But recently, the manufacturer of one of those systems; i.e. MAGTEC Products, of Calgary, got a pretty hefty boost ahead of the rest.

MAGTEC, with its trademark M5K system, is one of only two companies named in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Best Practices Report on vehicle immobilization devices (VID).

The Washington, D.C-based FMCSA conducted tests of various immobilization technologies at the Michelin Test Track in Laurens, S.C., in February and the results just came in.

With this, the FMCSA has recommendations for trucking companies interesting in investing in this technology. (Click on the FMCSA link below to read the whole report.)

Meanwhile, the inclusion of MAGTEC in the studies had the expected reaction from the people who market it. "We were thrilled to have the opportunity to demonstrate how MAGTEC's technology can play an essential role in transportation security, " said Robert Morisset, MAGTEC President and Chief Executive Officer.

"The transportation industry as a whole, but especially the hazmat industry, need to understand how important it is to have vehicle immobilization technologies as part of their security solutions."

While the FMCSA is not recommending you purchase MAGTEC, the fact that it is one of the technologies used to set the standards implies that it is an industry leader.

Also, it reaps all the free publicity that comes with truck owners and operators and fleet managers reading the FMCSA report.

The M5K features keyless driver authentication and when interfaced with a communications provider, the system can be managed from a dispatch or monitoring centre and offers features such as remote driver code management, tamper notification to dispatch and MAGTEC's Acceleration Control SytemTM (ACS).

MAGTEC's ACS is unique in the market in that it enables dispatchers to remotely limit the acceleration capability of the vehicle.

At the heart of the M5K is the ability to remotely reduce a vehicle's speed in preset increments, so the vehicle can be brought to a safe and controlled stop. It's that last part -- the preset increments -- that radically differentiates M5K from its competitors.

Morisset added that MAGTEC is continually upgrading its technology in order to provide better security solutions, including better access to, and more reliable, vehicle information along with enhanced security features for both the truck and the driver.