Peterson Contractors

What Peterson Contractors does

Peterson Contractors Inc. (PCI) is a privately held geotechnical construction company founded in 1965 and headquartered in Reinbeck, Iowa. The company operates across six core service lines: Shoring & Bracing, Bridges, Ground Improvement, Deep Foundations, Earthwork, and Cofferdams. PCI serves government agencies (notably Iowa DOT), private developers, architects, engineers, and general contractors across more than 11 US states, functioning as both a prime contractor and specialty subcontractor. The company has completed over 15,000 projects since inception and maintains a fleet of 1,500+ pieces of heavy construction equipment including cranes, vertical mast pile drivers, excavators, and rollers/compactors.

PCI's core technical differentiator is its 30+ year strategic partnership with Geopier Foundation Company and Ground Improvement Engineering, providing exclusive access to proprietary Rammed Aggregate Pier (RAP) systems (GP3, Impact, Densipact, Rampact, X1) and Rigid Inclusion systems (Armorpact, GeoConcrete Column, Grouted Impact). The company has installed these ground improvement technologies on over 10,000 projects across the United States. PCI also offers Ductile Iron Piles through its partnership with DuroTerra, as well as driven piles, helical piles, and micropiles under its deep foundations practice. The company's technology stack includes GPS machine control systems and specialized geotechnical construction techniques such as secant pile walls and lateral bridge slide systems.

PCI generates revenue through project-based contracts awarded via competitive bidding on Iowa DOT lettings and direct negotiations with private developers. The company employs up to 550 tradespersons, 50+ foremen, and 25 Project Managers (13 of whom are Construction Engineers), operates six regional offices across Iowa, and maintains 1,000,000+ safe work hours per year with a safety modifier consistently below industry standard. The company is family-owned (Peterson family), with no external private equity or venture capital ownership identified.

Name

Peterson Contractors

Legal name

Peterson Contractors Inc.

Website

https://petersoncontractors.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Peterson Contractors Inc. is a privately held Iowa-based geotechnical construction company serving government agencies and private developers with ground improvement, deep foundations, bridges, shoring, earthwork, and cofferdams across 11+ US states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geotechnical Construction Services

NAICS

Site Preparation Contractors (23891), Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237990), Other Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors (238190)

SIC

Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works General Contracting (IMAFAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Construction Management (Agency/Owner’s Rep) (IMAFAAAC)

Keywords

• Geotechnical construction services
• Heavy highway construction
• Ground improvement systems
• Deep foundation installation
• Shoring and bracing

Headquarters

HQ city

Reinbeck

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Prime Contractor Services: General contracting services for geotechnical construction projects including bridges, shoring, deep foundations, earthwork, and cofferdams.
2. Subcontractor Services: Specialty subcontracting services for ground improvement, shoring, and deep foundation installations on larger construction projects.
3. Design-Build Ground Improvement: Partnered design-build solutions with Geopier and Ground Improvement Engineering for Rammed Aggregate Pier and rigid inclusion systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Peterson Contractors Inc. is a geotechnical construction company that provides heavy civil and ground improvement services including shoring and bracing, bridge construction, ground improvement (Rammed Aggregate Pier systems and rigid inclusions), deep foundations, earthwork, and cofferdams. The company operates as both prime contractor and subcontractor on public infrastructure projects and private commercial developments, executing work across the United States using a fleet of over 1,500 pieces of heavy construction equipment. PCI partners with Geopier Foundation Company and Ground Improvement Engineering to deliver design-build ground improvement solutions.

