Image ViewingAbout Us
A History of Topnotch Service
The Great Depression in the United States was a very unlikely time in our nation's history to start a business. But, in 1931, an entrepreneur named W.W. Estes bought one used Chevrolet truck and established a small, local trucking business hauling farm produce and supplies in Southwest Virginia.
With no driver's seat or windshield glass, W.W. ran his first load sitting behind the steering wheel on an upturned crate and looking through a discarded window.
From that tenuous beginning, Estes Express Lines grew out of the ashes of the Depression into a major motor freight carrier that even now bears W.W.'s name.
The Estes family still owns and operates the company. But the intervening 77 years have brought dramatic transformation. Estes Express Lines has become one of the fastest growing multiregional, less-than-truckload and truckload transportation systems in the country.
This transformation didn't happen by chance. W.W. Estes was resourceful and determined, and he was also a stickler for superior customer service. Much of the company's early success was due to his ability to see the potential for trucking in the ever-changing economy of our nation.
By the time of his death in 1971, W.W. had over 650 employees who ran a system of terminals in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina that produced about $10 million in annual revenue.
His son, Robey W. Estes, Sr., carried on his legacy, and the company continued to grow and prosper. He further extended the company's reach and enhanced its safety record, customer service and financial stability.
When Robey Sr. turned over the presidency to his son in 1990, he had tripled the number of Estes employees and increased the company's revenue tenfold.
Today under the strong leadership of Robey W. Estes, Jr. (Rob), we continue to pursue a course of fiscal responsibility, steady growth and an unwavering commitment to superior customer service. Our most recent growth spurt came with the March 2008 addition of 13 terminals, which enabled us to add direct coverage to the Upper Midwest (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North and South Dakota and Wisconsin). This newest territory allows us to provide customers with direct service to all 50 states, all under one big Estes umbrella.
From that tenuous beginning, Estes Express Lines grew out of the ashes of the Depression into a major motor freight carrier that even now bears W.W.'s name.
The Estes family still owns and operates the company. But the intervening 77 years have brought dramatic transformation. Estes Express Lines has become one of the fastest growing multiregional, less-than-truckload and truckload transportation systems in the country.
This transformation didn't happen by chance. W.W. Estes was resourceful and determined, and he was also a stickler for superior customer service. Much of the company's early success was due to his ability to see the potential for trucking in the ever-changing economy of our nation.
By the time of his death in 1971, W.W. had over 650 employees who ran a system of terminals in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina that produced about $10 million in annual revenue.
His son, Robey W. Estes, Sr., carried on his legacy, and the company continued to grow and prosper. He further extended the company's reach and enhanced its safety record, customer service and financial stability.
When Robey Sr. turned over the presidency to his son in 1990, he had tripled the number of Estes employees and increased the company's revenue tenfold.
Today under the strong leadership of Robey W. Estes, Jr. (Rob), we continue to pursue a course of fiscal responsibility, steady growth and an unwavering commitment to superior customer service. Our most recent growth spurt came with the March 2008 addition of 13 terminals, which enabled us to add direct coverage to the Upper Midwest (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North and South Dakota and Wisconsin). This newest territory allows us to provide customers with direct service to all 50 states, all under one big Estes umbrella.
Estes Express Lines is now 13,000 employees strong and boasts a fleet of over 30,000 tractors and trailers. With a network of almost 200 terminals, we provide local expertise that extends to all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as major commercial markets in the Caribbean and Mexico. And our close affiliation with TST Overland Express adds high-quality, comprehensive coverage throughout all 10 Canadian provinces.
What started as one man with a used Chevy truck in rural Southwestern Virginia has turned into a nationwide comprehensive and technologically advanced transportation company. Continuous improvement in performance, service and equipment has created a legacy of customer loyalty that has driven nearly eight decades of success and intelligent expansion.
If W.W. could see the company today, he'd be amazed at the way Estes Express Lines has grown.
But then, maybe he wouldn't. Creating satisfied customers and striving for excellence has always been The Estes Way.
What started as one man with a used Chevy truck in rural Southwestern Virginia has turned into a nationwide comprehensive and technologically advanced transportation company. Continuous improvement in performance, service and equipment has created a legacy of customer loyalty that has driven nearly eight decades of success and intelligent expansion.
If W.W. could see the company today, he'd be amazed at the way Estes Express Lines has grown.
But then, maybe he wouldn't. Creating satisfied customers and striving for excellence has always been The Estes Way.
