Putco YellowJacket & Hornet VS Federal Signal Allegiant
When it comes to rooftop warning light bars, the market is dominated by several long-established players. While Putco is has over 55 years of expertise in the automotive industry, our focus on safety lighting began more recently, only within the past several years. Building on our expertise in OEM-grade LED manufacturing and vehicle integration, Putco brings a fresh perspective to this market with designs that are winning over professional upfitters, fleet managers, and work truck owners across the country.
One prominent example of an established player in this market is Federal Signal, a company over 100 years old and widely recognized as a leader in Police, Fire/EMs, and Work Truck markets.
We have great respect for their heritage. However, our solutions bring innovation to a market that has seen relatively little change in recent years. To highlight this, we want to directly compare our products and their unique features against an established industry benchmark.
So – below is a fair comparison of our products VS the Federal Signal Allegiant mini-light bar. To be as fair as possible we will use only data published by Federal Signal on their website and marketing materials. This article will compare the Putco YellowJacket (Our high-end solution), the Putco Hornet (Our standard warning light bar) and the 21″ Allegiant by Federal Signal (Their best-selling light bar).
Putco YellowJacket VS Putco Hornet VS Federal Signal Allegiant
| Putco YellowJacket | Putco Hornet | Federal Signal Allegiant | |
| Price | $389.99 | $181.99 | $750+ |
| Size Options (Length) | 12″ | 16″, 24″ (Additional full size options available) | 21″ (Additional full size options available) |
| Dimensions (LWH) | 12″ x 4″ x 1.3″ | (VARIOUS x 4.75″ x 1.2″) | 21″ x 11.2″ x 1.8″ |
| Lumen Output | 7,000 LM Amber, 9,500 LM White | Not Advertised | Not Advertised |
| Optics | Compound Projection Lens | Total Internal Reflection (TIR) | Reflection |
| Body Material | Aluminum | Polycarbonate | Aluminum |
| Ingress Protection (IP Rating) | IP69K (Highest Possible) | IP69K (Highest Possible) | IP65K |
| Flash Patterns | 33 Flash Patterns | 30 Flash Patterns | 28 Flash Patterns |
| Additional Functions | Flash, Synchronization | White Override, Synchronization | Dual Pattern, White Override |
| Lens | Polycarbonate | Polycarbonate | Polycarbonate |
| SAE Standards | Class 1 – J595, J845, Title 13 | Class 1 – J595, J845, Title 13 | Class 1 – J595, J845, Title 13 |
| Color Options | Amber, White, Combo | Amber, White, Green, Blue | Amber, Blue, Green, Red, White |
| Voltage | 12-56 VDC | 12-36 VDC | 12 VDC |
| Operating Current | 4.3 Amps | 4 Amps | 7 Amps |
| Operating Temperature | -40 to +185 Degrees F | -30 to +149 Degrees F | -40 to +149 Degrees F |
| Mounts | Model Specific Third Brake Light, Permanent Mount, Custom Headache Rack, Magnet | Model Specific Third Brake Light, Permanent Mount, Custom Headache Rack, Magnet | Permanent, Magnet |
| Warranty | 10 Years | 5 Years | 5 Years |
The Verdict
All three of these are professional-grade lighting solutions built to meet demanding specifications. Each has its place depending on the purpose of the consumer.
If your priority is a certified quality and dependable performance at a cost-effective price, the Hornet is an excellent choice. It is our best seller for a reason.
If you need additional functions, such as independent front/rear pattern control and multi-mode operation, the Allegiant can deliver those options.
However; if your focus is on premium quality, reliability, and uncompromising performance, the Putco YellowJacket stands clearly above the rest. It was built to be the best.
The remainder of this article will discuss some standout results of the above testing.
Housing Size
The YellowJacket was designed to have the brightest possible output with the smallest housing size. We accomplished this in several ways, more on this in the below section.
The Hornet is miniaturized by using several individual TIR modules within a polycarbonate housing and a unique lens type on each end of the product to ensure maximum visibility.
The Federal Signal Allegiant is a bit bulkier in its design coming in at 21″ long and 11″ wide.
Optics, Luminosity, and Body Material
The YellowJacket’s unique construct allows for high performance output while maintaining a small housing and leading 10-year warranty. This is a result of advanced engineering and premium materials.
