Tyler Junior College (TJC) and LTS Material Handling (LTS) are tackling one of the most pressing challenges in the material handling industry: workforce awareness and access. Last November, the partners launched a Forklift Operator Training Program, which quickly reached full enrollment and successfully connected graduates with immediate employment opportunities. Building on this momentum, the next milestone is the launch of a Forklift Technician Certification Program.
The importance of this initiative is reinforced by a Tyler-area survey indicating that 84% of employers require certified forklift operators. This underscores the critical need for talent pipelines and demonstrates the value of education-industry collaboration. The TJC–LTS partnership offers a replicable model for dealerships across North America—one that develops meaningful career pathways for students, supports community growth, and supplies dealers with skilled, job-ready technicians.
See this document, which provides a roadmap for building similar programs within your community. By fostering a culture of continuous learning, dealerships can move beyond simply filling positions to creating resilient organizations prepared to lift futures across the industry.
A copy of the roadmap can also be found by visiting the Learning Management System > Resources > Training Collateral.
