What Does Watco Companies LLC Do?

Total employees2270
HeadquartersPittsburg
Founded1983

Watco is a single-source transportation and supply chain services company, providing transportation, material handling and warehousing, logistics, railcar repair, and design and development for customers throughout North America and Australia. Watco is one of the largest short line railroad operators in the U.S. and Canada, offering a diverse portfolio of services designed to improve supply chain efficiency and reliability for its customers.

Where Is Watco Companies LLC's Headquarters?

Watco Companies LLC officeWatco Companies LLC officeWatco Companies LLC officeWatco Companies LLC office
*Images sourced via web search. Rights belong to original owners

HQ Function

Serves as the central hub for corporate administration, strategic planning, financial management, and operational oversight for Watco's extensive network of railroads, terminals, and service centers.

Notable Features:

The headquarters is housed in a redeveloped historic downtown building (formerly a Commerce Bank), featuring modern office amenities. The redevelopment contributed to the revitalization of downtown Pittsburg.

Work Culture:

Watco's work culture is guided by the 'Watco Way' values: Safety First, Customer Focus, Value Creation, People, and Continuous Improvement. It fosters a collaborative environment focused on operational excellence, safety, and empowering team members.

HQ Significance:

The Pittsburg headquarters is strategically important as the nerve center for managing a vast and complex North American and Australian transportation and logistics network, driving company-wide strategy and customer service initiatives.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters reflects Watco's commitment to community investment (through downtown revitalization), operational efficiency by centralizing key functions, and a focus on long-term growth.

Location:

Watco primarily operates across North America (United States, Canada, and Mexico) and also has significant operations in Australia. Its global functions include rail transportation, terminal and port services, supply chain logistics, mechanical services for railcars, and design-build services for rail infrastructure.

Street Address:

315 W 3rd St

City:

Pittsburg

State/Province:

Kansas

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Watco Companies LLC Operate Around the World?

Houston, Texas, USA

Address: Various locations including Greens Port Industrial Park (e.g., 1421 E. Barbours Cut Blvd, La Porte, TX 77571 for Greens Bayou Terminal)

Serves as a critical gateway for import/export activities and provides comprehensive logistics solutions for industries concentrated in the Texas Gulf Coast.

St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Address: Various rail and terminal locations in and around the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Supports diverse industries including manufacturing, agriculture, and bulk commodities by providing efficient rail and terminal services in a key Midwestern transportation corridor.

Western Australia, Australia

Address: Various locations supporting rail networks across Western Australia.

Plays a vital role in Australia's agricultural supply chain, ensuring efficient transportation of bulk goods from production areas to domestic and international markets.

Buying Intent Signals for Watco Companies LLC

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Watco Companies LLC? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Watco Companies LLC' leadership includes:

Rick Baden - Chief Executive Officer
Dan Smith - President
Will Patterson - Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Nick Coomes - Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Stefan Loeb - Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer
Rachael Peterson - Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer
Ed Mears - Executive Vice President & Chief Safety and Compliance Officer

Who's Investing in Watco Companies LLC?

Watco Companies LLC has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (Majority Investor)
Watco Team Members (via Employee Stock Ownership Plan - ESOP participation historically)

What Leadership Changes Has Watco Companies LLC Seen Recently?

Hire2
Exits0

In the past 12 months, Watco has strengthened its executive team through key internal promotions, notably appointing a new COO and CFO. No major external executive departures have been publicly announced.

New Appointments:

Will Patterson, Will Patterson was promoted to EVP & Chief Operating Officer.
Nick Coomes, Nick Coomes was promoted to EVP & Chief Financial Officer.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byWatco Companies LLC?

Discover the tools Watco Companies LLC uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Watco Companies LLC Email Formats and Examples

Watco Companies commonly uses a few standard email formats. The most prevalent format is typically the first initial followed by the last name.

[first_initial][last]@watco.com

Format

jsmith@watco.com

Example

80%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Watco Companies LLC?

Railway Age • 2024-05-15

Watco Expands Mechanical Services With New Mexico Rail Runner Express Contract

Watco's mechanical services division secured a contract with Rio Metro Regional Transit District to provide maintenance services for the New Mexico Rail Runner Express commuter rail fleet, expanding its passenger rail support....more

Watco News Release • 2024-03-20

Watco Completes Acquisition of Quality Paving and Quality Railroad Construction (PCD Services Inc.)

Watco announced the acquisition of PCD Services Inc., operating as Quality Paving and Quality Railroad Construction, enhancing its capabilities in track construction, repair, and maintenance, as well as asphalt paving and repair....more

Watco News Release • 2023-07-12

Watco Names New Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Watco announced the promotion of Will Patterson to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and Nick Coomes to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, both effective immediately....more

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