**                                                                                                                                                                         Exhibit 31.1**

**Certification**

 

I, Steven R. Elsesser, certify that:

 
| 1.     | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K, and all reports on Form 8-K containing distribution or servicing reports filed in respect of periods included in the year covered by this annual report, of Caterpillar FinancialAsset Trust 2002-A;                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|--------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |   |
| 2.     | Based on my knowledge, the information in these reports, taken as a whole, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of thecircumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading as of the last day of the period covered by this annual report;                                                                            |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |   |
| 3.     | Based on my knowledge, the distribution or servicing information required to be provided to the trustee by the servicer under the pooling and servicing, or similar, agreement, for inclusion in these reports is included inthese reports;                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |   |
| 4.     | I am responsible for reviewing the activities performed by the servicer under the pooling and servicing, or similar, agreement and based upon my knowledge and the annual compliance review required under that agreement, andexcept as disclosed in the reports, the servicer has fulfilled its obligations under that agreement; and                                                                                                    |
|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |   |
| 5.     | The reports disclose all significant deficiencies relating to the servicer’s compliance with the minimum servicing standards based upon the report provided by an independent public accountant, after conducting a reviewin compliance with the Uniform Single Attestation Program for Mortgage Bankers or similar procedure, as set forth in the pooling and servicing, or similar, agreement, that is included in these reports. |

 

 
|        |                |        |                                                           |
|--------|----------------|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|        |                |        | Caterpillar Financial Asset Trust 2002-A                  |
|        |                |        | By: Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (Servicer) |
|   |           |   |                                                      |
|   |           |   |                                                      |
|   |           | By:    | */s/ Steven R. Elsesser*                                  |
|   |           |   | Steven R. Elsesser                                        |
| Dated: | March 29, 2004 |   | Controller                                                |
|        |                |   |                                                      |