Estes Express Lines to Commemorate 75th Anniversary; From One Man and a Truck to International Carrier, Estes' Growth Spans Decades

RICHMOND, Va.--March 15, 2006--Estes Express Lines commemorates its 75th Anniversary in 2006. The Richmond, VA-based carrier has grown from one man and one truck in 1931 to a full-service, coast-to-coast, North American transportation provider with over 13,000 employees and more than 27,000 tractors and trailers.

To celebrate the long and varied history of Estes Express Lines, the company has developed a multimedia presentation of historical photographs on its Web site at www.estes-express.com, as well as a booklet highlighting the last 75 years of the company.

The Estes story begins in the midst of the Great Depression. Farmers were among the hardest-hit victims, and though farming was his first love, W.W. Estes found another way to make a living in 1931--trucking. He bought a used Chevrolet truck and began hauling farm products and supplies for both farming neighbors and small businesses all over southwestern Virginia. By 1937, W.W. had built a company that was enjoying growing prosperity along with the rest of the nation.

Robey W. Estes, Sr., joined his father's company in 1946 after serving in World War II. Today, Estes Express Lines is led by Robey W. Estes, Jr., W.W.'s grandson. Estes is now the largest family-owned LTL carrier in the nation, and the company has become a prominent leader in the trucking industry.

"It is only through the dedication and hard work of thousands of loyal Estes employees that my grandfather's dream has been sustained through so many decades of growth and change," said Robey W. Estes, Jr. "We would like to use this occasion to express our gratitude to all those who worked hard to build Estes Express Lines into what it is today."

About Estes Express Lines

Richmond, VA-based Estes Express Lines is a full-service transportation provider offering coast-to-coast North American coverage. Founded in 1931 by W.W. Estes, the company is still owned and operated by the Estes family. Estes now employs more than 13,000 people and boasts an inventory of more than 27,000 pieces of power equipment and trailers, as well as a network of 177 terminals serving 46 states and the Caribbean. The company has grown from a small local carrier into one of the most respected multiregional, less-than-truckload and truckload transportation systems in the country. Beyond its in-depth direct service, the company also covers major commercial markets in Mexico, as well as all of the United States and Canada, through its membership in the ExpressLINK service network.