Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.27

                                LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

                  This LOCK-UP AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as
of April 10, 2002, by and among Quality Distribution, Inc., a Florida
corporation (the "Company"), and ARES Leveraged Investment Fund, L.P. and ARES
Leveraged Investment Fund II, L.P. (collectively, the "Ares Entities").

                  WHEREAS, the Company has issued $100,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of its 10% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006 (the
"Fixed Rate Notes") and $40,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Series B
Floating Interest Rate Subordinated Term Securities due 2006 (FIRSTSSM) (the
"FIRSTS", and together with the Fixed Rate Notes, the "Old Notes"); and

                  WHEREAS, the Ares Entities own an aggregate of $22,500,000
principal amount of the Old Notes (the "Ares Old Notes"), and such principal
amount remains outstanding as of the date hereof; and

                  WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of an Offering Memorandum and
Consent Solicitation Statement, dated as of the date hereof, and incorporated
herein by reference (as such document may be amended and/or supplemented from
time to time, the "Offering Memorandum"; references herein to the Offering
Memorandum or to information included therein include all material incorporated
therein by reference), the Company is offering all holders of Old Notes (other
than the Ares Entities, Apollo Investment Fund III, L.P., Apollo Overseas
Partners III, L.P. and Apollo (U.K.) Partners III, L.P. (collectively, the
"Apollo Entities") and certain members of management of the Company (the
"Management Group")) the opportunity to exchange pursuant to the terms set forth
in the Offering Memorandum (the "Debt/Equity Exchange"), Old Notes for debt and
equity securities (the "Debt/Equity Securities") consisting of (a) 12.5% Senior
Subordinated Secured Notes due 2008 (the "New Notes"), which will be issued by
Quality Distribution, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company ("QDI LLC")
to be formed on or prior to the Closing Date, (b) 12% Junior Subordinated PIK
Notes due 2009 (the "Junior PIK Notes"), which will be issued by the Company and
(c) Warrants (the "Warrants"), each to purchase one share of the Company's
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"); and

                  WHEREAS, simultaneous with the consummation of the Debt/Equity
Exchange and upon the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth herein, the
Company has agreed to issue to the Ares Entities, and the Ares Entities have
agreed to acquire from the Company, Debt/Equity Securities in exchange (the
"Ares Debt/Equity Exchange") for all of the Ares Old Notes, all as more fully
set forth herein; and

                  WHEREAS, simultaneous with the consummation of the Debt/Equity
Exchange and upon the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in that
certain Lock-Up and Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the
Company and the Apollo Entities (the "Apollo Lock-Up Agreement"), the Company
has agreed to issue to the Apollo Entities, and the Apollo Entities have agreed
to acquire from the Company, Debt/Equity Securities in exchange (the "Apollo
Debt/Equity Exchange") for all of the Old Notes owned by the Apollo Entities,
all as more fully set forth therein; and

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                  WHEREAS, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth
in the Apollo Lock-Up Agreement, in lieu of consummating the Apollo Debt/Equity
Exchange and simultaneous with the consummation of the Debt/Equity Exchange, the
Apollo Entities have agreed to acquire from the Company, and the Company has
agreed to issue to the Apollo Entities, shares of the Company's 13.75% Preferred
Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "13.75% Preferred Stock"), in exchange
(the "Apollo Junior Exchange") for all of the Apollo Old Notes, all as more
fully set forth therein; and

                  WHEREAS, if the Apollo Junior Exchange is to be consummated
and certain conditions set forth in the Apollo Lock-Up Agreement are satisfied,
the Apollo Entities have agreed to purchase from the Company, and the Company
has agreed to sell to the Apollo Entities (the "Apollo Equity Investment", and
together with the Apollo Junior Exchange, the "Apollo Junior Transactions"),
additional shares of 13.75% Preferred Stock, all as more fully set forth
therein; and

                  WHEREAS, if the Debt/Equity Exchange is not consummated
because certain conditions thereto are not satisfied, in lieu of the Ares
Debt/Equity Exchange, the Company has agreed to issue to the Ares Entities, and
the Ares Entities have agreed to acquire from the Company, the Company's 10%
Senior Secured Notes due 2008 (the "Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes") in exchange
(the "Ares Senior Note Exchange") for all of the Ares Old Notes, all as more
fully set forth herein; and

                  WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms set forth in that certain
Lock-Up Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company and the
Management Group (the "Management Group Lock-Up Agreement"), the Company has
agreed to issue to the Management Group, and the Management Group has agreed to
acquire from the Company, (i) Debt/Equity Securities, (ii) shares of 13.75%
Preferred Stock or (iii) the Company's 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2008, in
each case in exchange for all of the Old Notes owned by the Management Group and
simultaneous with the consummation of the Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange, Apollo
Junior Transactions or Apollo Senior Note Exchange (as defined in the Apollo
Lock-Up Agreement), respectively, all as more fully set forth therein.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally
bound hereby, agree as follows:

         1. The Transactions.

                  (a) The Ares Debt/Equity Exchange.

