Hi bbforks,
you was reading in my mind.
The most important cause I left my job was about that you said, always there was an employer (politically reccommended) that "pass the buck" to me.
I tried in changing my job before, but, unluckily I'm very expert in lifttruck repairing so only lately I was been able doing that.
I ask to myself if a strong union could make the difference and force the equipment manufacturers by class-action against them. There is only a little problem, who could be the leader (of this supposed union) and where the base of this?
Generally lift-techs have no much money but, there are many,in my last micro-company we was 35 techs,and only in the city where I live there are 10 micro-companies.
A new discussion could be "How many techs are there in the world?".
Bye.

May need to form some time of union just to protect ourselves from liability. If tech A is expected to work on all types of equipment without technical support & does so & then someone gets hurt as a result, who's to blame? We as tech's have the least representation & therefore have the most exposure. If an employer can "pass the buck" to a tech- rest assure they will. A brotherhood could afford legal representation & force employers to either-A) stop tech's from working on equipment without technical support or-B) force equipment manufacturers to release technical information based on plublic safety. I do believe that this is an international challenge we all as tech's are faced with.

I am self-employed & always think in terms of liability- I'm interested in hearing others thoughts that aren't in my position.

The discussion was:" International Brotherhood of Lift Truck Technicians".
I think that:
International=Impossible.
Too many different languages and interpretations of them.
Rgds.

I feel for you scottyboy with all I have read on here about what is happening to the Barlo employees over there. We now officially belong to LiftOne, which if you ask me, has to be a good thing. many reasons for my feelings which are better left unsaid, but micro managing the Technicians or engineers spells trouble from the beginning. I have been on the road for the past 20 years, and have enjoyed most of them. I talk to all of them, those who don't want to talk, find me approaching them and making conversation.

meliftman. i am a fellow barlowolrd service enginer from the uk. i find it brilliant to chat to other engineers from linde toyota, briggs. just helps us all along when we have a job/truck weve never seen before. im fairly new to this but loving every minuite of being out on the road!

Well, actually,in retrospect, maybe a sort of labor union would be necessary.
If it happens an accident due to the lack of information who is to blame?
you, that you know that you do not know?
Your boss, that you has forced to do the work?
The manufacturer, that it do not provides informations at everyone?
The government,that it has not enacted laws bullets in this matter?
I don't believe that this is.. a job pretty much as any another job...
Best regards.

Interesting point Raytech- this situation has been brought up many times on this site. If it weren't for this site I would not have any access to any technical information-period. I am an independent & the dealers in my area view me as competition. They won't release any information & now they are starting to hold back on service manuals.

I'm not a fan of unions but I do think some sort of organization would be beneficial to protect your jobs. It's not fair that you have to put your job in jeapordy in order to do your job. How are you supposed to repair a problem if you aren't given the proper tools or information? Isn't that what your employer is supposed to supply for you?

Thank God I found this site- I enjoy helping others when I can & the wealth of information can't be matched. As stated earlier in this thread, I think this is the closest thing to a brotherhood we're going to get- for now.

Wow, what a joy to only have to work on one or two different brands of lift trucks. I have some of almost everything sold in the customers I service. For the most part, the techs for the other brands will help out. One or two might drown if they get in a rain storm, but they will find out the value of friendly conversation one day. Technology has made it a different world. It isn't wise to put to much information on here, it is very hard to hide from the printed word.

The Forklift repair trade has it`s benefits but can be difficult if you have no support. I`m at a dealer where servicing 2 or 3 brands is our main focus. We have factory support with all the latest manuals and service bulletins. But, times are tough now and our company is forced to take on more diverse contracts. Now, we are fixing brand `X` trucks with no help available......just like most of you out there operate now. We have discovered that forklift manufacturer`s can withhold factory manuals and specs. Access to the truck`s computers is also proprietary and requires you to pay another repair firm to load new software. I cant imagine working on different trucks each day with no manuals or support. As an Auto tech, i could access any car with one scan tool as all makes have the same OBD2 plug. You can get factory manuals online with all the latest service bulletins and recalls. Not so with forklifts, not even close. This job can frustrating or a rewarding career depending on WHERE you work and WHO manages the place. Pretty much like any other job.....
There is no brotherhood and no Union (thank God!) but we can get together on these forums and share info. Were not supposed to give information about our trucks to any other companies, but now that we fix their trucks and they fix ours, we, as techs, secretly exchange info and expertize to get the job done. By keeping friendly with the competition`s techs, our job is made easier and we look more professional to the customer. Of course, if management caught us were toast!
Thanks to our Aussie friends, this website forum is a great help and I enjoy helping people with technical questions. I know that years of working on the same model every day gives me knowledge that i can share with anyone else in the world that has no manuals or support to deal with customer`s truck.

Hi there,
I have worked like field technician with yale-linde-jlg-toyota dealers in Italy (Europe) until the CEO of the last dealer told me:" You hate this job!".He was reason, so I've changed my kind of job.I have a lot of friends of my old job and I help them if I can and I'm interested in this field like an hobby now,but,
at the end of the day,I think that if I'm searching brotherhood,probably there are two only reasons 1)My chief is an **** or 2)I don't like my job.
I've changed my chiefs until I understood that it was the second reason.
Bye.

Force a union on us and some of us will find another line of work. Been on that ship, got burrned, union rep wearing a brand new high dollar suit and driving a new cadillac, says, no money in the strike fund. No wonder, it's all in your pocket. Never again! That and the chief instigator of our strike took a vacation week the first week we went out. No more cheese eaters.

oh that would be just great....another nugget for the social program with forced monetary participation. where the **** are you guys going to work when you finally suceed in running everyone out of here?

If you want brotherhood there are groups like Lions, Elks, VFW, or Masons. Paying union dues to further political causes is not a brotherhood. I work in a non union shop and there is very much a sense of family and we are treated and compensated very well. As far as tool expenses, I have claimed tools on my taxes for the last 15 years. I would rather have the money in my pocket than have to pay union dues. My opinion only, if others want to unionize that is fine but don't force me to do it like other industries do.

Electricians and elevator tech`s are unionized. I remember trying to get auto techs together long ago. No union in that industry either. We are lower on the totum pole and cannot even claim any tools on our income tax...as the electricians and even musicians can! Without any union, there can be no brotherhood since we don`t pay dues and are not organized. This Forum is as close as it gets to a brotherhood.

What would be it's purpous? How would it help new tech's? What are your thoughts?