Estes invests $56 million to expand cross-border and offshore freight network

Estes Express Lines is investing nearly $56 million to expand its cross-border and offshore freight network serving Canada, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Part of the funding will double the door count at its Laredo gateway from about 40 to roughly 85 or 86 doors.

Estes increased its Detroit terminal to 139 doors, up from about 70, and also doubled the capacity at its Fargo, North Dakota, facility.; The investment also includes a relocated service center in Buffalo, New York, which opened in June and quadrupled the previous door count there.; Estes runs a network exceeding 300 terminals and service centers throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, Alaska and Hawaii, while also serving Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.; Estes is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year as North America’s largest privately held less‑than‑truckload carrier.

“We’re really looking at all of these investments from a long-term horizon and viewpoint perspective and one that’s going to help accommodate growth and capacity into all the offshore international markets that we service,” Alex Peebles, senior director of offshore and international at Estes said.

Estes says it is seeing growth in its Mexico business and aims to use the Otay Mesa and El Paso‑Juarez crossings more heavily to cut mileage. In Canada, the carrier has opened a relocated Buffalo service center and increased capacity at Detroit and Fargo terminals amid uncertain trade conditions.

What we know

• $56 million investment

• 95th anniversary

• Laredo door count doubling from about 40 to approximately 85 or 86 doors

• Buffalo service center opened in June

• Detroit terminal nearly doubled to 139 doors from about 70