Product overview

Peterson Contractors Inc. (PCI) is a geotechnical construction company offering a unified portfolio of construction services and specialized ground improvement products. The core service offerings span six areas: Shoring & Bracing, Bridges, Ground Improvement, Deep Foundations, Earthwork, and Cofferdams. These services are delivered through specialized product lines including Geopier Rammed Aggregate Pier (RAP) systems (with variants GP3, Impact, Densipact, Rampact, and X1) and Geopier Rigid Inclusion systems (Armorpact, GeoConcrete Column, Grouted Impact). PCI also offers deep foundation solutions including Ductile Iron Piles, driven piles, helical piles, and micropiles. The company operates primarily as a heavy civil construction contractor rather than a software product company, with its 'products' being construction services and installation of licensed ground improvement technologies developed in partnership with Geopier and Ground Improvement Engineering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shoring & Bracing Temporary and permanent shoring solutions to prevent soil movement during below-grade construction, including sheet piles, soldier piles and lagging, and slope stabilization. Serves government agencies, developers, architects, and engineers requiring excavation support for deep construction projects.
• Bridges Heavy highway and railroad bridge construction services including new construction, demolition, replacement, and specialized techniques like lateral slide bridge installation. Serves public agencies (Iowa DOT) and private developers needing bridge infrastructure.
• Ground Improvement Ground improvement services including Rammed Aggregate Pier (RAP) systems and rigid inclusions for soil stabilization and settlement control beneath structures. Serves commercial, industrial, healthcare, retail, energy, and government projects requiring soil reinforcement under poor soil conditions.
• Deep Foundations Deep foundation pile systems including driven piles, Chance Anchor (Helical Pile) System, Ductile Iron Piles (DIPs), micropiles, and small-diameter drilled shafts. Serves construction projects requiring structural support through weak or compressible soils to competent bearing layers.
• Earthwork Full-service earthwork including demolition, excavation, grading, heavy hauling, and site preparation for commercial, highway, municipal, and multifamily construction projects. Serves general contractors, developers, and public agencies requiring site preparation work.
• Cofferdams Temporary cofferdam construction and installation for underwater foundation work, including circular cofferdams up to 140 ft in diameter and rectangular cofferdams up to 25 feet deep. Serves bridge and waterfront infrastructure projects requiring dewatered work environments.
• Geopier Rammed Aggregate Pier (RAP) Systems Ground improvement technology creating densified aggregate columns surrounded by stiffened matrix soil, available in five types: GP3, Impact, Densipact, Rampact, and X1 systems for reinforcement of poor soils. PCI has installed over 10,000 Geopier projects throughout the United States.
• Geopier Rigid Inclusion Systems Ground improvement elements that transfer loads through weak compressible soils into deeper competent bearing soils, available in three types: Armorpact, GeoConcrete Column (GCC), and Grouted Impact systems.
• Ductile Iron Piles (DIPs) Modular, fast, low-vibration driven pile solutions provided through partnership with DuroTerra, suitable for constrained sites with limited access and overhead clearance restrictions. Uses excavator-mounted percussion hammer (TRM piling system).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000,000 safe work hours per year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Geopier Foundation CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner30+ year strategic partnership for design-build ground improvement solutions. Geopier developed the first Rammed Aggregate Pier (RAP) system in 1989 and provides alternatives for massive over-excavation and deep foundations. PCI has installed over 10,000 Geopier projects throughout the US.
• Ground Improvement Engineering (GIE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMidwest leader in designing Geopier ground improvement with 25+ years of experience. GIE is the only company in the country devoted solely to designing ground improvement including Rammed Aggregate Pier and Rigid Inclusion systems. Partners with PCI on design-build projects.
• DuroTerracoreTechnology or IntegrationNorth American distributor of Ductile Iron Piles manufactured by Tiroler Rohre GmbH in Austria. Developed over 40 years ago, Ductile Iron Piles provide modular, fast, low vibration driven pile solutions for constrained sites.
• Associated General Contractors of IowaminorOthersIndustry trade association affiliation supporting heavy and highway construction industry in Iowa.
• Associated General Contractors of AmericaminorOthersNational industry trade association affiliation.
• Master Builders of IowaminorOthersIndustry trade association for building construction in Iowa.
• National Demolition AssociationminorOthersIndustry association for demolition contractors.
• International Association of Foundation DrillingminorOthersIndustry association for foundation drilling contractors.
• Iowa Motor Truck AssociationminorOthersState trucking industry association.
• National Railroad Construction Maintenance AssociationminorOthersRailroad construction and maintenance industry association.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nicholson Construction Company: Geotechnical specialty contractor offering micropiles, anchors, soil nails, and ground improvement. Competes with PCI on deep foundation and earth retention scopes for DOT, commercial, and industrial projects.
• Malcolm Drilling Company: Specialty foundation contractor focused on drilled shafts, secant pile walls, ground improvement, and shoring. Directly competes with PCI on complex urban foundation projects similar to the Stead Family Children's Hospital work.
• Helical Drilling: New England-based geotechnical contractor specializing in helical piles, ground anchors, and earth retention. Partial overlap with PCI's deep foundation and shoring service lines, particularly relevant given PCI's Chance Anchor/helical pile offering.
• Menard Group USA: One of the largest ground improvement contractors in North America and a fellow Geopier installer. Competes head-to-head with PCI on Rammed Aggregate Pier, Controlled Modulus Columns, and rigid inclusion projects for commercial, industrial, and infrastructure clients.
• Berkel & Company Contractors: Specialty geotechnical contractor focused on ground improvement, deep foundations, and earth retention. Directly competes with PCI on auger-cast piles, drilled shafts, and ground improvement across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.
• Schnabel Foundation Company: Specialty foundation contractor performing earth retention, underpinning, ground improvement, and slope stabilization. Competes with PCI on soldier pile and lagging, secant pile walls, and complex urban shoring projects such as the University of Iowa hospital work PCI has performed.
• Hayward Baker: Largest US ground improvement and geotechnical construction contractor (subsidiary of Keller Group). Directly competes with PCI on Rammed Aggregate Pier installations, deep foundations, shoring, and ground improvement across the US. Both firms install Geopier-licensed systems and serve the same general contractors, DOTs, and private developers.
• Case Foundation Company: Specialty deep foundation contractor serving the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Directly competes with PCI on driven piles, drilled shafts, auger-cast piles, and earth retention systems.

Emerging players

• Subsurface Constructors: Regional specialty geotechnical contractor in the upper Midwest offering deep foundations, ground improvement, and earth retention. Competes with PCI regionally on Iowa and adjacent state DOT work.

Broad incumbents

• Keller Group plc: Global geotechnical contractor and parent of Hayward Baker, the largest direct competitor to PCI. Represents the broad incumbent threat — Keller's size, balance sheet, and M&A capacity allow it to bid against PCI on the largest US ground improvement and foundation projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Peterson Contractors