Estes Logistics scales dedicated fleet operations with Descartes Technology

Descartes Systems Group announced that Estes Logistics, a division of Estes Express Lines, has leveraged the Descartes Global Logistics Network™ (Descartes GLN™) and Descartes’ routing and mobile technology for over 15 years to optimize dedicated truckload, specialty transportation and final mile delivery operations across the United States. The collaboration has helped Estes grow its dedicated logistics business [over 15 years] from under $200 million in annual revenue to more than $500 million, while maintaining an on-time delivery rate exceeding 98%.

“With customers ranging from large retailers to small accounts, we knew we needed a scalable and flexible platform to meet very different requirements across our network,” said Brian James, Senior Director, Pricing and Analysis at Estes Logistics. “We were an early adopter of Descartes technology, and we’ve grown together. Today, the solution manages night-time unattended deliveries, multi-leg deliveries, pool distribution, cross-docking, dedicated deliveries to customer locations, managed transportation from customer distribution centers to stores, and many other services. We can commingle freight for multiple customers on a single truck to drive greater route density, asset utilization, and value-based pricing; allow drivers to scan pictures and signatures and add notes upon delivery; and capture all arrival and departure times to monitor performance and send customers real-time updates on a shipment’s location, status, and progress through the supply chain. We also use the system to model routing for new customer bids and can onboard new business with a simple help desk ticket. This level of flexibility and innovation has been critical to our success and ability to compete.”

With a fleet of 1,600 drivers nationwide, Estes Logistics uses Descartes’ solution to:

• Deliver weekly to thousands of large national customers’ retail stores alongside 50+ smaller regional customers, on dynamically optimized routes;
• Manage state-controlled liquor delivery from a single distribution center to 440 stores with daily route plans created in under two hours;
• Execute tens of thousands of weekly final mile deliveries of diverse commodities ranging from home improvement freight to auto parts and wood by-products, all with tailored customer workflows;
• Achieve rapid “plug and play” onboarding for new customers as well as new types of business with existing customers, without lengthy IT projects; and
• Ensure 100% driver compliance with realistic route plans to consistently meet fleet performance goals.

“Estes Logistics makes broad use of our solutions,” said James Wee, General Manager, Fleet Solutions at Descartes. “Their ability to optimize route planning and execution across multiple customers, commodities, and workflows shows the power of technology to manage complex fleet operations. We’re proud of this long-term relationship that has helped to fuel Estes’ growth and set new benchmarks for dedicated fleet performance.”