                           (i)Consideration. Subject to the terms and conditions
         contained herein, if the conditions set forth in Section 5(a) and
         Section 5(b) hereof are satisfied (or waived by the Ares Entities),
         then the Company shall issue to each Ares Entity that number of
         Debt/Equity Securities (the "Ares Debt/Equity Securities") set forth
         opposite such Ares Entity's name in column 2 of Schedule I attached
         hereto and each Ares Entity shall deliver to the Company in exchange
         therefor the principal amount of Ares Old Notes set forth opposite such
         Ares Entity's name in column 3 of Schedule I attached hereto. Any
         unpaid interest on the Ares Old Notes accrued through the Closing Date
         (as defined

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         herein) will become immediately due and payable on the first interest
         payment date provided for in the New Notes.

                           (ii) Terms of the Ares Debt/Equity Securities. The
         Ares Debt/Equity Securities will be governed by (A) in the case of the
         New Notes (the "Ares New Notes"), an Indenture in the form attached to
         the Offering Memorandum (the "New Note Indenture"), (B) in the case of
         the Junior PIK Notes (the "Ares Junior PIK Notes"), an Indenture in the
         form attached to the Offering Memorandum (the "Junior PIK Note
         Indenture") and (C) in the case of the Warrants (the "Ares Warrants"),
         a Warrant Agreement in the form attached to the Offering Memorandum
         (the "Warrant Agreement"); in each case as such document may be amended
         and/or supplemented from time to time.

                  (b) The Ares 10% Senior Note Exchange.

                           (i) Consideration. Subject to the terms and
         conditions contained herein, if the conditions set forth in Section
         5(a) have been satisfied (or waived by the Ares Entities) and if the
         Senior Note Exchange (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) has been
         consummated pursuant to the terms set forth in the Offering Memorandum,
         then the Company shall issue to each Ares Entity the principal amount
         of Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes set forth opposite such Ares Entity's
         name in column 2 of Schedule II attached hereto and each Ares Entity
         shall deliver to the Company in exchange therefor the principal amount
         of Ares Old Notes set forth opposite such Ares Entity's name in column
         3 of Schedule II attached hereto. Any unpaid interest on the Ares Old
         Notes accrued through the Closing Date will become immediately due and
         payable on the first interest payment date provided for in the Ares 10%
         Senior Secured Notes.

                           (ii) Terms of the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes. The
         Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes will be governed by an Indenture to be
         dated the Closing Date (as defined below) (the "10% Senior Secured Note
         Indenture"). The Company hereby agrees that in the event the Ares
         Senior Note Exchange is to be consummated, the Company shall take all
         action necessary to have the 10% Senior Secured Note Indenture and any
         security agreement related thereto (reasonably acceptable to the Ares
         Entities) executed and delivered on or prior to the Closing Date.

                  (c) Voting of Ares Old Notes. By executing and delivering this
Agreement to the Company, each Ares Entity hereby consents, with respect to the
aggregate principal amount of the Ares Old Notes held by such Ares Entity, to
each of the Proposed Amendments to the Existing Indenture (each as defined in
the Offering Memorandum).

         2. Closing.

                  (a) Closing Date. The consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby (each, a "Closing"), shall occur at the offices of
O'Sullivan LLP, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10112 on the following
dates: (i) in the case of the Ares Debt/Equity Exchange, simultaneously with the
closing of the Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange or the Apollo Junior Transactions, as
the case may be, and (ii) in the case of the Ares Senior Note Exchange,

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simultaneously with the closing of the Senior Note Exchange (as defined in the
Offering Memorandum). For purposes of this Agreement, the date of the Closing
provided for in the immediate preceding sentence is hereinafter referred to as
the "Closing Date".

