LoJack Corp. introduced its next generation Stolen Vehicle Recovery System for construction equipment and commercial vehicles at TheRental Show in New Orleans this week. The self-powered, radio frequency-based system is based on a proprietary power management protocol, which enables a battery life that can be warranted up to seven years, surpassing the 30-day battery life of some GPS solutions.
The system is entirely self-contained, without wires, and does not require ongoing charging to any power source. This not only streamlines the installation process, but facilitates installation on a wider range of equipment, especially those that do not have a power source such as electric forklifts, solar-powered assets and equipment that runs on alternative fuels. With a self-contained battery, the small unit can be hidden almost on a piece of equipment, making it more covert and thus more effective for tracking and recovering stolen construction equipment.
“We developed this new LoJack System in response to our customers, who have been asking for a recovery solution that will protect a broader array of equipment,” said Courtney DeMilio, senior director of national commercial sales for LoJack. “Our certified installers will be able to hide our new self-powered system in more places, which will make it that much more difficult for even the savviest professional thieves to detect. We are excited to be providing this self-powered platform to the commercial industry, which has proven to be highly effective in protecting cars, SUVs and light trucks. This customized, ruggedized system has passed the highest level of testing with flying colors, enabling us to do what we do best — protecting equipment, vehicles and businesses from the financial losses due to theft — only now we are doing it even better.”
Some manufacturers are now installing the system directly on their equipment and camouflaging it further to match the exact color of the machine.
The system utilizes a small wireless radio frequency transceiver. LoJack donates police tracking computers that are installed in police cars, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft used by participating law enforcement agencies. Once equipment is reported stolen to police, the product identification number is matched to the LoJack System’s registration number by state law enforcement computers. After the match, the LoJack system is activated automatically by police, which causes the transceiver in the equipment to emit a silent signal.
Since entering the construction market in 2000, the LoJack System has helped law enforcement recover more than 4,000 construction assets worth nearly $125 million.
