This is the story of Peterson Tractor Co., a company that was started in 1936 by founder and company namesake, Howard Peterson. In 1977, Howard sold the business to his son-in-law, Bill Doyle, who provided leadership and continued growth for the company until 1995 when Duane Doyle, grandson of the founder, was elected president. Duane Doyle Jr. officially signed on to Caterpillar’s Sales & Service Agreement as Peterson’s next dealer principal in 2020, starting the fourth generation of leadership.


 

The First Sixty Years

Read about Peterson's first 60 years (1936-96) in this interactive history book.

Interactive Book

Great for computers, laptops, and mobile devices


 

85 Years and Going Strong

Read about Peterson's next 25 years (1996-2021) in one of three formats.

Interactive Book

Great for computers, laptops, and mobile devices

Download PDF

Great for computers and laptops
 

Download eBook

Great for mobile devices and eReaders
 

2021

Peterson celebrates 85 years doing business as a Caterpillar dealership

2015

Peterson formed BuildingPoint Pacific, authorized distribution partner in California and Hawaii for the Trimble Buildings Portfolio

2013

Peterson established KKMI, a full-service marine dock in Richmond, California

2012

Three Peterson power technicians sent to Antarctica to service 3500 series generators

2011

Peterson celebrated its 75th anniversary 2011 – Peterson launched new company strategy focused on core values

2011

Peterson accepts territory formerly serviced by Bayshore International, becoming the authorized International Trucks dealer in northern California

2009

Peterson University opens as Caterpillar’s first Regional Electric Power Generation Training Center.

2009

First Cat tractor Howard Peterson sold–a Cat RD4–returns to Peterson, donated by the family of the original owner, Hazen Dennis Sr.

2009

Peterson acquired Spectra 3D and established SITECH Norcal/SITECH Oregon, authorized Trimble dealer throughout Peterson’s territory

2008

In 2008, the last Cat truck engine, a C15, rolled off the assembly line in Mossville, Illinois.

2008

Peterson Power receives Model Shop Award from California' s EPA Dept of Toxic Substance

2007

Peterson Power Systems receives Winner of the Year for WRAP Award

2006

Peterson celebrates its 70th year in business

2006

Caterpillar co-founder inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame

2005

Peterson's Fab Shop builds remote-control bomb scraper for unexploded mine remediation

2005

The Fantastic Four movie is released – Peterson Power builds air-conditioned suit for The Thing.

2005

The Cat Chopper debuts at ConExpo in Las Vegas (built by TV's Orange County Choppers)

2004

Peterson launches "Quest For Success" - a continuous improvement initiative using 6 Sigma 

2003

Peterson opens the Cat Emporium merchandise store in San Leandro

2003

Peterson expands territory into Southern Oregon - acquires territory from Pape Machinery with seven store locations

2003

Caterpillar introduces ACERT® becoming the first engine manufacturer to offer a complete line of clean EPA compliant diesel engines

2002

Peterson opens brand new facility in San Martin and closes old San Jose store

2001

Caterpillar is the first company to globally launch 6 Sigma and deliver first-year benefits in excess of implementation costs

2000

Caterpillar celebrates its 75th anniversary

1999

Caterpillar unveils new line of compact construction equipment - CCE - at CONEXPO

1998

World's largest off-highway truck, the 797, debuts at Cat Proving Grounds, ArizonaWorld's largest off-highway truck, the 797, debuts at Cat Proving Grounds, Arizona

1995

End of 6-year long Cat strike in Peoria

1995

Peterson Power enters Temperature Control market (air conditioning/chillers)

1995

Peterson's moves into third generation with Duane Doyle as new owner/CEO

1991

Peterson's new Santa Rosa store Grand Opening

1990

Peterson Power Systems assumes PSD territory for all current Peterson territory plus Holt-Tenco

1990

Recession hits Peterson Tractor

1989

Cat assumes the new "triangle" logo

1988

Peterson acquires Berglund Tractor territory (Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma, W.Solano, Napa Cos)

1987

Cat launches $1.8 billion plant modernization program to streamline mfg process

1986

Peterson celebrates its 50th year of doing business

1986

Caterpillar Tractor Co. changes name to Caterpillar Inc.

1986

Caterpillar enters a new market with introduction of its Cat 416 backhoe/loader

1985

Cat offers over 300 products, more than double the number in 1981

1983

Caterpillar Leasing Co. renamed Caterpillar Financial Services - expands equipment finance offerings to customers worldwide

1982

Peterson holds equipment auction to help defray recession costs

1982

Peterson acquires Zumwalt Tractor territory (Glenn Co.) - opens Willows store

1982

Warms Springs Dam finished after 4 years / $358 million - Peterson provides on-site support

1981

Worldwide recession costs Caterpillar equivalent of $1 million a day, forcing dramatic employment reductions

1981

Peterson acquires Matthews Machinery territory (Humboldt Co.) with store in Eureka

1979

Peterson builds giant building transporters for Sohio for Alaskan Pipeline

1978

Cat introduces the new high-drive D10

1977

Peterson moves into 2nd generation ownership with Bill Doyle as new owner/CEO

1977

Peterson opens Engine Division at new Power Center facility on Teagarden in San Leandro