                  (b) Company Obligations. At the Closing, the Company will
cause to be delivered to the Ares Entities (i) the Ares Debt/Equity Securities
through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or (ii) the Ares
10% Senior Secured Notes, as the case may be. In addition, at the Closing the
Company will cause to be delivered to the Ares Entities an executed copy of the
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among QDI
LLC (in the event of consummation of the Ares Debt/Equity Exchange) or
alternatively, the Company (in the event of consummation of the Ares Senior Note
Exchange), the Ares Entities and the other parties thereto, substantially in the
form described in the Offering Memorandum (the "Registration Rights Agreement")
and reliance letters addressed to the Ares Entities with respect to those
portions of the legal opinions and certificates delivered to Deutsche Bank
Securities Inc. (as Dealer Manager for the Debt/Equity Exchange) as the Ares
Entities shall reasonably request.

                  (c) Ares Entities' Obligations. At the Closing, the Ares
Entities will cause to be delivered to the Company (i) the Ares Old Notes
through the facilities of DTC and (ii) an executed copy of the Registration
Rights Agreement.

         3. Representations of the Ares Entities.

                  The Ares Entities hereby represent and warrant to the Company
as follows:

                  (a) Authorization. Each Ares Entity has the requisite power
and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this
Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been duly and
validly authorized, and all necessary action has been taken to make this
Agreement a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Ares Entity, enforceable
in accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject
to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium
or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights
generally, (ii) general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such
enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public
policy considerations.

                  (b) No Violations. Neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by any of
the Ares Entities shall (i) violate any law, the result of which would prevent
such Ares Entity from consummating the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii)
conflict with the organizational documents of any of the Ares Entities or result
in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of,
create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, or
require any notice under, any contract to which such Ares Entity is a party or
by which such Ares Entity is bound or to which any of such Ares Entity's assets
is subject, the result of which would prevent the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

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                  (c) No Consents. No material permit, authorization, order,
consent or approval of or by, or any material notification of or filing with,
any person (governmental or private) is required in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance by any of the Ares Entities of this
Agreement or the consummation by any of the Ares Entities of the transactions
contemplated hereby.

                  (d) Access to Information. The Company has made available to
the Ares Entities all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents
filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), and the Ares Entities have received physical delivery of all
such documents, records and information which the Ares Entities have requested,
and have had adequate opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from,
the Company's officers, employees, agents, accountants, and representatives
concerning the Company's business, operations, financial condition, assets,
liabilities, and all other matters relevant in consummating the transactions
contemplated herein.

                  (e) Title to Old Notes. Immediately prior to the Closing, each
Ares Entity will have title to the Ares Old Notes being exchanged by such Ares
Entity, as applicable, free and clear of all claims, liens, title defects and
objections or equities of any kind and nature whatsoever.

                  (f) Investment Representations.

                           (i) Each Ares Entity is the person who exercises full
         investment discretion with respect to the Ares Old Notes owned by such
         Ares Entity and the Ares Entities have neither purchased nor sold for
         their account any Ares Old Notes, as applicable, since the original
         issuance thereof.

                           (ii) Each Ares Entity is acquiring the Ares 10%
         Senior Secured Notes or the Ares Debt/Equity Securities, as applicable,
         for its own account, and not as a nominee or agent for any other
         person, firm or corporation, and not with a view to the sale or
         distribution of all or any part thereof in any transaction that would
         be in violation of the securities laws of the United States, and it has
         no present intention of selling or otherwise distributing any of such
         securities in violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
         "Securities Act"). The Ares Entities do not have any contract,
         undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any person, firm or
         corporation to sell, transfer or grant participations to such person,
         firm or corporation with respect to any such securities.

                           (iii) Each Ares Entity understands that none of the
         Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes or the Ares Debt/Equity Securities
         (including the Ares Warrants and the Common Stock issuable upon
         exercise of the Ares Warrants comprising the Ares Debt/Equity
         Securities), as applicable, acquired hereunder will be registered under
         the Securities Act on the Closing Date, in part based upon an exemption
         from registration predicated on the accuracy and completeness of its
         representations and warranties appearing herein. Each Ares Entity
         understands and acknowledges that, as a result, it will not be
         permitted to sell, transfer or assign any of such securities acquired
         hereunder

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         until such securities are registered, or an exemption from the
         registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act
         is available.

                           (iv) Each Ares Entity agrees that in no event will it
         make a disposition of any of the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes or the
         Ares Debt/Equity Securities (including the Ares Warrants and the Common
         Stock issuable upon exercise of the Ares Warrants comprising the Ares
         Debt/Equity Securities), as applicable, or any interest therein, unless
         such securities are registered under the Securities Act or unless and
         until (A) it shall have notified the Company of the proposed
         disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a statement of
         the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition and (B) it shall
         have furnished the Company with an opinion of counsel, satisfactory in
         form and content to the Company, to the effect that (x) such
         disposition will not require registration of such security under the
         Securities Act or compliance with applicable state securities laws or
         (y) an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities
         Act is available and that all appropriate action necessary for
         compliance thereunder and under the applicable state securities laws
         has been taken.

