POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the  undersigned  does hereby  constitute  and  appoint  Robert N.
Tidball,  Susan  Santo,  J.  Michael  Allgood  and  Richard  Brock,  jointly and
severally,   his  true  and  lawful   attorneys-in-fact,   each  with  power  of
substitution,  for him in any and all  capacities,  to do any and all  acts  and
things and to execute any and all instruments  which said  attorneys,  or any of
them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable PLM Financial Services, Inc., as
Manager of PLM Equipment Growth Fund III, to comply with the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),  and any rules and regulations  thereunder,
in connection  with the  preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission of annual reports on Form 10-K on behalf of PLM Equipment Growth Fund
III,  including  specifically,  but  without  limiting  the  generality  of  the
foregoing,  the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned,  in any
and all capacities,  to such annual reports,  to any and all amendments thereto,
and to any and all documents or instruments  filed as a part of or in connection
therewith; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that each of the
said attorneys,  or his substitute or substitutes,  shall do or cause to be done
by virtue  hereof.  This Power of Attorney  is limited in duration  until May 1,
1999 and shall apply only to the annual reports and any amendments thereto filed
with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has subscribed these presents this
23rd day of February, 1999.




                                                     /s/ Douglas P. Goodrich
                                                     ----------------------
                                                     Douglas P. Goodrich










<PAGE>





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the  undersigned  does hereby  constitute  and  appoint  Robert N.
Tidball,  Susan  Santo,  J.  Michael  Allgood  and  Richard  Brock,  jointly and
severally,   his  true  and  lawful   attorneys-in-fact,   each  with  power  of
substitution,  for him in any and all  capacities,  to do any and all  acts  and
things and to execute any and all instruments  which said  attorneys,  or any of
them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable PLM Financial Services, Inc., as
Manager of PLM Equipment Growth Fund III, to comply with the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),  and any rules and regulations  thereunder,
in connection  with the  preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission of annual reports on Form 10-K on behalf of PLM Equipment Growth Fund
III,  including  specifically,  but  without  limiting  the  generality  of  the
foregoing,  the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned,  in any
and all capacities,  to such annual reports,  to any and all amendments thereto,
and to any and all documents or instruments  filed as a part of or in connection
therewith; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that each of the
said attorneys,  or his substitute or substitutes,  shall do or cause to be done
by virtue  hereof.  This Power of Attorney  is limited in duration  until May 1,
1999 and shall apply only to the annual reports and any amendments thereto filed
with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has subscribed these presents this
23rd day of February, 1999.





                                                     /s/ Robert N. Tidball
                                                     ------------------------
                                                     Robert N. Tidball









<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the  undersigned  does hereby  constitute  and  appoint  Robert N.
Tidball,  Susan  Santo,  J.  Michael  Allgood  and  Richard  Brock,  jointly and
severally,   his  true  and  lawful   attorneys-in-fact,   each  with  power  of
substitution,  for him in any and all  capacities,  to do any and all  acts  and
things and to execute any and all instruments  which said  attorneys,  or any of
them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable PLM Financial Services, Inc., as
Manager of PLM Equipment Growth Fund III, to comply with the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),  and any rules and regulations  thereunder,
in connection  with the  preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission of annual reports on Form 10-K on behalf of PLM Equipment Growth Fund
III,  including  specifically,  but  without  limiting  the  generality  of  the
foregoing,  the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned,  in any
and all capacities,  to such annual reports,  to any and all amendments thereto,
and to any and all documents or instruments  filed as a part of or in connection
therewith; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that each of the
said attorneys,  or his substitute or substitutes,  shall do or cause to be done
by virtue  hereof.  This Power of Attorney  is limited in duration  until May 1,
1999 and shall apply only to the annual reports and any amendments thereto filed
with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has subscribed these presents this
23rd day of February, 1999.





                                    /s/ Stephen M. Bess
                                    ------------------------
                                    Stephen M. Bess