Not to mention the fact that the 38k forklift job will be paying maybe 40k in five years with a couple modest raises and cost of living increases.

Work at the regional for a couple years in the right seat and upgrade to the left, with a huge pay raise in two or three (assuming this isn't AE or Horizon). Now you're getting paid more than that job. Depending where you are you should be making $50k. Assume you do this for a couple more years, getting a raise every year and you make the jump to a major. Now you're making 6 figures. Does the forklift do that for you?