                           (v) Each Ares Entity is an "Accredited Investor" as
         such term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the
         Securities Act; does not require the assistance of an investment
         advisor or other purchaser representative to participate in the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement; has such knowledge and
         experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of
         evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Ares 10%
         Senior Secured Notes or the Ares Debt/Equity Securities, as applicable;
         has the ability to bear the economic risks of its investment for an
         indefinite period of time; and has had adequate opportunity to ask
         questions of, and receive answers from, the Company concerning all
         matters relevant to the transactions contemplated herein.

                  (g) Section 4(2) Exemption. Each Ares Entity acknowledges that
the transactions contemplated hereby are intended to be exempt from registration
by virtue of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. Each Ares Entity knows of no
reason why such exemption would not be available for the transactions
contemplated hereby.

                  (h) Brokers. There is no broker, investment banker, financial
advisor, finder or other person which has been retained by or is authorized to
act on behalf of the Ares Entities who might be entitled to any fee or
commission for which the Company will be liable in connection with the execution
of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

         4. The Company's Representations.

                  The Company hereby represents and warrants to each Ares Entity
(i) with respect to itself and each Guarantor (as defined below) on the date
hereof and (ii) in the event of the Ares Debt/Equity Exchange, with respect to
QDI LLC on the Closing Date, as follows:

                  (a) Organization, Authority, etc. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries which are guarantors of the Old Notes and will become guarantors of
the Ares New Notes or the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes, as applicable (the
"Guarantors"), has been duly incorporated or

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organized, as the case may be, is validly existing and is in good standing under
the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, with all
requisite corporate or other power and authority to own or lease its properties
and conduct its businesses as now conducted as described in the Offering
Memorandum, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is
in good standing in all other jurisdictions where the ownership or leasing of
its properties or the conduct of its businesses requires such qualification,
except where the failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial
or other) or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole (a "Material Adverse Effect").

                  (b) Corporate Acts and Proceedings. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and
validly authorized, and all necessary corporate action has been taken to make
this Agreement a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable
in accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject
to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium
or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights
generally, (ii) general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such
enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public
policy considerations.

                  (c) Valid Issuance.

                  The Ares New Notes or the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes, as
applicable, will be in the form contemplated by the New Note Indenture or the
10% Senior Secured Note Indenture, as applicable, and will conform in all
material respects to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandum; the
Ares New Notes or the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes have been duly authorized by
QDI LLC or the Company, as applicable, and, when executed by QDI LLC or the
Company and authenticated by the trustee in accordance with the provisions of
the New Note Indenture or the 10% Senior Secured Note Indenture, as applicable,
and when delivered against receipt of the Ares Old Notes in connection with the
consummation of the Ares Debt/Equity Exchange or the Ares Senior Note Exchange,
as applicable, in accordance with the terms of the Offering Memorandum, will be
duly executed, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable against QDI LLC or the Company, as
applicable, in accordance with their terms, and will be entitled to the benefits
of the New Note Indenture or the 10% Senior Secured Note Indenture, as
applicable, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or
other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights
generally, (ii) general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such
enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public
policy considerations.

                  The Ares Junior PIK Notes, when and if issued, will be in the
form contemplated by the Junior PIK Note Indenture and will conform in all
material respects to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandum; the
Ares Junior PIK Notes have been duly authorized by the Company and, when
executed by the Company and authenticated by the trustee thereunder in
accordance with the provisions of the Junior PIK Note Indenture and, when
delivered against receipt of the Ares Old Notes in connection with the
consummation of the Ares Debt/Equity

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Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Offering Memorandum, will be duly
executed, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and binding obligations
of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms,
and will be entitled to the benefits of the Junior PIK Note Indenture, except
that the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or
hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally, (ii) general
principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding
therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public policy considerations.

                  The 10% Senior Secured Note Indenture has been duly authorized
by the Company and each of the Guarantors and, when executed and delivered by
the Company and each of the Guarantors (assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery by the trustee thereunder), will have been duly executed
and delivered, and upon consummation of the Ares Senior Note Exchange will
constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company and each of the
Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and each of the Guarantors in
accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to
(i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or
other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights
generally, (ii) general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such
enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public
policy considerations.