At its core, the YellowJacket uses high-power LEDs driven hard to achieve an output of 7,000 Lumens (Amber) and 9,500 Lumens (White). This performance is made possible through Putco’s proprietary circuit board technology, which maximizes electrical efficiency, and our aluminum base that acts as a heat sink. Aluminum’s high thermal conductivity, combined with integrated cooling fins, rapidly dissipates heat to maintain optimal LED temperature and longevity.
To ensure this light output is utilized effectively, the YellowJacket features a Compound Projection Lens – a precision-molded optical polycarbonate lens with curvature that shapes the beam into a uniform +/- 4 candela distribution. This design provides a brilliant, even spread of light that maintains maximum visibility from any viewing angle, the ideal condition for a safety light bar.
The Hornet, on the other hand, utilizes Total Internal Reflection (TIR) optics that concentrate each individual LEDs output into a precisely directed beam delivering intense brightness from small output areas. The design ensures maximum visibility while reducing glare.
The Allegiant’s reflector system essentially redirects light emitted from rear-facing LEDs outward through an angled reflective surface. Each LED sits in its own mirrored cavity to project the light. This is a very common manufacturing method for products in this market. It is the traditional way to manufacture this product type. For the above contributions our lens and housing technology make to the overall features of our product, it is our opinion the YellowJacket wins in all three of these areas.
Ingress Protection (IP Rating)
Putco lighting products are generally tested to IP69K Standard, such is the case with the YellowJacket and Hornet. IP stands for “Ingress Protection” and is an ISO / IEC standard that defines a products resilience against dust and moisture ingress. The “6” means it is completely dust-tight, dust cannot enter the enclose under any condition. The “9K” means the product can withstand high-pressure and high temperature water tests. The below chart, with data from the International Electrotechnical Commission, explains each rating:
| First Numeral – Dust | Second Numeral – Water | |
| 0 | No Protection | No Protection |
| 1 | Protection against solid foreign objects of 50 MM and greater | Protected against vertically falling water drops. |
| 2 | Protection against solid foreign objects of 12.5 MM and greater | Protected against vertically falling water drops when enclosure tilted up to 15 degrees. |
| 3 | Protection against solid foreign objects of 2.5 MM and greater | Protected against spraying water. |
| 4 | Protection against solid foreign objects of 1 MM and greater | Protected against water splashed from all directions. |
| 5 | Dust-protected | Protected against water jets. |
| 6 | Dust-tight | Protected against powerful water jets. |
| 7 | Protected against the effects of temporary immersion in water. | |
| 8 | Protected against the effects of continuous immersion in water. | |
| 9 | Protected against high pressure and high temperature water jets from any direction. |
Flash Patterns
All three products offer a comparable number of flash patterns – see below for Putco’s YellowJacket and Hornet flash patterns:
YellowJacket Flash Patterns
Hornet Flash Patterns
Color Options
Between Putco’s two warning light bars – we offer coverage for: Amber, White, Blue, and Green. Federal Signal on the other hand offers the additional color of Red due to their long history in Police, Fire, and EMs.
Currently, the YellowJacket is available only in Amber and White, while the Hornet is available in all colors. The YellowJacket is still a new product, and Putco has plans to expand to Blue, Green, and beyond very soon!
Operating Voltage and Amperage
The YellowJacket’s 12-56V and Hornet’s 12-36V range means it can be used safely and reliably on a much wider range of vehicles and equipment. Many competitor bars are limited to 12-24V; the Allegiant only shows 12V in their marketing materials (although it may be 12-24V). This restricts their use in mixed or specialized fleets. This also means the YellowJacket and Hornet will maintain a more consistent light output as the vehicle experiences voltage fluctation.
The lower amperage on the YellowJacket and Hornet is also an effective feature of these products’ design. Amperage is low when compared to lumen output, especially for the YellowJacket, which means less strain on the vehicle’s electrical system. This is especially important for vehicles that run multiple accessories simultaneously. It also contributes to a longer component lifespan, which supports the product’s 10-year warranty.
Operating Temperature
Both the YellowJacket and Hornet are designed to operate in any weather condition. All three products including the Allegiant are rated for operation in extreme heat or cold. As for most features of the YellowJacket – we went the extra mile and tested beyond what is standard for professional grade safety lighting.
