--- title: Where did Caterpillar’s trademark yellow come from? description: Caterpillar Yellow is a thing. How did it become the iconic color of the heavy equipment and generator brand? image: https://blog.toromontcat.com/hubfs/Blog/Where%20did%20Caterpillar%E2%80%99s%20trademark%20yellow%20come%20from/Blog-img%20(1).png --- [![Logo_building_tomorrow-1](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo_building_tomorrow-1.png?width=200&height=51&name=Logo_building_tomorrow-1.png "Logo_building_tomorrow-1")](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en) - [EN](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en) - [FR](https://blog.toromontcat.com/fr) - [Toromont Cat website](https://www.toromontcat.com/) - - - # Where did Caterpillar’s trademark yellow come from? [By Toromont Cat](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/author/toromont-cat) January 25, 2022 [NEWS](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/topic/news), [HEAVY EQUIPMENT](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/topic/heavy-equipment), [TECHNOLOGY](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/topic/technology), [POWER](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/topic/power), [CATERPILLAR100](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/topic/caterpillar100), [TOROMONT HISTORY](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/topic/toromont-history) 1 minute read - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hubfs/Blog/Where%20did%20Caterpillar%E2%80%99s%20trademark%20yellow%20come%20from/Blog-img%20(1).png) # Holt Caterpillar's early 20th century agricultural heavy equipment was available in a variety of colours. As mechanics evolved, so did agricultural machines. The tractor industry underwent a period of rapid and significant innovation. This was the era of pioneers. ![photo caterpillar 3](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/Where%20did%20Caterpillar%E2%80%99s%20trademark%20yellow%20come%20from/photo%20caterpillar%203.png?width=450&height=253&name=photo%20caterpillar%203.png)Demonstration of a Holt Caterpillar agricultural tractor, at the start of the 20th century. Agricultural display models were often painted white, as this provided a nice contrast to the colour of the earth. But white machines attracted a lot of dirt, which could conceal components, preventing proper maintenance. As such, the colour white was reserved for promotional means.    ![Photo Caterpillar 2](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/Where%20did%20Caterpillar%E2%80%99s%20trademark%20yellow%20come%20from/Photo%20Caterpillar%202.png?width=450&height=313&name=Photo%20Caterpillar%202.png)Chicago, in the early 1920s: a 10-ton Holt-Caterpillar machine in front of what would later become Soldier Field. At that time, pale grey was the traditional colour of machines.   As Caterpillar specialized in construction machinery, the need for safety became a priority. Unlike large, sparsely populated agricultural fields, construction sites and roads were packed with employees. With so many people working on and around machinery, it became imperative to focus on equipment visibility.   ![Photo Caterpillar](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/Where%20did%20Caterpillar%E2%80%99s%20trademark%20yellow%20come%20from/Photo%20Caterpillar.png?width=450&height=237&name=Photo%20Caterpillar.png)Several colours, such as white and bright red, were considered, but it was the "highway yellow" colour that made the cut on December 7, 1931, under the initiative of Mr. Ollie Sleeter, who’d been in charge of painting and hand-lettering Caterpillar tractors since 1917.   The change in colour from the standard grey that was used on most machines was initially met with skepticism. Rumours even circulated that some dealers repainted their equipment grey for fear of not being able to sell it! But eventually, the yellow colour was adopted across the board and soon made its way to Caterpillar engines and generators.   Cat adopted its own “Caterpillar Yellow” in 1979. This yellow has been associated with the brand for over 40 years.   The success of Caterpillar Yellow is so great that many brands of tools and construction equipment, such as DeWalt, eventually adopted their own yellow colour. From construction helmets to measuring tools, including construction signs and the famous yellow safety vest, yellow is found everywhere and is synonymous with safety.   It is amazing to know that Ollie Sleeter's innovative colour idea defined an entire industry! Caterpillar’s focus on safety is definitely not new! One can even say it is a part of the brand’s DNA, since it lies at the very origin of its iconic colour. ![jaune-autoroute](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/Where%20did%20Caterpillar%E2%80%99s%20trademark%20yellow%20come%20from/jaune-autoroute.jpg?width=995&name=jaune-autoroute.jpg) To commemorate a special event or to respond to a customer request, Cat sometimes produces models in customized colours, such as displayed with this vibrant 938th unit manufactured of the Cat 938M loader. ![Cat 938M loader](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/Where%20did%20Caterpillar%E2%80%99s%20trademark%20yellow%20come%20from/CM20211130-fa7f2-82ac7.jpg?width=545&height=409&name=CM20211130-fa7f2-82ac7.jpg) *All photos are property of Caterpillar, all rights reserved, 2021.