ESTES GROCERY SOLUTIONS
Precision you can count on.
Reliability you can trust.
BUILT ON VALUES. RUNS ON TRUST.
As the largest privately held freight transportation company in North America, Estes has over 90 years of experience delivering reliable freight solutions so our customers can focus on what matters most.
Our company was built on values, but runs on trust. And we’re fiercely committed to developing lasting, honest relationships with the people we serve, going above and beyond to help when challenges arise, and delivering exceptional experiences that keep our customers coming back.
At Estes, going the extra mile isn’t just what we do—it’s who we are
ETHICAL. HONEST. COMMITTED.
GROCERY SHIPPING
As a top LTL carrier with nearly a century of LTL freight industry expertise, Estes is a trusted name in grocery freight solutions.
Our exceptional track record in grocery shipping is built on the precision and reliability of our robust LTL service—but we don’t stop there. We’re continuously investing in our network, growing our dedicated workforce, and deepening our industry relationships—all to expand our reach, improve efficiency, and deliver an even better grocery shipping experience for you.
From efficient cross-docking and flexible drop trailer options when available, to our status as a preferred carrier for many leading grocery consignees, Estes delivers reliable grocery solutions you can count on.
EXTENSIVE COVERAGE
As North America’s largest privately held freight carrier with over 90 years of LTL freight shipping experience, Estes knows how to take the guesswork out of grocery shipping.
We combine all the benefits of our reliable LTL service with our extensive grocery expertise to deliver a shipping solution that can meet even your grocery consignees’ tightest delivery windows with ease.
With over 300 terminals across North America, 7,000 next-day lanes, and 26 hubs spread across six different regions, we deliver exceptional one- or two-day grocery shipping on the backbone of a trusted national carrier.
And we’re not slowing down! Estes is continuously expanding our footprint and elevating our grocery service by opening new terminals, growing our fleet, and adding skilled drivers and dockworkers to deliver an even better experience for our customers.
Whether your grocery shipment is short-haul, long-haul, or anything in between—Estes does it all.
PROVEN RELIABILITY
At Estes, we have the footprint, the resources, and the experience to meet even your strictest delivery appointments to grocery warehouses and distribution centers. We help you protect your shelf space, maintain top compliance scores, and keep inventory moving so your products stay where they belong: in stores and in demand.
When you ship your grocery freight with Estes, you can count on:
» Exceptional On-Time Delivery: Keep up with inventory demands, avoid chargebacks, and maintain strong retailer relationships, thanks to our proven track record of meeting fixed appointment times
» Preferred Carrier Status: Our trusted partnerships with major grocery consignees like Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Amazon mean your freight gets priority handling and expedited unloading to meet strict delivery schedules
» Drop Trailer Agreements: Estes’ consistent, high-volume deliveries to grocery consignees enables us to drop trailers when possible, minimizing handling and making the receiving process even more seamless
And because safety is a top priority for Estes, we continue to invest in specialized equipment like our fleet of captive beam trailers—many of which are equipped with our proprietary Webb Walls—to keep your freight secure throughout its journey.
We also make it easy to track your grocery freight with real-time status updates right at your fingertips, from pickup request through delivery!
GUARANTEED DELIVERY
For additional peace of mind, Estes offers our best-in-class Time Critical Guaranteed service to help you meet strict Must Arrive by Date (MABD) requirements and avoid costly penalties and fines, no matter how tight the delivery window. It includes more standard benefits than you’ll find with any other carrier:
» Guaranteed on-time pickups, on-time delivery, damage-free shipments, and on-time appointments
» Round-the-clock Customer Care and freight oversight, seven days a week, 365 days a year
» A financial guarantee of up to the total value of your freight charges should you ever incur a chargeback fee resulting from a missed appointment
And with our 99.4% success rate in meeting all Time Critical guarantees for shipments to grocery warehouses, you can rest easy knowing that your MABD grocery freight is in safe, reliable hands.
