Dear Government Fleet Leaders,

Our fleets keep communities moving, emergency services responding, and public safety intact. Yet today, we face a challenge that seems to never go away: the lack of qualified technicians. 

But let’s call this what it really is – “not a technician shortage, a technician career crisis.” Credit to David Macholz for that quote, a brilliant response to Ford's Mike Rowe on the technician crisis root cause in Fleet Maintenance Magazine. Before we move on, I’d like to point this out, a lack of qualified techs implies that techs apply, but they are not qualified. On the other hand, it’s hard to call it a tech shortage if in fact NO ONE is applying.

Think of this problem like this: if your front tires keep wearing abnormally, you wouldn’t just keep replacing them without checking the steering or suspension components. That would be crazy, right? The same applies here. The shortage of technicians is the symptom, not the root cause. The real issue is how we’ve treated skilled trades for decades.

Far too often, we tell young people that success means a four-year degree, maybe a master’s, and a mountain of debt. We rarely tell them that becoming a technician, plumber, or electrician is a respected, viable career path. A profession! Ever since manufacturing left the U.S., blue-collar jobs have declined, and despite efforts to revive them, they’re not coming back in the same way.

But here’s the reality: when your car breaks down, or your plumbing fails, you can’t outsource that repair overseas. It needs a skilled human being - right here, right now.

This crisis won’t be solved overnight. Even with headlines like “Ford technicians can make $120K a year,” positions remain unfilled. Why? Because we haven’t fixed the perception problem. We need to start now, not later.

What can we do?

• Change the narrative: Promote skilled trades as respected professions with real career
  paths.

• Invest in workforce development: Apprenticeships, partnerships with technical schools,
  and mentorship programs.

• Offer competitive pay and benefits: Make public sector roles attractive compared to
  private industry.

• Advocate for policy changes: Support funding for technician education and incentives
  for trade careers.
  

Personally, I’ve committed to doing my part. Every time I meet a tech school student or educator, I ask:

“Are you learning about the industry’s career path opportunities or are you teaching your techs about the industry’s career path opportunities—not just how to turn a wrench?”

I then offer my time and network to help build a curriculum focused on career development.

This is a long game, but it's better to start now than to continue looking the other way. Let’s work together to address the root cause and secure the future of our fleets and the communities they serve.

This article was authored and edited according to Government Fleet editorial standards and style. Opinions expressed may not reflect those of GF.