                  The New Note Indenture has been duly authorized by QDI LLC and
each of the Guarantors and, when executed and delivered by QDI LLC and each of
the Guarantors (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the
trustee thereunder), will have been duly executed and delivered, and upon
consummation of the Ares Debt/Equity Exchange will constitute a valid and
binding obligation of QDI LLC and each of the Guarantors, enforceable against
QDI LLC and each of the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except that the
enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or
hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally, (ii) general
principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding
therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public policy considerations.

                  The Junior PIK Note Indenture has been duly authorized by the
Company and, when executed and delivered by the Company (assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery by the trustee under the Junior PIK Note
Indenture), will have been duly executed and delivered, and upon consummation of
the Ares Debt/Equity Exchange will constitute a valid and binding obligation of
the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar
laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally, (ii)
general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any
proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public policy
considerations.

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                  The Ares Warrants to be issued pursuant to the Ares
Debt/Equity Exchange have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued
and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Warrant Agent under the
Warrant Agreement and delivered against receipt of the Ares Old Notes in
connection with the consummation of the Ares Debt/Equity Exchange in accordance
with the terms of the Offering Memorandum, will be validly issued and will
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the
benefits of the Warrant Agreement and enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject
to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium
or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights
generally, (ii) general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such
enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public
policy considerations.

                  The Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company
and, when executed and delivered by the Company (assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery by the Warrant Agent under the Warrant Agreement), will
have been duly executed and delivered, and upon consummation of the Ares
Debt/Equity Exchange will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except
that the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or
hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally, (ii) general
principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding
therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public policy considerations.

                  The guarantees of the Ares New Notes or the Ares 10% Senior
Secured Notes, as applicable, to be issued by each of the Guarantors have been
duly authorized by each Guarantor and, upon the execution, authentication and
delivery of the Ares New Notes or the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes, as
applicable, and delivery against receipt of the Ares Old Notes in connection
with the consummation of the Ares Debt/Equity Exchange or the Ares Senior Note
Exchange, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of the Offering
Memorandum, will be duly executed and delivered, will be entitled to the
benefits of the New Note Indenture or the 10% Senior Secured Note Indenture, as
applicable, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors,
enforceable against each of the Guarantors in accordance with their terms,
except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar
laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally, (ii)
general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any
proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public policy
considerations.

                  Each of the Security Documents (as defined in the Offering
Memorandum) has been duly authorized by the Company and/or each of the
Guarantors party thereto and, when executed and delivered by the Company and/or
each of such Guarantors (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery
thereof by Credit Suisse First Boston, as collateral agent (the "Collateral
Agent")), will have been duly executed and delivered on the Closing Date and
will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company and/or each of
such Guarantors,

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enforceable against the Company and/or each of such Guarantors in accordance
with its terms and, upon filing of financing statements (containing adequate
descriptions of the Collateral (as defined in the Offering Memorandum)) or
recording of Mortgages (as defined in the Offering Memorandum), or an amendment
to existing Mortgages, as appropriate, with the appropriate governmental
authorities (including payment of the appropriate filing or recording fees and
any applicable taxes) and delivery of the applicable documents to the Collateral
Agent in accordance with the provisions of the Security Documents, a valid and
perfected Lien (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) on the Collateral
consisting of real property and a perfected security interest in the Collateral
consisting of personal property on the Closing Date securing obligations of the
Company and the Guarantors under the New Note Indenture or the 10% Senior
Secured Note Indenture, as applicable, which lien and security interest will be
superior to and prior to the Liens of all third persons other than the holders
of Liens permitted by the applicable Security Document or Permitted Liens under
the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 9, 1998 and amended and restated as of
August 28, 1998, as further amended to the date hereof (including without
limitation pursuant to Amendment No. 5 to the Credit Agreement) (the "Credit
Agreement"), among the Company and the other parties thereto, except that the
enforcement thereof may be subject to (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in
effect relating to creditors' rights generally, (2) general principles of equity
and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law) and (3) public policy considerations.

                  The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized by
the Company or QDI LLC, as applicable, and each of the Guarantors and, when
executed and delivered by the Company or QDI LLC, as applicable, and each of the
Guarantors, will have been duly executed and delivered and will constitute a
valid and binding obligation of the Company or QDI LLC, as applicable, and each
of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Company or QDI LLC, as applicable,
and each of the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except that (i) the
enforcement thereof may be subject to (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in
effect relating to creditors' rights generally, (2) general principles of equity
and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law) and (3) public policy considerations and (ii) any rights to
indemnity or contribution thereunder may be limited by federal and state
securities laws and public policy considerations.

