Meet Your New Continental Mixer Dealer!

Did you know that Peterson Trucks, Peterson's authorized International Truck dealership is also a newly-appointed Continental Mixer dealer for the Bay Area, Northern California, and Oregon?

We'd like to invite our Peterson Cat customers who operate mixers or vocational trucks on their jobsites to take a look at our newest product. Join us Thursday, January 24, 2013 at the Peterson showroom at 955 Marina Blvd. for lunch and an opportunity to meet our experts.

Download a flyer at: http://goo.gl/T3O8P

Cat Machines Featured on Discovery Channel's "Machines of Glory"

Caterpillar fans should check out the new series "Machines of Glory" on The Discovery Channel when it premiers on December 30th at 6pm PST. The show will feature over 30 Cat^® machines and trucks as skilled heavy equipment operators compete against each other in extreme challenges.

Check out the trailer at http://goo.gl/ck7up for a sneak peak!

New Cat Distribution Centers for CA and OR/WA Peterson Parts Customers

Cat will be opening new parts distribution centers to replace regional distribution centers in Hayward, CA and Spokane, WA. Read more by clicking the links below:
CA
OR/WA

Cat® to Open New California Parts Distribution Center

The week of October 22, 2012 Caterpillar will open their new Parts Distribution Center (DC) near Arvin, CA resulting in the closure of the current Hayward Parts Depot

 Why is Caterpillar closing the Hayward Parts Depot?

Caterpillar is spending billions of dollars on new plants and facilities across North America over the next few years. One example of Caterpillar’s commitment to support the West Coast market is to replace the 40-year-old Hayward Parts Depot (100,000 ft² warehouse) with the state-of-the-art California Distribution Center (400,000 ft² warehouse, plus 200,000 ft² outside storage) near Arvin, CA.

Where will my parts come from?

Peterson will continue to maintain our extensive inventory of Cat parts, just as we do today. In those instances where we source a part from Caterpillar, Hayward will continue to ship parts until its last day of outbound operations: Tuesday, October 30. Parts availability will decline at Hayward in October as the facility prepares for closure. Starting Wednesday, October 31, the California DC will be the primary facility for Cat-sourced parts. Orders not sourced to the California DC will continue to be supplied from other Cat parts facilities just as they do today.

Where is the new California DC?

The new distribution center is part of the Tejon Ranch Commerce Center development

in Central California’s Golden Empire (www.tejoncommerce.com). The development is located at the junction of Interstate 5 and Highway 99.

When will I receive my parts?

All parts ordered from Peterson before 6:00 p.m. that source from the California DC will be available for pick up in San Leandro the following morning at 7:00 a.m. Branch stores and parts drops will take an additional day.

I’m a TEPS dealer. How does this affect me?

Starting Wednesday, October 31, both your emergency and stock orders will source to the California DC. Stock orders placed before 12 p.m. will arrive in 1-2 days. Emergency orders placed before 6 p.m. will be available for pick up in San Leandro the following morning at 7:00 a.m.

Will this affect the Peterson parts drop system?

Peterson will continue to deliver parts to our drops Monday through Friday nights just as we do today.

Will I be charged a shipping fee for items backordered from the California DC?

Parts ordered as an emergency order may have an applicable fee; items placed on stock order will not.

Can we pick up our own parts at the Caterpillar DC?

Customer pick-ups are not allowed at the DC. Expedited/courier services can be arranged.

Download a printable version of this article at:

http://www.petersoncat.com/sites/default/files/docs/cat_distribut_center.pdf

Peterson Cat's Chico Shop is Now a Caterpillar-Certified 5-Star Contamination Control Facility

Recently, Peterson Cat’s Chico store became a Caterpillar-certified Five Star Contamination Control facility, indicating that the store is acting in accordance with Caterpillar’s meticulous contamination control procedures.

As many machine owners and operators know, contamination is responsible for the majority of hydraulic systems failures, and it can enter clean systems during maintenance. This is why Caterpillar places an emphasis on clean shops, and a dealership can only claim to be 5-Star certified after scoring more than 95% on a 16-section, 94-standard review of its facilities and procedures.

Milt Taylor, Chico Product Support Manager, explained how the Chico store was able to earn certification: “The process started for us in February,” Milt explained. “A Cat Technical Communicator visited our facility and checked our wash facility, fuel injection test bench, hydraulic cylinder and hose rebuild areas, and transmission bench and verified that we followed proper parts and fluid storage procedures. By the end of the visit, we had a list of areas for improvement, and we made it our mission to address them.”

