Bill Graves, former two-term Kansas governor (1995-2003) and current president and CEO of American Trucking Associations, was a special guest at Peterson Manufacturing Company’s corporate campus in Grandview, Missouri.
Graves’ visit included a tour of Peterson’s 670,000-square-foot production facility as well as the other Peterson companies located on its Grandview campus. With companies that specialize in engineering, tooling and component parts, Peterson’s vertically integrated structure allows it to control the entire production process from design to delivery.
During his tour, Graves spoke to some of the issues affecting companies involved in transportation-related businesses.
“The trucking industry depends on suppliers like Peterson to provide cutting edge technology to keep our trucks running safely,” Graves said. “Even something as simple as having good lighting to keep our trucks visible to other motorists can be very important in ensuring the safety of all vehicles on the highway.”
Of vital interest to the transportation industry is the growing momentum behind repatriating American manufacturing jobs previously outsourced to other countries. Peterson is a strong believer in “Made in the USA”. The company, privately owned by Kansas City’s Armacost family since 1956, has employed thousands of area residents over the years.