Mount and Accessories
Brackets are where Putco excels – we have been manufacturing pickup truck accessories for over 55 years and very few of those did not utilize Putco designed bracketry.
We offer a variety of different brackets for both the Hornet and YellowJacket with a permanent mount included in every box. Federal Signal does offer a some of the same standard mounting options.
However – where Putco excels is a full lineup of model-specific low-profile mounting rooftop mounting brackets for a wide variety of pickups. Each unit mounts behind the vehicle’s factory third brake light, or CHMSL, and we have leading coverage in third brake light mounting systems.
Federal Signal does offer a CHMSL mounting platform, although only for the current model F-150 and Super Duty. The Federal Signal version requires drilling to the bracket itself for attachment of the light bar. Putco brackets include precut holes to mount either the Hornet or YellowJacket light bars. Putco brackets also have a major benefit – utilizing precut tabs our bracket adheres to the top of the cab using 3M Automotive Tape. This prevents the bracket from shaking, rattling, or lifting from the top of the cab.
Other than the F-150 and Super Duty, Federal Signal does not seem to offer an additional model coverage. See the table below for Putco’s available models:
Ford Hornet / YellowJacket Rooftop Brackets
| Model | Year Range | Part Number |
| F-150 | 2015-2026 | 950001 |
| Super Duty (F-350, F-450, F-550) | 2017-2026 | 950001 |
| Maverick | 2022-2026 | 950009 |
| Ranger | 2019-2026 | 950009 |
Chevrolet & GMC Hornet / YellowJacket Rooftop Brackets
| Model | Year Range | Part Number |
| Silverado / Sierra 1500 | 2014-2018 | 950002 |
| Silverado / Sierra 2500 | 2015-2019 | 950002 |
| Silverado / Sierra 1500 (Work Truck Model ONLY – Old Style) | 2019-2026 | 950002 |
| Silverado / Sierra 1500 (Work Truck Model ONLY – Old Style) | 2020-2026 | 950002 |
| Silverado/Sierra 1500 (New Body – With Spoiler) | 2019-2026 | 950003 |
| Silverado/Sierra 2500 (New Body – With Spoiler) | 2020-2026 | 950003 |
| Colorado/Canyon | 2015-2026 | 950008 |
RAM Hornet / YellowJacket Rooftop Brackets
| Model | Year Range | Part Number |
| Ram 1500 | 2009-2018 | 950004 |
| Ram 2500 | 2009-2025 | 950004 |
| Ram 1500 *CLASSIC* | 2019-2024 | 950004 |
| Ram 1500 | 2019-2026 | 950005 |
Toyota Hornet / YellowJacket Rooftop Brackets
| Model | Year Range | Part Number |
| Tacoma | 2024-2026 | 950011 |
Putco also offers additional mounting brackets – such as for popular headache racks including our own BOSS Aluminum Headache Rack and Realtruck’s BackRack.
| Headache Rack | Part Number |
| Putco BOSS Rack | 950010 |
| Realtruck BackRack | 950007 |
Warranty and Customer Support
We build our safety lighting products to perform and to last. The YellowJacket’s 10-year warranty was no easy achievement. It is the result of advanced engineering, quality manufacturing, and dedicated commitment to customer support. The Hornet also carries a 5-year warranty, the standard for professional-grade equipment.
Putco operates from a U.S. manufacturing facility with an on-site customer service and technical support team available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. CT. Customers can reach us by phone, live chat on Putco.com, or email. Calls are answered by Putco staff in our building – no call centers or outsourcing – so you’re speaking directly with the people behind the product.
Customers can reach us in three ways:
Phone: Calls are always answered by real Putco staff inside our building – no call centers, outsourced agents, or robots between you and our people.
Live Chat: Available on Putco.com for quick, in-browser support.
Email: Send us a message anytime for detailed responses and documentation.
Every team member is factory-trained to provide installation guidance, troubleshooting assistance, and answers to general product questions. For more complex needs, our technicians can initiate live video support for real-time diagnostics and setup. The support team works closely with Putco engineering, enabling quick escalation and resolution of uncommon or highly technical issues.
Choosing Putco means you’re backed by responsive, knowledgeable support from the same team that designs and builds your product.
At Putco, we stand behind every product we make.