NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19^th 2003. - NATIONAL EQUIPMENT REGISTER LAUNCHES HEAVY EQUIPMENT CLAIMS SUPPORT (HECS) FOR INSURERS Today the National Equipment Register (NER) launched Heavy Equipment Claims Support (HECS), a nationwide training program and information service to help loss adjusters deal with claims for off-road equipment.

Errors in the adjusting and reporting of farm and construction equipment claims are common but have the same recurring causes such as poor ownership documentation, non-standard numbering formats and confusion over where and how to record a loss. Basic knowledge in these areas will go a long way to helping non-specialist adjusters to discuss losses with policyholders and agents and be sure that the loss report is accurate. This knowledge may also help adjusters identify suspect claims.

The course has been developed by NER’s equipment specialists who work daily with adjusters to facilitate the correct reporting of losses and officers to identify suspicious equipment. Glen Sider, NER’s operations manager, noted that “it is has become clear that the same mistakes are repeated time and again and basic information about off-road equipment will stop many of these errors from occurring. HECS is a service that provides this information in a simple format”.

HECS is based on training material that describes and illustrates formats for Product Identification Numbers, common manufacturers and types of equipment most often stolen. The training also gives ISO ClaimSearch^® reporting advice for heavy equipment and codes that have been developed by ISO and NER for the most common makes and types of equipment. More specific training on loss reporting is carried out on a company-by-company basis by NER depending upon the exact method that is used to record equipment losses.

The course is backed up by a Helpline that gives adjusters direct access to NER’s equipment specialists.

The course and Helpline are available free of charge to NER member insurers – a full list of which is at http://www.NERusa.com/insurers.asp.