re: 2023 Recruiting

Well, that may because they are bad with money and not everyone wants a Mercedes, but you make good points about the rigors of these trades.

I helped my son's friend out of HS get an apprenticeship with my company, Cat Dealer, and he started at 19 and is now at 23 a certified field mechanic making six figures, and full benefits, and the apprentice program bought 8,000.00 of his initial tools and tool box. Had no debt because it was all paid for plus he was paid an hourly wage while training.

I see old timers all the time turning wrenches. Some still love it and others may not. However, he has been working on a degree and can transition into management should he want to. There is a huge shortage of diesel mechanics in the heavy equipment, Agriculture equipment industry.

He is building a nice 401K, and saving money for his first home that he will be buying this year with a sizable down payment. His hobby is motorcycles and he purchases classics or regular and refurbishes them and resells. Rides some and keeps them if they have opportunity to build value.

Lot's of opportunities in trades. You aren't wrong about the climbing into attics and crawl spaces, but some do it till retirement and have loved their career, and some do not, but still had a long career and built up a life and retirement.