Robey W. Estes, Jr.
Born: 1952President from 1990–Present
After joining the company in 1975, Robey's son, Rob, worked in both sales and terminal operations for 12 years before becoming general manager in 1987 and then president when his father "semi-retired" in 1990.
Estes Express Lines continued to grow exponentially under Rob's leadership. The company added new services, divisions and territory and established ExpressLINK—a unique service network of four collaborating motor carrier companies—to provide complete coverage of the U.S. and Canada. Service was added to cover major markets in the Caribbean in 2000 and in Mexico in 2003.
The next big move, which happened in two stages, was a leap in territory from west Texas all the way to the Pacific. First, the company became a joint owner of G.I. Trucking—a carrier with regional expertise in the western United States—in 2001. Then, in 2005, Estes completed the 100% acquisition of the Los Angeles-based firm, officially expanding its territory to cover the entire western half of the U.S. as well as Alaska and Hawaii. The purchase put Estes squarely in competition with some of the largest players in the national LTL market.
Today, Rob continues to lead the company with a focus on steady growth, fiscal responsibility and an unwavering commitment to superior customer service.