By using an electronic database consisting of previously tested pile data and ten completed full-scale pile tests in Iowa, USA, load and resistance factor design (LRFD) resistance factors considering various construction control methods and set-ups were developed. The focus of this paper is on technology transfer from research to practice as the resistance factors derived at the end of the research required modifications. In a collaboration between a state agency, a private company and a university, this effort facilitated the development of a pragmatic LRFD design guide considering the pile set-up phenomenon that is suitable for use by design engineers. A summary of the joint effort and details of the end product as a lesson for other transportation agencies and similar future endeavours is presented in this paper, which highlights the steps beyond research needed to make the research outcomes valuable for practical use in design and construction while promoting the use of the LRFD principle for pile design.