Arlington, VA – July 8, 2002. The National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with the National Equipment Register (NER) to help NUCA members combat the growing problem of heavy equipment theft.

The high value of, and demand for, heavy equipment as well as the frequent lack of vehicle and worksite security makes equipment an attractive target for thieves. The cost to owners and insurers is as much as $1 billion each year and as little as 10% of this equipment is ever recovered. The cost of replacing stolen equipment, short-term rentals, project overrun, and wasted labor costs, directly affect productivity and profit. If insured, the payment of deductibles, uninsured costs, and premium increases are damaging; and the cost of insurance is on the rise.

NER provides database services to coordinate the efforts of the insurance industry and law enforcement in the fight against heavy equipment theft. In 2002 NER launched a cost-effective method for owners to join the fight.

HELPtech^SM (Heavy Equipment Loss Prevention Technology) allows equipment owners, for a few dollars per item per year, to securely and confidentially register an item with NER online at www.NERusa.com. For larger fleets NER sets up a method to simply download and update data electronically. For every registered item the equipment owner will be sent a 4" by 5" decal that clearly states that the item is registered on a national database accessible to law enforcement and that purchasers of used equipment may check with NER prior to purchase. Owners can securely access and amend fleet details online to manage inventory.

NER will be able to help law enforcement identify the true owner of any registered equipment through its 24-hour hotline used by officers investigating suspicious equipment.

There are four clear benefits to be gained by registering equipment with NER. As soon as a theft is detected, NER can be notified and a full loss report will be added to the NER database of stolen equipment, ensuring the speed and accuracy of the loss report. Second, a theft may not be discovered for days, or even weeks, during which time law enforcement may have investigated the equipment with no success; NER will be able to identify the owner of registered equipment if found in suspicious circumstances – even before the theft has been discovered. Also, owners who mark registered equipment (and premises) with NER decals will deter thieves due to the increased likelihood of detection whilst moving, storing or selling the equipment. Even if the decal is removed, the item will still be registered – and the thief knows this! Finally, the increased chance of recovery and deterrence will improve loss experience that will help control the cost of insurance whether insured or self-insured.

NUCA CEO Bill Hillman noted, "the problem of theft for our members is particularly acute due to the difficulty of securing the type of worksite they usually use. A coordinated approach by underground utility contractors, the equipment industry, insurers, and law enforcement is long overdue. The new agreement between NUCA and NER will serve to provide our members with greater security for their heavy equipment at a discount unavailable through other associations representing the underground utility construction industry."

For more information about the service, contact NER at 212-297-1805 or visit www.NERusa.com for more information.