Innovation Stories

Caterpillar Inc. — Crawler Tractor

Benjamin Holt

Caterpillar Inc. earned its reputation for making tough, durable, and reliable machines. Historians credit Benjamin Holt for inventing the first steam track-type “crawler” tractor in 1904, from which the first bulldozers were adapted. Holt’s company merged with the C.L. Best Tractor Co. to form Caterpillar Tractor Co. in 1925.

The name “caterpillar” was coined by a photographer working for Benjamin Holt who was taking photos of one of Holt's crawler tractors. Looking at the machine's upside-down image through his camera lens, he commented that the top of the track undulating over its carrier rollers looked like a caterpillar.