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The talent crisis in heavy equipment has reached a critical point. In this eye-opening conversation, recruiting veteran Jay Lucas reveals why technicians remain the industry's Achilles heel and how leadership failures are exacerbating the problem.

Drawing from 30 years of experience and thousands of candidate interviews, Lucas offers a rare glimpse into why people leave equipment dealerships and what separates thriving organizations from struggling ones. His unique position as both industry insider and talent specialist allows him to identify blind spots that most executives miss.

"AI will never turn a wrench," Lucas asserts, highlighting that while artificial intelligence threatens some white-collar positions, the demand for skilled technicians continues to outstrip supply. Yet dealerships continue operating as they did decades ago – forcing technicians to waste valuable time standing at parts counters rather than leveraging technology to order parts from their service bays.

The conversation shifts to leadership challenges, revealing how many executives reached their positions through technical prowess or sales success rather than management ability. Lucas makes a compelling case for outsourcing non-core functions like recruitment and HR administration while focusing internal resources on strategic talent management that aligns with business objectives.

Perhaps most provocatively, Lucas and host Rod Sutton discuss why employee engagement surveys often backfire when leadership fails to act on feedback, creating cynicism rather than improvement. They explore the parallels between Amazon's disruption of book retail and the opportunities for similar transformation in equipment distribution.

Whether you're a dealer principal, department manager, or aspiring leader in the equipment industry, this conversation provides actionable insights on balancing tactical operations with strategic thinking about your most valuable asset – your people.

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We provide comprehensive online learning programs for employees starting with an individualized skills assessment to a personalized employee development program designed for their skill level.