Hot Wired

September 15, 2004—Two issues ago, we reported the results of a survey conducted by St. Paul Insurance Group, which attributed a large portion of rented equipment accidents to unauthorized users of equipment. This is an issue that needs more discussion. In my experience, the two most common methods for getting unauthorized access to a piece of equipment is use of a standardized key and hot wiring.

 

Many OEMs produce standardized keys for every machine in their lineup. So as long as unauthorized users have a key in their possession, they have the ability to start any number of machines of the same make. The practice of making common starter keys evolved out of rental and large fleet owners' needs. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to keep track of a unique key for every machine? But the result is that there are thousands of keys out there that are interchangeable with thousands of machines.

 

A few months ago, a friend of mine turned me on to a set of keys up for sale on eBay®. The claim by the seller was that the 50 or so keys on the ring could start virtually every make and type of construction equipment in the field, from Cat dozers to Lull telehandlers.

 

While I find it highly irresponsible for eBay to allow this auction, the fact remains that the keys were available for anyone's bidding. You can also walk onto a jobsite at lunchtime and find a machine sitting idle with the key there for the taking. Or you can run down to your local NAPA store and buy a new key and switch for not much more than $25. If the key isn't common to the machine an authorized user wants, it's simple enough to put in a new switch. If you are a “service” thief, it's certainly a better investment than paying $300 a day for that weekend rental.

 

The second problem lies in the age-old practice of hot-wiring a machine. While hot-wiring is usually associated with auto theft, the practice is also common on construction equipment. I was recently told about an accident in Florida involving a hot-wired telescopic handler. Two teenagers figured out how to start the forklift without a key after hours on a job site. Their joy ride ended when they crashed the telehandler into a ditch.

 

In the effort to make construction equipment more operation and service friendly manufacturers have inadvertently made it easier for equipment to be misused. Fleet owners need quick access to service points which has driven designers to make the task as simple as possible. So simple, that I was recently able to access the backside of the start switch on a $200,000 piece of equipment with a quarter as my tool.

 

So, how can we better secure our equipment without losing the convenience of key commonality? How can we limit the ability of professional thieves to hot wire equipment? Beyond job site security, I have often thought that incorporating a simple electronic key pad into the system would help.

 

A unique four-character code could be programmed into each machine. If the code is forgotten or lost, a call to an authorized person could solve the problem without having the service technician run a new key out to the job site.

 

While more sophisticated thieves could defeat such a system; we're not talking about experienced and highly motivated car thieves. But we are talking about kids looking for some adventure or a contractor who is too cheap to rent or buy his own equipment—practices that end up costing equipment owners in the same way.

 

I would love to know what you think about this issue. You can contact me at gramsey@liftandaccess.com.