                  (d) No Integration, General Solicitation or Advertising.
Subject to the accuracy of the Ares Entities' representations and warranties
contained in Section 3 hereof, none of the Company or any of the Guarantors or
any of their respective Affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D
under the Securities Act) has directly, or through any agent (other than the
Dealer Manager for the Debt/Equity Exchange), (i) sold, offered for sale,
solicited offers to buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of any "security" (as
defined in the Securities Act) that is or could be integrated with the sale of
the Ares Debt/Equity Securities or the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes, as
applicable, in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities
Act of the Ares Debt/Equity Securities or the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes, as
applicable, or (ii) engaged in any form of general solicitation or general
advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Securities Act)
in connection with the offering of the Ares Debt/Equity

<PAGE>

Securities or the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes, as applicable, or in any manner
involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Securities
Act.

                  (e) Exempt Offering. Assuming the accuracy of the Ares
Entities' representations and warranties contained in Section 3 hereof, it is
not necessary in connection with the offer, exchange and delivery of the Ares
Debt/Equity Securities or Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes, as applicable, in the
manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Offering Memorandum to register
any of the Ares Debt/Equity Securities or Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes, as
applicable, under the Securities Act or to qualify the New Note Indenture or 10%
Senior Secured Note Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

                  (f) Brokers. Except as contemplated by the Dealer Manager
Agreement to be entered into between the Company and Deutsche Bank Securities
Inc., the Company has not paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation
for (i) soliciting another to purchase any of the Company's securities or (ii)
the solicitation of tenders or Consents (as defined in the Offering Memorandum)
by holders of the Old Notes pursuant to the Debt/Equity Exchange or the Ares
Senior Note Exchange.

                  (g) Compliance with Other Instruments. The consummation of the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement will not conflict with or constitute
or result in a breach or violation of, or result in the creation or imposition
of a lien, charge or encumbrance on any property or assets of the Company or any
Guarantor (other than as created pursuant to the New Note Indenture or the 10%
Senior Secured Note Indenture, as applicable, the Credit Agreement or the
Security Documents) under the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default by
the Company or any of the Guarantors under (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, loan agreement, note, lease, license, franchise agreement, permit,
certificate, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or
any of the Guarantors is a party or to which the Company or any of the
Guarantors is subject, which conflict, breach, violation or default would have a
Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or
similar organizational documents) of the Company or any of the Guarantors or
(iii) any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation of any court or
governmental agency or other body applicable to the Company or any of the
Guarantors or any of their respective properties, which conflict, breach,
violation or default, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material
Adverse Effect.

                  (h) No Consents. No material permit, authorization, order,
consent or approval of or by, or any material notification of or filing with,
any person (governmental or private) is required in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the
consummation by the Company and the Guarantors of the transactions contemplated
hereby, except (i) such as have been obtained on or prior to the Closing Date,
(ii) such as may be required under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, state
securities or "Blue Sky" laws in connection with the exchange of the Ares
Debt/Equity Securities or the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes, as applicable,
(iii) such as may be required under the Registration Rights Agreement and (iv)
such filings and recordings with governmental authorities as may be required to
perfect liens under the Security Documents.

<PAGE>

                  (i) None of the Company or any of the Guarantors is now or,
after giving effect to the offering and issuance of the Ares Debt/Equity
Securities or the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes, as applicable, and the
cancellation of the Ares Old Notes accepted in the Ares Debt/Equity Exchange or
the Ares Senior Note Exchange and the consummation of the other transactions
contemplated by the Offering Memorandum, will be an "investment company" or a
company "controlled by" an "investment company" within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                  (j) As of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, the
Offering Memorandum does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not misleading, except that the Company makes no representation or
warranty with respect to any statement contained in, or any matter omitted from,
the Offering Memorandum relating to the Ares Entities in reliance upon
information furnished by the Ares Entities.

                  (k) The Company's authorized equity capitalization is as set
forth in the Offering Memorandum, and the capital stock of the Company conforms
in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Offering
Memorandum.

                  (l) The audited consolidated financial statements and related
notes of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries incorporated by reference
in the Offering Memorandum present fairly, in all material respects, the
consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the
Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates and for the periods to
which they relate and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles applied on a consistent basis; and PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, which has audited the consolidated financial statements as set forth in its
reports incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum, is an independent
public accountant with respect to the Company under Rule 101 of the Code of
Professional Conduct of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants,
and its rulings and interpretations.