My Estes makes it easy to add Time Critical Guaranteed to your grocery shipment’s BOL. Don’t have an account yet? Sign up today to explore all the benefits of our My Estes shipping tools!
MY ESTES SHIPPING TOOLS
At Estes, we want to make grocery shipping easy. That’s why we offer a comprehensive suite of My Estes shipping tools to streamline your shipping experience.
» Real-Time Pickup Visibility: See important pickup milestones in real time and at a glance, including Stops Away updates, an Estimated Time of Pickup, and the name of your pickup driver.
» Enhanced Tracking: Real-time status updates every step of the way, beginning with pick up through delivery! See your entire freight journey to include Stops Away and Estimated Time of Arrival.
» Streamlined Shipment Preparation: Easily complete Bills of Lading, locate terminals, request rate quotes and pickups, calculate transit times and densities, and more.
» Simplified Shipping Management: Easily view delivery receipts and Bills of Lading from prior shipments, report discrepancies, file claims, and more.
» Real-Time Reports: Create fully customizable, real-time reports, then download or schedule them to be delivered at your convenience.
Ready to get started? Sign up for a free My Estes account today!
Does Estes have grocery-specific experience?
A: Yes, Estes services many grocery retailers, wholesalers, and distributors. We also have Preferred Carrier status and drop trailer agreements with many of the industry’s top leaders, like Performance Food Group, Gordon Food Service, McLane Co, Meijer, Food Lion, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Amazon, and many others.
How does Estes having Preferred Carrier status with many leading grocery consignees benefit me as a shipper?
A: Estes’ proven expertise and reliability have earned us the trust of many major grocery consignees such as Walmart, Sam’s Club, Amazon, and more. As a result, we’ve achieved Preferred Carrier status with many, which means your freight receives priority handling and expedited unloading to meet strict delivery schedules and avoid delays.
Does Estes transport refrigerated goods?
A: No. Estes does not transport temperature-controlled goods.
Can
Estes meet my tight delivery windows?
A: Yes. Estes combines all the benefits of our reliable LTL service with our extensive grocery expertise to deliver a shipping solution that can meet even your grocery consignees’ tightest delivery windows with ease.
If you’re looking for additional peace of mind, our best-in-class Time Critical Guaranteed (TCG) delivery is the perfect solution for Must Arrive By Date (MABD) shipments because it guarantees all aspects of your shipment from on-time pickup to damage-free delivery on the appointment date. And with our 99.4% success rate in meeting all guarantees for shipments to retail distribution centers, you can rest assured that your MABD grocery shipments are in good hands.
Does Estes have drop trailer capability?
A: Yes. Estes drops trailers wherever possible to help streamline the receiving process, reduce costs, and meet the tightest delivery windows. When drop trailers are not an option, our drivers can unload your freight, or we can hire lumpers or a third-party unloading service.
What is lumper service?
A: Lumper service refers to the removal of goods from a trailer or container at a loading dock, after it has been transported by truck or rail from one location to another. If requested, separating, sorting, segregating, restacking, and reloading may also be part of this service.
Does Estes have cross-docking capability?
A: Yes. Estes can minimize handling and save you time by loading your grocery freight from our dock directly to a consignee’s trailer for pickup.
Is Estes compliant with FSMA regulations?
A: Estes is exempt from Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations because we do not transport temperature-controlled goods, and all food shipments we handle are in sealed containers. We do, however, adhere to safe handling requirements for food product shipments, which means we do not comingle food product shipments with hazardous material shipments.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Estes is a strategic grocery partner that’s dedicated to building strong, collaborative relationships. We’re ethical, honest, and committed to delivering reliable grocery shipping solutions that keep our customers coming back. And we always go above and beyond to help when challenges arise. Contact us today!
Learn more about our grocery shipping solutions by contacting us at grocery@estes-express.com.
For more information on our Time Critical Guaranteed service, contact us at timecritical@estes-express. com or 1-800-645-3952.
