In the railroad industry, reputation is earned in the field, not in the boardroom.
For King Aultman Group, that philosophy has been a driving force behind becoming one of North America's premier rail construction companies. Specializing in rail bridge construction, maintenance, heavy-haul transportation, trucking services, and civil engineering, the company serves every Class I railroad across North America while continuing to expand its footprint throughout the industry.
What makes their growth particularly noteworthy is how they've achieved it.
"We are proud to be one of the only companies that has funded this growth without the use of outside capital," says co-founder Wesley King.
Building a Rail Construction Company on Experience and Relationships
King Aultman Group was founded by Wesley King and Barry Aultman after years of working alongside North America's largest railroads.
King brings a civil engineering background and extensive railroad construction experience, while Aultman contributes decades of field expertise as an NCCCO-certified operator. Together, they created a company focused on delivering high-quality construction services while maintaining strong relationships throughout the rail industry.
Rather than building a leadership team with similar backgrounds, they intentionally created a culture where different perspectives strengthen decision-making.
"King Aultman is unique because of our diversity of thought in leadership," King explains. "No member of the group has similar backgrounds or experience."
That approach has become one of the company's biggest competitive advantages.
Why Field Leadership Matters in Railroad Construction
One of the defining characteristics of King Aultman Group is that leadership doesn't stay behind a desk.
The company's leaders regularly work alongside crews in the field, maintaining direct involvement in projects and operations.
"Each member of the leadership team actively works in the field when necessary," says King. "Our contributions to the project are never justified by solely working in an office atmosphere."
This hands-on approach creates stronger communication, greater accountability, and deeper respect between leadership and field personnel.
In an industry where safety, precision, and execution are critical, staying connected to the work itself helps ensure quality remains the top priority.
Growing More Than 30% Per Year Without Sacrificing Quality
Rapid growth can often create pressure to cut corners.
King Aultman has taken a different approach.
Since its founding, the company has achieved annual growth exceeding 30 percent while continuing to invest heavily in equipment, personnel, and operational capabilities.
"We are excited about our growth," King says. "Growth has been achieved each year in excess of 30%, consistent with a rate in which product quality never had to be sacrificed for greed or growth."
The company reinvests millions of dollars annually into maintaining and expanding its fleet, allowing it to scale responsibly while preserving the level of service customers expect.
That disciplined growth strategy has positioned King Aultman as a trusted partner for some of the largest rail organizations in North America.
Why Custom Hats Became Their Most Effective Marketing Tool
In the construction industry, hard hats aren't the only hats that matter.
Company hats often become symbols of experience, relationships, and pride earned over years in the field.
King Aultman recognized this early and chose to invest in premium custom leather patch hats that employees and customers would actually want to wear.
"In the construction industry collecting hats is a source of pride and a sign of experience," King explains.
Instead of handing out generic promotional products, the company wanted something memorable.
"We wanted to have a notable style and higher quality cap which would be appreciated and worn, not just stored on a shelf somewhere."
The result has exceeded expectations.
"Our customers and employees love them," says King. "We are constantly getting asked for them."
Rail customers frequently request additional hats for their crews, turning a simple piece of branded merchandise into a highly effective relationship-building tool.
The Hats Have Become the Brand
For many companies, hats support marketing efforts.
For King Aultman, they are the marketing effort.
"The hats are our brand," King says. "We don't utilize any other form of marketing that is seen more often or distributed more frequently to our customers than these hats."
The deeper fit, premium materials, and genuine leather patch help the company stand apart from competitors distributing standard promotional products.
That visibility continues long after a project is complete, keeping the King Aultman name in front of customers, crews, and decision-makers throughout the rail industry.
A Partnership Built on Service
When King Aultman first began searching for a custom hat supplier, they explored several options.
One company quickly separated itself from the competition.
"The responsiveness of the team is exceptional," says King. "Cori specifically has been phenomenal in communicating the designs and sales costs in a timely manner."
According to King, the customer experience stood out immediately.
"I reached out to several companies when we first started and Cori outshined their sales process in a big way."
That combination of responsiveness, quality, and consistency has helped create hats that customers actively request and employees proudly wear.
Advice for Entrepreneurs: Don't Quit
When asked what advice he would give someone starting a business, King's answer is straightforward.
"Hustle!"
He believes many businesses fail not because they lack potential, but because founders become overwhelmed by the challenges in front of them.
"When one door is closed, keep asking and solve each individual problem by itself instead of viewing the daunting and often intimidating overall task."
His final piece of advice may be the most important.
"Most businesses end because the founders quit, not because they failed."
Looking Ahead
As King Aultman Group continues to grow, the company remains focused on expanding its engineering and technical capabilities while maintaining the construction excellence that built its reputation.
For a company that has achieved remarkable growth without sacrificing quality, culture, or customer relationships, that commitment to staying grounded may be exactly what fuels the next chapter.
Learn more about King Aultman Group at www.kingaultman.com.