         5. Conditions of Ares Entities' Obligations. If any Ares Entity desires
to claim that any of the conditions set forth in this Section 5 have not been
satisfied, such Ares Entity must deliver a notice (the "Condition Notice") to
the Company prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Expiration Date (as
defined in the Offering Memorandum). If a Condition Notice is not timely
delivered pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the Ares Entities
shall be deemed to have waived the conditions set forth in this Section 5;
provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall remain
obligated to fully perform all of its covenants herein and shall take all
actions necessary to satisfy all of its conditions that are to be satisfied
simultaneously with the Closing.

                  (a) Conditions with Respect to All Transactions. The
obligation of each of the Ares Entities to consummate any of the transactions
set forth in Section 1 hereof is subject to the fulfillment of each of the
following conditions before or simultaneously with the Closing, any of which may
be waived in whole or in part by the Ares Entities:

<PAGE>

                           (i) Continued Accuracy of the Company's
         Representations and Warranties and Performance of the Company's
         Covenants. The representations and warranties of the Company contained
         in Section 4 hereof shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing
         Date with the same effect as though such representations and warranties
         had been made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent
         expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier
         date). The covenants of the Company contained herein shall have been
         fully performed, including, without limitation, those provided for in
         Section 2(b) hereof.

                           (ii) Officer's Certificate. The Company shall have
         delivered to the Ares Entities a certificate executed by an authorized
         officer of the Company stating that each of the conditions set forth in
         this Section 5 applicable to the transaction to be consummated have
         each been satisfied (including the delivery of any supporting
         documentation reasonably requested by the Ares Entities).

                  (b) Conditions with Respect to the Ares Debt/Equity Exchange.
In addition to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5(a)
hereof, the obligation of each of the Ares Entities to consummate the Ares
Debt/Equity Exchange is subject to the fulfillment of each of the following
conditions before or simultaneously with the Closing, any of which may be waived
in whole or in part by the Ares Entities:

                           (i) Closing of Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange. In the
         event that (A) prior to or on the Expiration Date (as defined in the
         Offering Memorandum) the $61.3 Million Threshold (as defined in the
         Offering Memorandum) has been satisfied or waived by the Company and
         (B) prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 31, 2002, the $78.3
         Million Threshold (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) has not been
         satisfied, the Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange shall have been consummated
         pursuant to the terms set forth in the Apollo Lock-Up Agreement.

                           (ii) Closing of Apollo Junior Transactions. In the
         event that prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 31, 2002, the
         $78.3 Million Threshold (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) has
         been satisfied or waived by Apollo, the Apollo Junior Transactions
         shall have been consummated pursuant to the terms set forth in the
         Apollo Lock-Up Agreement.

         6. Conditions of the Company's Obligations. The obligation of the
Company to consummate the transactions contemplated herein at the Closing is
subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions before or
simultaneously with the Closing, any of which may be waived in whole or in part
by the Company:

                  (a) Continued Accuracy of the Ares Entities' Representations
and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Ares Entities
contained in Section 3 hereof shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing
Date with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been
made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an
earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date).

<PAGE>

                  (b) Performance of Covenants. The covenants of the Ares
Entities contained herein shall have been performed.

         7. Registration Rights.

                  The Ares Entities will have such registration rights (a) with
respect to the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes, as set forth in the Registration
Rights Agreement or (b) with respect to the Ares New Notes, as set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement.

         8. Legends.

                  (a) Until a registration statement covering the Ares 10%
Senior Secured Notes or the Ares Debt/Equity Securities (including the Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of the Ares Warrants comprising such Ares
Debt/Equity Securities), if any, is declared effective, all certificates
representing such securities which were issued in exchange for the Ares Old
Notes hereunder shall bear substantially the following legend:

                  THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
                  OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE
                  UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER SAID ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE
                  SECURITIES LAWS OR UNLESS AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION
                  IS AVAILABLE OR UPON DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OR
                  OTHER EVIDENCE REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO QUALITY
                  DISTRIBUTION, INC. THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

                  (b) In addition to the legend set forth in Section 8(a)
hereof, the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes, the Ares New Notes and the Ares
Warrants (including the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Ares Warrants
comprising such Ares Debt/Equity Securities), if any, shall also bear
substantially the following legend:

                  THIS SECURITY IS ALSO SUBJECT TO, AND HAS THE BENEFIT OF, A
                  REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF [_________] [__],
                  2002 BETWEEN THE HOLDER AND QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, [INC.][LLC],
                  COPIES OF WHICH ARE ON FILE WITH QUALITY DISTRIBUTION,
                  [INC.][LLC].

