time obd4 hits for cars.

Bigdogs says "don't whine when the info isn't readily available to you"
I guess bigdogs has never tried to "stretch" his brain around something that he could not ask his daddy how it should be done? I find your remarks about "dinosaur" to be offensive and also shortsighted. Those "dinosaurs" are who provides that education [you are so proud of having] from a dealership.
No matter who you are, there will always be people that know more about somethings, and less about some things than yourself, and I am also willing to put my "savy" about things [computer and electronics] technical and things forklift related against your youthful exuberance anytime.

After over 35 years as a tech and still a tech*, (and I considered my self a tech -first- when I was in management too) I can say only a couple of things for sure, one is that NO ONE knows all there is to know about this industry or it's products, and if they think they do, then for sure they do NOT.
One other thing I can say is that no one is "all by themselves" or "self taught" or a "self made man". We all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.

* I consider "tech" to be a very honorable profession, in an industry that is not exactly known by it's customers to be all that honorable.

All that said, our own communications with each other over places like this forum gives all of us a better understanding of what the problems can be, and how to get them fixed properly and safely, (in my opinion) far more than if we are brand name dealership employees or not. Maybe those who work for dealerships and approve of the manufacturer's "close to the chest with their [information] cards" attitude should censor themselves from ever asking any technical questions (here or any where else in public).

Manufacturers reps (dealers) have one set of problems that act as blinders and independents have a different set of problems/blinders, and each has their place in the overall "free market", and a large number of really capable techs I have known over the years have worked on both sides of the street, as well as "in house" fleet maintenance, and at no point were they "better than everyone else" for some choice they had made.
I heard an old saying in this industry; be careful who you kick on the way up, you may have to kiss them on the way back down.