Estes opens 98-door terminal in Richmond

Carrier Estes Express recently opened a new terminal near Richmond, Virginia, where the fleet is headquartered. The terminal has 98 doors, more than 41,000 square feet of dock space, and 4,900 square feet of office space across 20 acres. Estes is No. 11 on the FleetOwner 500: For Hire list.

CEO Rob Estes and other company executives were on-site for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the facility, one of its largest terminals.

"In addition to being Estes' hometown, Richmond is a critical hub for so much of the freight moved along the East Coast," said Webb Estes, president and COO. "The new terminal and the added doors and square footage allows our drivers to get in and out quicker and those working in the terminal to keep up with demand and delivery windows."

Located at 6800 Route 1 in North Chesterfield, Virginia, the new Richmond terminal replaces the freight carrier's previous Richmond terminal, which has been operating since August 1984.

See also: Estes finds multiple benefits of using optimization technologies

"Having more doors and new e-dock capabilities in a major hub like Richmond ensures our shipments move off the dock faster, allowing our team to constantly stay in cycle," added Sean Farley, district sales manager at Estes.

Energy-efficient interior/exterior lighting throughout the terminal uses 85% less electricity than conventional lighting, further aligning with Estes' sustainability efforts. The terminal also utilizes various technologies to streamline the facility's operations, including an e-dock inventory management system, a line haul dispatch app, and automated tools to measure the dimensions of incoming freight.

"This facility represents Estes' ongoing commitment to the Richmond region and is an entry-point for those looking for a long-lasting career with a company that's served the region for nearly a century," Webb Estes added.