Estes to Continue Its Canadian Business With New Partners
Estes Express Lines has found two new partners to continue its Canada less-than-truckload business after former partner TST Overland Express signed an exclusive deal to work with Saia Inc.
The new agreement with Speedy Transport and Pacific Coast Express, which goes into effect May 22, also will allow Estes to pick up and deliver Canada shipments on its own freight bill.
Estes Canada customers will work with only one carrier — Estes Express Lines — from pickup to delivery, and all freight will be delivered on an Estes trailer.
Traditionally, U.S.-to-Canada freight begins on the trailer of the U.S. less-than-truckload carrier, then gets transferred into the trailer of a Canadian LTL near the border for the final leg of the delivery. There are often two bills of lading for the interline haul, and Canada-bound freight is usually exchanged with U.S.-bound freight at the transfer site. But in the Estes model, the freight will remain inside an Estes trailer the entire time.
“The transition to Estes Canada is a logical next step as part of the company’s strategic goal to improve operations and enable Estes to deliver the same service experience customers have come to know through our U.S. domestic service offering,” said Rob Estes, CEO of Estes Express Lines.
“Pacific Coast Express Ltd. is proud to partner with Estes Express Lines, a premium carrier that shares our core values of honesty, integrity, safety, stability and service,” said Paul Flanagan, vice president of Pacific Coast Express Ltd.
Freight will ship across the border directly in Estes pup and van trailers, which the company promoted as reducing the handling of freight and decreasing the risk of damage.
The Richmond, Va., less-than-truckload company ranks No. 14 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.