So Milt and the team went to work to bring Chico up to Caterpillar’s strict standards, but it was not an easy—or a quick—process: “It was like eating an elephant,” Milt said. “We took small bites and kept at it. It was a lengthy, laborious process.” After approximately six months of work, Caterpillar’s Parts and Service Operations Rep surprised Milt and the team with an unannounced inspection of the facilities.

The Chico store passed with a score of 470 out of 492 possible points, or 95.5%. Their hard work was rewarded with certification!

According to Milt, the Chico team worked together to earn certification, and have done a

great job in making sure that the improvements they initiated remain in place: “Teamwork was the deciding factor in earning certification,” Milt said. “No one person could have brought this store into compliance with Cat’s requirements for a five-star facility. Our shop foremen took the lead in organizing our efforts, and every person at the store joined the fight. We made contamination control our priority and changed our way of thinking—following proper procedures is a better way to do business and we all recognize that. We don’t leave parts on the floor, we clean equipment when it comes in the shop, we battle dust and dirt on a daily basis… It’s something that we do to set ourselves above the competition and deliver value to our customers.”

According to Milt, customers at the Chico store have definitely noticed the difference: “Our customers noticed differences in the shop as soon as we started pursuing Five-Star Certification,” he said. “I’ve gotten several positive comments about the shop’s cleanliness. One customer even said, ‘I can’t believe how clean it is! You guys work here?’ It blows them away, and it represents the quality of our rebuilds and repairs.”

Peterson is looking for Technicians

Hey all you technicians out there, wouldn’t you rather be working on the biggest projects and most advanced equipment? Become a Peterson technician and launch your new career.

Currently, Peterson is actively looking for technicians throughout our area of service. With more than 20 positions available, the time is right to begin repairing and maintaining Cat heavy equipment with a Peterson dealership!

Learn more at http://petersoncat.com/employment.

Win a Free Lunch for a Peterson Customer!

Recently, Caterpillar challenged its customers to send in stories, pictures and videos emphasizing community involvement, and offering a lunch with Mike Rowe to the customer with the most popular entry.

Well, the entries are in, and Cat fans can now vote to determine the contest winner! Among the contestants is Peterson Cat customer Shane Brookins.

To cast your vote for Shane's entry and help his family win lunch with Mike Rowe, click here.

Meet the Cat CT660 in Longview, WA

Peterson will be displaying the new Cat CT660 vocational truck at its Longview, WA store on Wednesday, April 25. Join us for lunch and talk to our Cat Truck expert about what the CT660 can do for your worksite.

April 25, 11am-1pm.

1205 Baltimore Street

Longview, WA

Click here to download a printable flyer. 

Peterson's Dutch Auction Starts February 27, 2012!

Beginning on February 27, Peterson will be auctioning off over 50 pieces of heavy equipment. The selection will include an assortment of new and used heavy machinery, generators, air compressors, pumps and trucks from our various lines of equipment. Customers will have the opportunity to bid on available items between February 27 and March 23.

Click here to read more. 

February Seventh Named Peterson Cat Day in San Leandro

Third generation owner of Peterson,
Duane Doyle, Sr., with parents
Marion Jean and Bill Doyle (second
generation owner, retired).

Peterson People take note: February 7, 2012 was officially designated as "Peterson Cat Day" by the San Leandro City Council in honor of our company's 75 years in business and our ongoing contributions to the city’s economic development! Peterson CEO/Owner Duane Doyle, Sr. joined the council in a recent ceremony to official declare the date and to accept the council’s thanks on behalf of Peterson and the Doyle family.

Stephen H. Cassidy, Mayor of San Leandro, joined Duane at the meeting to read an official proclamation, in which he said: “This is a very happy day for us to recognize one of the outstanding companies in San Leandro. Peterson Cat has remained a valued and important member of San Leandro industrial community and provided skilled, well-paying jobs for our community as well as technical apprenticeship training programs.”

Mayor Cassidy further praised Peterson, and said: “Peterson Cat continues to forge innovations driving the industry, as well as being an innovator for heavy equipment used by our nation’s defense forces. [Peterson Cat has been] repeatedly recognized and awarded for environmental efforts and stewardship. I wish the company many years of continued success!”

After the Mayor’s speech, Duane thanked the council and introduced his parents, Marion Jean and Bill Doyle (second generation owner, retired), who were also honored attendees at the event. The Doyles were further acclaimed in an article describing the ceremony, “Employer Honored” by Tom Abate, which ran in the San Leandro Patch.

Carol Parker, reporter for the Patch, wrote an additional article, “Peterson Tractor Celebrates Its 75th Anniversary”, celebrating Peterson’s 75 years in the business.