<PAGE>
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 12


                AMERITRUCK DISTRIBUTION CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

               COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                     (In thousands, except ratio amounts)
                                  (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
 
                                                      Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended            
                                                        September 30,        September 30,              
                                                      ------------------  -------------------            
                                                         1997*     1996*     1997*     1996*             
                                                      ---------  -------  ---------  --------            
<S>                                                   <C>         <C>     <C>        <C>              
Earnings:                                                                                                
 Income (loss) before income taxes and                                                                   
  extraordinary items                                  $(2,250)   $  125  $(14,544)  $  (516)            
                                                       -------    ------  --------   -------             
Fixed charges:                                                                                           
 Interest expense and amortization of                                                                    
  debt discount and premium on all                                                                       
  indebtedness                                           5,728     4,523    15,001    12,166             
                                                                                                         
                                                                                                         
 Portion of rent under long-term                                                                         
  operating leases representative of an                                                                  
  interest factor                                          930       374     2,331     1,133             
                                                                                                         
                                                                                                         
 Redeemable preferred stock dividend                                                                     
  requirements                                              56         -        80         -             
                                                       -------    ------  --------   -------             
Total fixed charges                                      6,714     4,897    17,412    13,299             
                                                       -------    ------  --------   -------             
Earnings before income taxes and fixed                                                                   
 charges                                               $ 4,464    $5,022  $  2,868   $12,783             
                                                       =======    ======  ========   =======             
                                                                                                         
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges /(1)/                     -      1.03x        -         -             
                                                       =======   =======  ========   =======             
 
 
</TABLE>
/(1)/   The Company's earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by
$2,250 for the three months ended September 30, 1997.  The Company's earnings
were also insufficient to cover fixed charges by $14,544 and $516 for the nine
month periods ended September 30, 1997 and 1996.


* Comparisons between periods are affected by acquisitions -- see Note 2
contained in the unaudited Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.