Tool king most stuff will not require software unless customizing truck to a specific customer. Accurate manuals will get you loads farther than software. Now as far as paying techs to keep them from jumping ship, why in this world would a person pay ant technician unless a known quality anywhere near what he pays his current employees? Knowledge is a powerful thing but will be in short supply five years down the road. What is current today will be old school tomorrow. Take care of the crew you have if they are worth their salt. I can not get customer X you claim without this tech. In five years he will know no more than current staff. It is not worth burning up the people you have today with starting a technician in at more than they are worth.