1974

Peterson designs/builds giant tracks and propulsion systems for drill rigs for Alaskan pipeline

1974

Carol Burns becomes Peterson's first woman to join the union (Operating Engineers, Local 3)

1972

First hydraulic excavator – Cat 225 – rolls off assembly line in Aurora, Illinois

1971

Peterson bought Cat Lift Truck franchise for all existing territory

1968

Oroville Dam completed - Peterson provided on-site product support through duration

1965

Triple 657 scraper designed by Buster Peterson goes to San Luis Canal project for Peter Kiewit

1964

Peterson builds engine & component shop in San Leandro

1964

Peterson introduces its new Quad D9 design which Caterpillar will buy and standardize

1964

Peterson goes on-line with first computer - IBM 1440

1963

Caterpillar teams up with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd to become Shin-Caterpillar-Mitsubishi to become the No. 2 maker of construction and mining equipment in Japan

1962

Peterson acquires Ditz Bros Tractor territory (Santa Clara County) - opens San Jose store

1962

Cat introduces first hydraulic scraper - the CAT 631

1961

Peterson gets largest Cat equipment sale to-date, for any dealer worldwide with the Mangla Dam project in West Pakistan for Guy F. Atkinson, involving 300 machines

1959

Peterson acquires Pringle Tractor territory (Santa Cruz County) - opens Santa Cruz store

1958

Peterson sells first Demolition bucket for Cat 955 traxcavator to Bayshore Excavating

1958

Peterson begins territory expansion with acquisition of Sierra Tractor (Shasta, Trinity, Tehama, Butte counties) and opens Redding & Chico stores - Caterpillar approves of switch to better serve the contractors building the Trinity River Dam

1958

Peterson Tractor & Equipment Company changes name to Peterson Tractor Co.

1957

Peterson acquires Bay Area Caterpillar marine engine franchise formerly handled by TASCO, aka Thomas A. Short Co. (Oakland)

1956

Peterson's first international product support package to Morrison-Knudsen for the Helman River Dam in Afghanistan

1955

Peterson featured on TV show: Richfield Success Stories aired on KGO

1955

Ed Cryer becomes Peterson's first Parts & Service Sales Rep with dedicated truck

1954

Peterson's Twin D8s are patented

1953

Peterson ships the first SnoCAT D7 to Thule Air Force Base in Greenland for nation's Distant Early Warning System

1953

Caterpillar's engine sales group is replaced with separate sales & marketing division. Engine sales now account for approximately one-third of the company's total sales and revenues

1950

Caterpillar Tractor Co. Ltd., Great Britain is established to better serve customers worldwide

1948

Howard Peterson moves his business to new HQ facilities in San Leandro, CA over Labor Day weekend where they remain at present

1946

First self-propelled DW10 scraper introduced

1943

Buster Peterson comes to Peterson and starts designing customized tractor innovations

1942

Peterson moves headquarters across town to a new facility in Hayward at the corner of A and Soto streets that takes up an entire city block

1942

U.S. army uses Caterpillar track-type tractors, motor graders, generators sets and a special engine for the M4 tank in WWII

1941

Peterson hears the "news" about Pearl Harbor being attacked while hosting a duck hunt and customer dinner at a duck club in Benicia 

1940

Caterpillar's product line now includes motor graders, blade graders, elevating graders, terracers and electrical generating sets

1939

Golden Gate International Expo opens on Treasure Island celebrating the building of SF Bay Bride and Golden Gate Bridge - all were constructed with Cat equipment

1937

Peterson moves headquarters to brand new facility at Watkins St. in Hayward, CA

1937

Oliver DeSilva is Peterson's first customer on the account books

1936

Peterson's first advertisement comes out in Western Construction Magazine

1936

Howard Peterson founds Peterson Tractor & Equipment Company (acquired from Robinson Tractor) in the San Francisco Bay Area with stores in SF and Oakland

1931

Caterpillar's first Diesel Sixty Tractor rolls off the assembly line in East Peoria, Illinois

1929

Stock Market Crash - starts the Great Depression

1927

LeTourneau builds scrapers for Henry J. Kaiser's Cuban Hwy project     read story

1925

Holt Mfg Co. & CL Best Tractor merge to form Caterpillar Tractor Co.

1923

RG LeTourneau builds first self-propelled telescoping scraper

1918

World War I ends

1915

Holt's "Caterpillar" track-type tractors are used by the Allies in WWI

1908

Holt's first production steam-powered crawler - No. 122 is built

1906

Holt's first gas track-type tractor tests before crowd

1904

Holt's first steam track-type tractor is field-tested

1903

Holt's wheel-type steamer No. 77 is built

1892

Holt Manufacturing Co. incorporates in Stockton, California

1894

Best offers engines from 2hp to 200 hp for irrigation, dairies, and boats

1894

Best adapts his steam logger for use in the woods

1890

Best patents his steam harvester

1889

Daniel Best and Benjamin Holt each introduce their own steam traction engine