Our History in North America

January 12, 2022

Our customers worldwide use Cat® products to do amazing things. From building highways to digging canals – here are a few of the notable projects made possible by our equipment throughout North America.

Infrastructure Firsts

San Francisco's famed cable car system started in 1873. Upgrades were needed by 1905, and a Holt steam tractor helped lay new lines and cable to the city's system.

Firsts in Mexico

In 1909, Benjamin Holt sold his first tractor in Mexico to the Huastec Petroleum Company for $4,000 (or $120,000 in today's dollars).

In 1923, Caterpillar's other co-founder, CL Best, sold his first machine in Mexico to a customer in the cotton-growing districts of Coahuila.

Panama Canal

The Panama Canal changed the world forever when it opened in 1914. This critical conduit for maritime trade runs approximately 51 miles (82 km) through Panama, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Over the canal's 100+ year history, Caterpillar has helped build, expand and improve this engineering marvel.

Highways, Highways, and More Highways

North American highway construction boomed in the 1950s. In 1956, contractors used Cat equipment to build the U.S. Interstate Highway System -- the most extensive public works project in the history of the world. This 42,800-mile project cost approximately $130 billion and returned six times the initial investment in economic productivity.

Paving the Way

In 1958, Cat machines were also at work in Guatemala. Our machines helped construct the Pacific Highway across several Central American countries.

Canadian Oil Sands

The first major commercial oil production from the Athabasca Oil Sands began in 1967 in Alberta, Canada. More than 150 Cat machines built roads, prepared processing sites, removed overburden, and laid two pipelines that total more than 430 miles.

By 2005, about 500 pieces of Caterpillar equipment belonged to 20 different companies working in the oil sands. Today, the area is home to the largest fleet of 797 trucks operating globally.

Building a Better World

When customers choose our products, services and solutions today, they gain nearly 100 years of experience and expertise. Over the last century, we’ve grown with our customers; we’ve changed together as the world has changed. And we’re committed to helping our customers build a better, more sustainable world.