In 1931, a man named W.W. Estes decided to establish a small trucking business that would become one of the major motor freight companies in the United States. Mr. Estes developed the company to the point of having 650 employees and terminals in Virginia, Carolina, and South Carolina; these terminals produce about $10 million per year. After his death in 1971, his son Robey W. Estes, Sr. inherited the company and improved its customer service and financial stability, increasing their profits 10 times before turning over the presidency to his son.
Currently, Estes Express Lines, leaded by Robey W. Estes, Jr., employs more than 10,000 workers including over 5,000 drivers. Its tractors and trailers exceed the 19,000 units. It owns more than 114 terminals that provide less-than-truckload and truckload services to the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest of the United States. Furthermore, with ExpressLINK, a special service created in 1996 and further expanded in 2003, Estes achieved coverage to all of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico and with Estes Air it can deliver shipments to any place in the world.
Estes has a mission statement in order to obtain total quality in their services, it consists of providing customers with superior multiregional transportation services, having an environment in which employees can reach their full potential, inspiring the confidence, trust and respect of employees, customers, and partners; and delivering maximum value for a fair price with a reasonable profit. This solidity and courage has led a one-man company to be one of the 25 most important carrier corporations of the United States.