Estes Express Lines has entered its fourth generation of family leadership.
The privately owned freight carrier elevated Webb Estes, its vice president of process improvement, to president and COO, effective Tuesday.
“For nearly a century, Estes has helped shape and lead the logistics industry, and I’m thrilled to carry on our tradition of customer-focused vision, innovation and success,” Webb Estes said in a statement.
Former President Rob Estes will stay on as board chairman and retain his role of CEO. Former COO Billy Hupp is now board vice president and corporate executive vice president.
“While many competitors have struggled these last few years, Estes continues to grow and thrive – and so much of that is due to Webb’s passion for our company and his vision for what it means to be a leading-edge logistics provider,” Rob Estes said in a statement. “His transition to president and COO makes it abundantly clear: Estes is in business for the long haul.”
Webb Estes, a CDL holder, oversaw much of the asset-based company’s day-to-day operations and led tech upgrades in his previous role, the company said. He has also managed a terminal, driven company trucks and moved freight on the dock.
As president, he will be tasked with leading the nonagenarian carrier, founded as a one-man livestock hauler in the Great Depression, through a challenging macroeconomic environment.
The company, which is now among the nation's largest LTL, truckload and logistics providers, boasted “exceptional growth” following pandemic-fueled demand, announcing the purchase of 1,200 trucks and 3,800 trailers in 2021.
Estes now has more than 21,000 employees and a network of 278 terminals. Its fleet had more than 8,500 tractors and 34,000 trailers as of year-end 2021, according to its website.
