Estes sucks

This shipper just admitted he wanted the cheapest rate he could find ; so more than likely he also called it in at the last minute then wants "top of the line service " for his bare minimum involvement

 

So he then calls Estes to complain about the bad drivers that were late for his pick up but Estes only gives him lip service
So then he thinks other potential Estes drivers will care about his bad experience
....and we will leave this analogy at this which probably does well enough to explain his disposition

 

I worked for Estes for 7 years doing P&D and I agree with @MACK E-6 Estes policy is the shipper has 2 hours minimum from when they call their shipment in, to when it can be picked up. If said customer calls in at 2, but they leave at 4, and they are on the furthest corner of your route, especially an extended route, see ya tomorrow.
Also if aforementioned customer is calling in 1 skid 87 lbs, and I'd be filling up, and I still had the usual 15 daily skids out of a long standing, "major customer", that 87 lbs 1 skidder is getting skipped. I had freedom a little to justify what to do. A driver knows his area and I'm sorry to say, knows the accounts that need to be serviced. If Estes lost Jimmy's Picture Frames account they'd chalk it up as well sorry. If Estes lost International Paper it'd be fit hitting the shan. That's just kind of how it is.
Or, and I do not mean this personally to the OP, this is just an example and in no way am I implying this relates to your situation, business or demeanor. But if the customer is notoriously one of the "oh yea we called it in, all we hafta do is palletize it, wrap it, weigh it, and print out the B.O.L., we'll get on it right after break." When the clock is tickin at the end of the day and it's clutch time that's when dispatch gives the old, "we're not waiting around for that, blow them off I can't have you sitting there all afternoon."
Now one thing the OP can consider is shipping it "Gold Medal". This is Estes' guaranteed service. You pay for it, albeit a nominal fee or not I don't know, but if they have a service failure on it, it's free. And trust me. They'll kill themselves before they get a service failure on it.

 

I live in a town called Estes, 9 months of the year it is great, but then there is the summer, we go from @ 7000 people to 150,000 tourist that makes it Estes sucks for a few months.

 

Is that estes col. Mt.estes?

 

Estes Park, Co. the place with no parking, lots of wildlife and us ol grumpy locals

 

I couldn't imagine living in a tourist town like that. Id be grumpy too.

 

Yea i been there! Cool place though. Went up mountain and your right lots of wildlife.

 

Maybe OP needs these guys..

 

They do make a good model rocket kit though.