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Richard E. Pierson Construction Company Inc.
Richard E. Pierson Construction Company Inc. reconstructs highways and bridges along the East Coast
Ever since he was a kid, Richard Pierson imagined himself building a career in the construction industry. He learned the ropes of the industry from his father and gained experience working his way up the ladder at a local contracting firm. In 1980, Pierson incorporated his own business, Richard E. Pierson Construction Company Inc.
“Like a lot of people from my generation, I got out of school and went to work,” stated Pierson. “I worked for a couple contractors and learned the business before I was ready to try something on my own. I bought my own backhoe in 1976 and continued working part time for the largest paving company in South Jersey before committing to my company full time in 1980.”
Based out of Pilesgrove, N.J., Richard E. Pierson Construction Company has grown considerably over the past four decades.
“We started out taking on private jobs for companies I had built relationships with across the industry,” recalled Pierson. “They preferred our work and forced me to grow the company bigger than I initially intended. We now have two divisions, Pierson Construction and Pierson Materials, that complete a combined $350 million annually.
“We prefer projects $50 million or bigger,” continued Pierson. “During peak construction season in the summer, we have upwards of 600 employees. The biggest key to our success is the quality of people who work here. We’re like a family company because we have a team that enjoys being here and is not afraid to do what’s necessary to get a project done the right way.”
The bigger the better
Today, Richard E. Pierson Construction Company primarily completes heavy civil roadwork jobs for states, counties and townships. Its portfolio includes extensive highway and bridgework projects throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.
Recently, the firm completed six miles of reconstruction along Interstate 476. The three-year project required two phases to rebuild four bridges and create the turnpike. Over the next five years, the firm will complete a $152 million project rebuilding 6.5 miles of Route 70 in South Jersey.
“We’re installing a new gas main down the center of the highway, adding new water mains and all new storm sewer lines,” said Pierson. “It’s a heavily trafficked route with business access points we have to keep open. Although it’s challenging, projects like these are our strengths.”
Richard E. Pierson Construction Company will also take on unique projects spanning larger bodies of water.
“The aging infrastructure along the East Coast means that we’re facing more reconstruction projects than new build jobs,” explained Pierson. “We tore down the old Goethals Bridge between New York and New Jersey once the new bridge was completed. More often, we will shut down half of a bridge to reconstruct one side at a time, which allows traffic to continue flowing. Almost everything we do is complex and requires extensive planning.”
To complete its bridge projects, the firm established a marine division. It recently began construction on a marina to keep equipment there.
“We’re transforming 15.5 acres of land along Oldmans Creek into a marina to stage our barges and cranes,” explained Pierson. “We’re putting in a bulkhead, installing tiebacks and grading the site. Once we reach final grade, we’ll pour the concrete and lay the asphalt.”
Komatsu delivers
With so many cogs moving on any given project, maximizing uptime is vital for Richard E. Pierson Construction Company. To find the right machines, the firm works closely with its local Komatsu Company Store and sales representative Barry Talley.
“Half of our excavators are Komatsus,” stated Pierson. “We have solid production with them because they’re dependable, fast and comfortable to operate. We have three PC1250s and many other excavators ranging from the PC800 through the PC390 and down to the smaller PC210.”
The firm also has an assortment of Komatsu wheel loaders, dozers and articulated trucks. Four of its machines utilize Komatsu’s intelligent Machine Control (iMC) technology, including two PC490LCi-11 excavators, a D51PXi-24 dozer and a D61PXi-24 dozer.
“We've found that the GPS technology on the integrated iMC system is accurate and dependable,” noted Pierson. “It helps our operators to stay on grade and work more efficiently. Not having to handle masts, wires or external hookups also makes maintenance simpler for us.”
Service and support from Komatsu Company Stores play an integral role in Pierson’s commitment to Komatsu machines.
“We prefer working with the Komatsu-owned stores because we’re dealing directly with Komatsu. The parts availability has been excellent, and their service center takes care of us when something happens,” stated Pierson. “They also have an excellent 5-year/10,000-hour warranty program that fully covers our machines. That significantly reduces our stress. All the way around we enjoy working directly with Komatsu.”
Pierson added, “Our sales rep, Barry, is incredibly knowledgeable about the machines. He does whatever he can do to service you and take care of you. He understands what’s important to us and makes it a priority.”
Future outlook
Pierson has no plans to fully retire from the company. He envisions helping the next generation run the business.
“I’ll stay involved until I pass away,” joked Pierson. “We’re training some of our younger employees to have a strong say in the direction of the company. There’s lots of demand for our services, and we’re set up well to continue growing into the future.” ■