Estes Express Lines
USDOT 121018 · MC-97275 · Richmond, Virginia · Interstate for-hire carrier · 1,000+ power units
Estes Express Lines (dba Estes) is a corporation based in Richmond, Virginia, registered with the FMCSA as an interstate carrier (authorized for hire). It reports 9,805 power units and 8,821 drivers, which ranks it #1 by fleet size among 128 active for-hire carriers with 50+ power units headquartered in Virginia. In the 24 months to Sep 24, 2026 its trucks were inspected 4,637 times – about 0.5 inspections per power unit. 16.7% of vehicle inspections and 0.9% of driver inspections ended with an out-of-service order, against 14.8% and 1.1% for carriers of the same size nationally. FMCSA records 597 reportable crashes in the last 24 months (277 injuries, 9 fatalities, 566 tow-away), or 6.1 per 100 power units versus 2.6 for its size band. Crash counts in FMCSA data do not indicate fault. Its registered cargo types are general freight, metal: sheets, coils, rolls, building materials, machinery, large objects, liquids / gases, intermodal containers, grain, feed, hay, chemicals and more.
Registration and contact
| Legal name | Estes Express Lines |
|---|---|
| DBA name | Estes |
| USDOT number | 121018 |
| Operating authority (docket) | MC-97275 |
| Entity type | Authorized for Hire |
| Operation | Interstate |
| Business type | Corporation |
| Physical address | 3901 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23230 |
| Phone | (804) 353-1900 |
| First registered | Jun 1, 1974 |
| Last MCS-150 update | Jul 29, 2025 |
| Hazmat carrier | Yes |
Check live authority, insurance and out-of-service status: FMCSA SAFER snapshot for USDOT 121018.
Fleet and drivers
| Equipment | Owned | Term-leased | Trip-leased |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight trucks | 474 | 0 | 0 |
| Truck tractors | 9,331 | 0 | 0 |
| Trailers | 43,699 | 0 | 0 |
- 0.90 drivers per power unit (national median for 50+ unit fleets: 0.99).
- 4.7 trailers per tractor – a drop-and-hook style trailer pool.
- 620,749,705 miles reported for 2024 – about 63,310 miles per power unit vs a 32,421 median for 1,000+-unit fleets.
- 100% of listed equipment is owned rather than leased.
- 8,753 CDL drivers; 3,774 drivers operate interstate beyond 100 miles, 5,047 within 100 miles.
Safety record
Roadside inspections Sep 25, 2024 – Sep 24, 2026; crashes Nov 1, 2024 – Oct 31, 2026. Benchmarks: 1,000+-unit for-hire carriers nationally (241) and Virginia carriers with 50+ units (128).
| Measure | Estes Express Lines | Same size, US | VA average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle out-of-service rate | 16.7% | 14.8% | 17.4% | 12% higher than average |
| Driver out-of-service rate | 0.9% | 1.1% | 1.5% | 23% lower than average |
| Crashes per 100 power units | 6.1 | 2.6 | 4.6 | 132% higher than average |
| Inspections | 4,637 | 4,585 with a driver check, 2,727 with a vehicle check, 2,753 BASIC violations recorded, 1,146 hazmat-related | ||
| FMCSA safety rating | Satisfactory (rated Jan 29, 2001) | |||
Cargo carried
Less common in this directory: agricultural / farm supplies (734 of 5,000 carriers); grain, feed, hay (851 of 5,000 carriers).
Similar carriers in Virginia
Closest fleet size and cargo mix among Virginia carriers in this directory.
| Carrier | City | Power units | Drivers | Inspections (24 mo) | Vehicle OOS | Crashes (24 mo) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tforce Freight Inc USDOT 121058 | Henrico | 4,155 | 4,379 | 3,522 | 16.5% | 186 |
| Performance Transportation LLC USDOT 270150 | Richmond | 6,340 | 7,480 | 3,100 | 13.0% | 227 |
| Vistar Transportation LLC USDOT 333153 | Richmond | 995 | 644 | 559 | 12.2% | 26 |
| Universal Logistics of Virginia LLC USDOT 3330935 | Richmond | 522 | 483 | 587 | 51.1% | 34 |
| Lawrence Transportation Systems Inc USDOT 84337 | Roanoke | 297 | 318 | 177 | 27.9% | 8 |
| Tfa Logistics LLC USDOT 255631 | Ashland | 707 | 692 | 1,601 | 20.2% | 54 |
Other carriers near Richmond
| Carrier | City | Power units | Drivers | Inspections (24 mo) | Vehicle OOS | Crashes (24 mo) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carmax Auto Superstores Inc USDOT 731233 | Richmond | 654 | 681 | 279 | 15.7% | 17 |
| Big E Transportation LLC USDOT 1762766 | Richmond | 380 | 383 | 205 | 39.8% | 20 |
| Petroleum Carriers LLC USDOT 993280 | Richmond | 188 | 143 | 121 | 12.8% | 9 |
| Carpenter Co USDOT 121209 | Richmond | 155 | 139 | 205 | 11.8% | 6 |
| James River Carriers LLC USDOT 3113083 | Richmond | 129 | 112 | 173 | 36.5% | 9 |
| GPM Transportation Company LLC USDOT 3907271 | Richmond | 106 | 109 | 156 | 12.0% | 4 |
| Sweetie Boy Transportation LLC USDOT 2106834 | Richmond | 80 | 77 | 46 | 3.7% | 9 |
| Estes Forwarding Worldwide LLC USDOT 2352258 | Richimond | 114 | 95 | 55 | 42.3% | 3 |
Browse
FAQ
What is the USDOT number of Estes Express Lines?
Estes Express Lines is registered with USDOT number 121018 and operating authority MC-97275.
How many trucks does Estes Express Lines have?
It reports 9,805 power units (9,331 tractors, 474 straight trucks) and 43,699 trailers, with 8,821 drivers, on its last MCS-150 update (Jul 29, 2025).
Where is Estes Express Lines located?
Its registered physical address is in Richmond, Virginia 23230.
What is the out-of-service rate of Estes Express Lines?
Over 24 months, 16.7% of vehicle inspections and 0.9% of driver inspections resulted in an out-of-service order (same-size national average: 14.8% vehicle, 1.1% driver).
Is this your company?
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Source: FMCSA Company Census File, SMS inspection file and Crash File (data.transportation.gov), refreshed 2026-11-04. Figures are as reported to FMCSA and may lag. How we calculate these numbers. Spotted an error? Carriers update their record with FMCSA via the MCS-150 form; see corrections.