Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/212850
out the other side without some painful downsizing. And some of the change was the result of capitalizing quickly on opportunity. The North Dakota oil and gas boom has effects felt as far away as northern Wisconsin, where A1 crews are helping haul frac sand from mining operations to rails, where it's shipped to the oilfields. The newfound business keeps as much as a quarter of the A1 truck fleet busy on a given day — including a new Peterbilt Model 567 that Pecha has dedicated to the task. But whatever the change, Pecha has always had a partner in Peterbilt to help him and his companies adjust to the new world — and thrive in it. "We've always had that comfort level with the Peterbilt equipment, their reps and all their people, that they would not only provide us with solutions, but do it with a level of class that our employees and customers would appreciate," says Pecha, now the president of the firm. "And the Model 567 is a great example of the innovation that we've come to expect from them as well. They've helped us grow and adapt in the past, and I expect them to do so in the future as we explore and develop additional growth opportunities." Terry Pecha expects the new Peterbilt Model 567 to be a key performer in the A1 workforce. "The tightness of the cab, the durability — you really see the difference with Peterbilt." Early adaptations Pecha joined what was then his father's firm in 1982, when the company's only focus was excavation for local sewer and water projects. But by the early '90s he recognized the potential for A1 Express, the for-hire low-boy carrier that would also haul the excavation division's large equipment to job sites. So Pecha made his first new Peterbilt purchase, a Model 377 with a heavy-duty spec. "We saw a growth opportunity, and it grew," says Pecha. "It also helped us expand the radius of our operations. Back then, we only worked in a 100-mile radius, but today we operate in a 200-mile radius." The companies enjoyed steady growth until 2000 and "really grew" in the next five years, according to Pecha. By 2005 they had 80 units working on the excavation side, with another 10 tractors working for A1 Express. But when the construction sector slowed, so did A1 operations. "I just didn't see it ratcheting down that much," he says. "That was tough." Fortunately for Pecha, his Peterbilt equipment retained its value. And sales of his used equipment over the course of the next several years provided him with sometimes much-needed cash flow. "We've had some competitor products in here, but we really noticed the difference then in resale. The Peterbilts always brought more in return. Everyone in the industry knows that our equipment is nice, and it lasts. Some of those other products just couldn't last in our applications." Continued on page 18