*   ## Curious about Caterpillar history?  [![Read more](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/8131032/0138042c-2796-414d-bd91-ac6297ad399f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/8131032/0138042c-2796-414d-bd91-ac6297ad399f)   ###### About Company ![](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hubfs/BG_landing.jpg) [Toromont Cat](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/author/toromont-cat) Toromont Cat is your Cat Dealer in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nunavut. We are dedicated to supplying and servicing new and used equipment, delivering a superior customer experience and exceptional product support to the markets we serve. ##### You might also like ![From First Time Cat Equipment Owner to Big Time Advocate](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hubfs/001%202000x1050%20B.jpg) [From First Time Cat Equipment Owner to Big Time Advocate](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/from-first-time-cat-equipment-owner-to-big-time-advocate) January 25, 2022 ![The Cat 305 Mini Excavator: Paul Hamel’s go-to machine for every job](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hubfs/Blog-banner.jpg) [The Cat 305 Mini Excavator: Paul Hamel’s go-to machine for every job](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/the-cat-305-mini-excavator-paul-hamel-go-to-machine-for-every-job) January 25, 2022 ![From Snow to Rocks: How the Cat 938 Delivers for Excavation Pierre Daoust](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hubfs/V1-0024_DSCF%5B8716-8717%5D00000000.jpg) [From Snow to Rocks: How the Cat 938 Delivers for Excavation Pierre Daoust](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/from-snow-to-rocks-how-the-cat-938-delivers) January 25, 2022 ### Subscribe to Our Blog We want to hear from you! 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Send your ideas, comments, and questions to **[blog@toromont.com](mailto:blog@toromont.com)** We look forward to hearing from you. - [Recent](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/where-did-caterpillars-trademark-yellow-come-from#tabs-0) - [Popular](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/where-did-caterpillars-trademark-yellow-come-from#tabs-1) ![A Partnership Highlighting Local Talent](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hubfs/Vall%C3%A9e%20-%204DA5E%20-%20BLOG.png) [A Partnership Highlighting Local Talent](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/a-partnership-highlighting-local-talent) ![From First Time Cat Equipment Owner to Big Time Advocate](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hubfs/001%202000x1050%20B.jpg) [From First Time Cat Equipment Owner to Big Time Advocate](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/from-first-time-cat-equipment-owner-to-big-time-advocate) ![Take Control of Rising Fuel Costs with VisionLink](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hubfs/VisionLink%20equipment%20overlay%20networked%202000x1050.jpg) [Take Control of Rising Fuel Costs with VisionLink](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/take-control-of-rising-fuel-costs-with-visionlink) ![Where did Caterpillar’s trademark yellow come from?](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hubfs/Blog/Where%20did%20Caterpillar%E2%80%99s%20trademark%20yellow%20come%20from/Blog-img%20(1).png) [Where did Caterpillar’s trademark yellow come from?](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/where-did-caterpillars-trademark-yellow-come-from) ![From Snow to Rocks: How the Cat 938 Delivers for Excavation Pierre Daoust](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hubfs/V1-0024_DSCF%5B8716-8717%5D00000000.jpg) [From Snow to Rocks: How the Cat 938 Delivers for Excavation Pierre Daoust](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/from-snow-to-rocks-how-the-cat-938-delivers) ![Interview With a Heavy Equipment Tech -  Part 1](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hubfs/20211028_154122_2000x1050.jpg) [Interview With a Heavy Equipment Tech -  Part 1](https://blog.toromontcat.com/en/interview-with-a-heavy-equipment-tech-part-1) Social Media Be part of our community, share pictures of your Cat machines in action and your stories, check out our contests and exclusive offers. | [![FB-color](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hubfs/Blog/Homepage/FB-color.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/mytoromontcat) | [![IG-color](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hubfs/Blog/Homepage/IG-color.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/toromontcat/) | [![LinkedIn-color](https://blog.toromontcat.com/hubfs/Blog/Homepage/LinkedIn-color.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/toromont-cat) | | --- | --- | --- | @ToromontCat ### Post By Topics - 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