<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT 25.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, the undersigned officers and directors of CD&L, Inc. (the "Company")
desire to authorize Albert W. Van Ness, Jr., and William T. Brannan to act as
their attorneys-in-fact and agents, for the purpose of executing and filing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, including all amendments thereto;

           NOW, THEREFORE,

           KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
           appears below constitutes and appoints Albert W. Van Ness, Jr., and
           William T. Brannan and each of them, his true and lawful
           attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
           re-substitution, to execute the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K,
           including any and all amendments and supplements thereto, and to file
           the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
           connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
           granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
           full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
           thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises,
           as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
           person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
           attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his
           substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
           virtue hereof.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this power of attorney in the
following capacities as of the 12th day of April 2002.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                           SIGNATURE                                                         TITLE
                           ---------                                                         -----
<S>                                                               <C>
/s/ Albert W. Van Ness, Jr.                                       Chairman of the Board,  Chief  Executive  Officer and
---------------------------                                       Director (Principal Executive Officer)
Albert W. Van Ness, Jr.


/s/ William T. Brannan                                            President, Chief Operating Officer and Director
---------------------------
William T. Brannan


/s/ Russell J. Reardon                                            Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (Principal
----------------------                                            Financial and Accounting Officer)
Russell J. Reardon


/s/ Michael Brooks                                                Group Operations President and Director
---------------------------
Michael Brooks


/s/ Thomas E. Durkin                                              Director
---------------------------
Thomas E. Durkin


/s/ Jon F. Hanson                                                 Director
---------------------------
Jon F. Hanson


/s/ Marilu Marshall                                               Director
---------------------------
Marilu Marshall


/s/ Matthew Morahan                                               Director
---------------------------
Matthew Morahan


/s/ John Simourian                                                Director
---------------------------
John Simourian


/s/ John S. Wehrle                                                Director
---------------------------
John S. Wehrle
</TABLE>



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