Addressing the general session of over 400 IAATI members from around the world the President of NER, David Shillingford, explained how poor vehicle and site security allow thieves in the US to steal an estimated $1 billion of equipment annually. Shillingford went on to explain how complex numbering systems and poor owner records mean that officers have such poor data on equipment thefts that it is difficult to investigate such crime and secure convictions. Little or no checks in the used equipment market also makes life easier for the thieves.

NER’s solution is a specialist database of stolen heavy equipment and equipment ownership to help officers identify the status and ownership of a piece of heavy equipment – a laborious task at present. NER will employ specialists to answer calls from officers, help them locate identification numbers and carry out database searches.

Although theft is a problem for equipment owners it is most often the insurer that foots the bill. It is through fees from insurers that a free service can be offered to law enforcement. Shillingford explained that insurers fees are structured so that insurers will gain more in the value of recoveries than they pay in fees. NER’s database will also be linked to ISO ClaimSearch^®, the insurance industry's all-claims database operated by Insurance Services Office, Inc., (ISO). ISO ClaimSearch will provide a means to integrate equipment loss reporting to NER with insurers' existing workflow processes to maximize the benefits of the NER service to insurers and information available to law enforcement.

Past President of IAATI and recent chairman of IAATI’s Heavy Equipment Committee, Gene Rutledge, spoke briefly before Shillingford and noted that such a service is needed and expressed confidence that NER will fill this role.