MRO Technician Spotlight - Crown Equipment

MHMRO: How did you get into this field, and what do you like about it?
Thomas: I’ve been with Crown for four years and previously worked at a high-end automotive dealership. I was also going to a technical school, and one of the career services people contacted me about the opportunity to service lift trucks. I followed the lead, and once I met with the managers and people here it seemed like a good company. I haven’t been proven wrong yet.

It’s always been my hobby to work on cars, but when you do that all day at work it makes it hard to go home and work on your own car. With lift trucks, it’s still mechanical, and I still get to work with my hands, but I’m not burning myself out for my hobby. Cars and lift trucks are similar in some aspects, and polar opposites in others. Cars are pretty basic and straightforward, whereas an electric lift truck might have a lot more electronics. Even the way an internal combustion lift truck engine is designed is very different than the engines in cars.

The complexity of some lift truck models like turret trucks and the number of moving components is mind-boggling. But that’s what I enjoy, because whenever a new product comes along there are new challenges.

MHMRO: Can you share with us how you faced and solved a particular challenge?

Thomas: I was recently working closely with the engineers on the development of a new model. We had a specific issue with a hydraulic pump, and had gone through about 45 units to pull and replace the pumps. We eventually found the milling of the pumps was just a fraction of a degree off, so we worked with the supplier to make the adjustment. Something you don’t often find in automotive is the opportunity to meet with the folks who develop the equipment, watch the truck itself grow and evolve, and then see the places where a lot of your ideas are in the final product. That was one of the most exciting things with lift trucks. As an added bonus, all the time we spent troubleshooting and replacing the pumps helped us get the process from a full day to about three to four hours apiece.

MHMRO: What skills will help a lift truck technician succeed?

Thomas: Besides being able to turn wrenches, you need to be able to work with electrical systems so you can follow the communications between components. Some of the old-timers think it’s harder with technology like tablets and online modules, and they wish we could go back to the good old days. Then others say you don’t know how lucky you have it. We have so many more resources at our fingertips, we don’t have to hand write work orders anymore, and it all saves time and makes the job simpler.

There are also soft skills, and whether you’re a field technician or in the shop, you have to be able to communicate and get your point across layman’s terms. It’s important to make yourself understood when working with customers, but it’s also valuable when dealing with coworkers. They might not have the same understanding of the technology, and you need to be able to simplify so you can communicate and collaborate effectively.

MHMRO: What would you say to young people considering a career as a technician?

Thomas: If you’re going into the automotive field and have that kind of training, keep a broad spectrum of what you can do with your mechanical skills. The lift truck industry is a perfect example, because it’s growing and advancing all the time, but might not be the first thing a student thinks of. Be flexible in what you’re looking for in a job, since the automotive market is not for everyone. Whatever you work on, whether boats or lift trucks, remain diligent in your work and be proud of what you do and you’ll succeed.