Safe storage

Jobsite boxes, trailers and truck boxes can prevent would-be thieves from snatching your tools and supplies.

by Paul Markgraff

Right across the street from the RCA Dome in downtown Indianapolis, construction is underway on the Lucas Oil Stadium, future home to the world champion Indianapolis Colts NFL football team.

The $500 million project is also home to numerous contractors working hard to finish the job before the Colts begin their 2008 season. They are trying to prevent theft on the sprawling two-and-a-half-city-block jobsite, an issue that hits home for all contractors.

Jobsite theft currently tops $1 billion in the United States every year, according to 2005 reports from the Associated General Contractors and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Hagerman Construction, a contractor working on the Lucas Oil Stadium project, knows what it’s like to feel the effects of jobsite theft. But theirs is a success story.

One morning in December 2005, Hagerman project superintendent Mike Kesler entered his office trailer at the Lucas Oil Stadium jobsite and found his company’s Knaack jobsite box, which was bolted to the floor, bruised and battered. Thieves tried to pry open the lid on the box, but couldn’t get inside. Although the jobsite box was ruined, $10,000 worth of surveying equipment was still safely locked inside.

“It’s unfortunate that we have to protect our equipment like we do, but we have to on such a high-profile job,” says Kesler.

Tool storage suppliers have also noticed the trend and stepped up their efforts to protect their customers’ tools. From jobsite boxes to truck boxes and jobsite trailers, suppliers have added features and benefits to help contractors keep expensive tools and equipment out of thieves’ hands.

Thinking inside the box
Jobsite boxes, like the one by Hagerman construction, are one of the most common forms of semi-mobile tool storage on the jobsite.

The Knaack Model 42 jobsite box (shown above) uses several theft deterrents to keep tools and equipment safe. The Watchman IV Lock System – which Kesler believes was the main feature that prevented the thief from breaking into his box – features a deadbolt-style locking mechanism that uses a recessed lock compartment. This eliminates the chance thieves could easily open the box with bolt cutters.

A reinforced channel in the lid prevents thieves from popping the top of the box, and its heavy gauge steel body adds to the durability of the box.

“Other boxes have locks on hasps, like on any normal toolbox,” says Tom Schwalie, senior product manager for Knaack. “That allows you to cut the lock off. But the Watchman IV lock is all captive, so you can’t get to it.”

However, Knaack is not resting on its laurels. The company is in the middle of a major redesign, says Schwalie. It is being proactive about raising the bar on security, so contractors can expect news about more security features and better locking mechanisms on a new tool storage product from Knaack later this year.

“The new product will build on the locking mechanism. It will be bigger, better, faster and stronger. In our mind, it will be the most secure jobsite storage available,” predicts Schwalie.

Solving security with trailers
When jobsite boxes won’t fit the contractor’s needs because of size restrictions or mobility limitations, jobsite trailers can provide the right solution. The new Stahl SST Service Trailer is a commercial-grade trailer built using a combination of heavy-duty cargo trailer construction and Stahl’s lock-bolt body construction.

The SST trailer introduces side storage compartments with exterior access doors so contractors can position tools where they need them inside the trailer, then access the tools from outside. Fully adjustable, commercial-grade shelving and interior storage also provide greater storage efficiency.

“The problem with a cargo trailer is it’s a big open box. It’s like your garage,” says Todd Hughes, SST product manager for Stahl. “All of your stuff expands to fit the opening you’ve got and you end up climbing around the inside of the trailer to reach what you want. SST gives contractors the ability to keep smaller tools accessible from side compartments. You can find the right tools at the right time when you need them.”

The SST is no slouch when it comes to security, either. The trailer offers two-point latching, key-locking side doors and locking rear doors as standard features. Additional security features include bar locks for the side access and man entry doors, which are secured from the rear door.

“We also offer a power-door lock option just like your car,” says Hughes. “With this trailer, you can get two-system locking for all entry points.”

Hughes says the company is also researching new alarm and GPS technology that will further improve security.

Some of the newer technology makes GPS tracking affordable and would even alert a contractor’s cell phone if the trailer moves more than a certain distance without prior approval.

On-the-road security
Jobsite boxes and cargo and equipment trailers can provide ample space and security, but many workers don’t require so much space. They need simple storage solutions where they can store smaller equipment and tools and keep those items safe and secure.

To this end, Delta Consolidated Industries offers its Delta Pro Limited Edition truck boxes. The new lid aesthetically compliments the latest in truck body styling with its smooth, curved design. It also provides several layers of security for what’s inside.

The Gear-Lock dual rotary locking system uses a daisy-wheel ratchet system that secures the lid as soon as the self-aligning latch pins engage the lock. This allows the lid to always close on both sides even though something may be holding up one side of the lid. The structure on top of the Gear-Lock mechanism is also shaped like a funnel, which guides the locking pin into place even if the truck and truck box are not level. The rigid structural lid is reinforced by foam injection, creating a laminate between the body of the lid and its interior components and adding to the truck box’s security.

“If you are going to provide superior security, you have to design a security system that copes with the weight and load of the content, but also compensates for the problems presented to the lock system,” says Sam Samsel, director of product development for Delta. “We approached it through exhaustive testing research and development to create this high-security system."

This article was published in the May/June 2007  issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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