Estes Sets Sights on 14,000 New Opportunities in 2026 Following Acquisition of Yellow Terminals

The President and COO of Estes, Webb Estes, shared that they are expanding their terminal capacity by integrating assets from the now-defunct Yellow. The company anticipates surpassing 14,000 terminal doors by early to mid-2026.Actually, they added 704 doors in 2024 alone—an impressive growth rate of over six percent—bringing their total to approximately 12,162 doors at year-end.

This rapid expansion is largely due to acquiring 52 terminals from Yellow for $490.2 million. Notable locations include a Cincinnati terminal with over two hundred doors and facilities in Chattanooga and Tracy with significant door counts as well.

“In our operations, we’re all about moving freight efficiently,” said Webb Estes. “More terminals mean smarter load management.”

The Hagerstown facility will see its door count rise from one hundred twenty to one hundred fifty as part of this growth strategy. This site is strategically located near a Volvo Group powertrain plant—a smart move considering logistics efficiency.

Estes’ plans also include increasing their Chattanooga location’s door count significantly—from just thirty-nine to nearly two hundred—and ramping up operations in Cincinnati as well.

A robust network is essential in LTL logistics since it allows companies like Estes to optimize routes and reduce costs associated with land acquisition and construction near urban centers—challenges that many competitors face when trying to expand their footprint quickly.

However, not all acquired terminals will be operational promptly due to necessary renovations and delays caused by the staggered auction process managed by bankruptcy administrators.

“We were eager for more terminals but had to wait,” Webb noted during an interview last June. “Investing now makes sense because finding new sites is tough.” He previously mentioned plans for a twelve percent increase in door count throughout 2024—a goal that took longer than expected but ultimately led them closer toward achieving around twelve thousand seven hundred fifty doors today.

“The value of having more doors can’t be overstated,” he emphasized again during our chat. “It’s all about moving freight seamlessly without needless handling.” This approach minimizes risks associated with cargo loss while enhancing overall efficiency within operations—key factors in today’s competitive landscape where every detail matters!

Citing data from Transport Topics again reveals that between late twenty-three and early twenty-four years alone saw ESTES acquire over six thousand used trailers from Yellow’s assets! By year-end twenty-four they boasted forty-three thousand plus trailers—a notable eleven point eight percent increase compared year-over-year!

The company also expanded its fleet significantly last year adding over one thousand tractors bringing totals close towards eleven thousand units! However caution remains paramount given current market conditions which have prompted limited purchases planned ahead into next fiscal periods according Mr.Webb himself!

This fourth-generation leader understands how crucial yard space can be too—not just buildings themselves! Having ample trailer parking enables better service delivery through pool distribution strategies allowing versatility across equipment usage while meeting customer demands effectively!

In December alone ESTES finalized deals worth $142 million securing several owned/leased properties marking only phase one negotiations following YELLOW’S downfall earlier on August ’23 when it was still ranked third largest LTL provider nationwide boasting numerous facilities under its belt before filing bankruptcy protection proceedings initiated thereafter…

Their strategic acquisitions have positioned ESTES firmly within industry ranks placing them eleventh overall among North America’s top carriers while holding fourth place specifically amongst LTL players according latest Transport Topics listings available today!