                  (c) In addition to the legend set forth in Section 8(a) and
Section 8(b) hereof, the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes, the Ares New Notes, the
Ares Junior PIK Notes and the Ares Warrants (including the Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of the Ares Warrants comprising such Ares Debt/Equity Securities),
if any, shall also bear any legend required to be placed thereon by DTC or any
applicable state corporation, commercial or securities law.

         9. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. None of the
representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement or in any
instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing.

         10. Termination; Effect of Termination.

<PAGE>

                  (a) Termination. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein may, by
written notice given at any time prior to the Closing, be terminated:

                           (i) by either the Company, on the one hand, or any of
         the Ares Entities (with respect to itself only), on the other hand,
         upon their mutual written consent;

                           (ii) by either the Company, on the one hand, or any
         of the Ares Entities (with respect to itself only), on the other hand,
         without liability to the terminating party or parties on account of
         such termination if the Closing has not occurred (other than through
         the failure of any party seeking to terminate this Agreement to fully
         comply with its obligations hereunder) on or before June 30, 2002; or

                           (iii) by any of the Ares Entities (with respect to
         itself only), if the Company has amended the terms of the Offering
         Memorandum as in effect as of the date hereof in a manner that
         adversely affects the aggregate value of the Ares Debt/Equity
         Securities or the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes to be received by the
         Ares Entities pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

                  (b) Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination and
abandonment of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10(a) of this Agreement, this
Agreement (other than Section 11(b) (Expenses), Section 11(c) (Notices), Section
11(d) (Confidentiality), Section 11(h) (Choice of Law), Section 11(k)
(Jurisdiction) and Section 11(m) (Waiver of Jury Trial) which shall remain in
full force and effect) shall forthwith become null and void and no party hereto
(or any of their respective representatives) shall have any liability or further
obligation to any other party hereto, except as provided in this Section 10(b);
provided, however, that if this Agreement is terminated by a party because of
the breach of this Agreement by the other party or because one or more of the
conditions to the terminating party's obligations under this Agreement is not
satisfied as a result of the other party's failure to fully comply with its
obligations under this Agreement, the terminating party's rights to pursue all
legal remedies will survive such termination unimpaired.

         11. Miscellaneous.

                  (a) Amendment. This Agreement and any provision hereof may
only be changed, waived, discharged or terminated upon the written consent of
each of the parties hereto; provided, however, that if the number, composition
or terms of the Debt/Equity Securities offered on the date hereof in the
Debt/Equity Exchange are revised, then the number of Ares Debt/Equity Securities
to be delivered to the Ares Entities pursuant to Schedule I attached hereto
shall be deemed to be automatically amended to reflect such change(s), without
any action by the parties hereto.

                  (b) Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated
hereby are consummated, each of the Company and the Ares Entities shall pay
their own expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby; provided, however, if the transactions contemplated hereby are
consummated, the Company shall reimburse the Ares Entities for their reasonable
out-of-pocket legal expenses incurred in connection with the transactions

<PAGE>

contemplated hereby upon the receipt by the Company of reasonable documentation
detailing such legal expenses.

                  (c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, next-day air courier, telex, facsimile, telecopier, or similar
writing:

                        (i) if to any Ares Entity, to such Ares Entity at:

                               1999 Avenue of the Stars
                               Suite 1900
                               Los Angeles, California  90007
                               Attention: David Sachs
                               Telephone: (310) 201-4176
                               Facsimile: (310) 201-4170

                        (ii) If to the Company, to:

                            Quality Distribution, Inc.
                            3802 Corporex Park Drive
                            Tampa, Florida  33619
                            Attention: Chief Executive Officer and President
                            Telephone: (800) 282-2031
                            Facsimile: (813) 630-9637

                            with a copy to:

                            O'Sullivan LLP
                            30 Rockefeller Plaza
                            New York, New York  10112
                            Attention: Stewart A. Kagan
                            Telephone: (212) 408-2442
                            Facsimile: (212) 408-2420

                           (iii) All such notices and communications shall be
         deemed to have been duly given: (A) when delivered by hand, if
         personally delivered; (B) five (5) business days after being deposited
         in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; (C) one (1) business day after
         being timely dispatched postage prepaid, if by same-day or next-day
         courier; (D) when answered back, if telexed; (E) when receipt
         acknowledged, if sent by facsimile transmission and (F) if given by any
         other means, when delivered at the addresses referred to in this
         Section 11(c). Any of the above addresses may be changed by notice made
         in accordance with this Section 11(c).

                  (d) Confidentiality. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, each Ares Entity shall, and shall cause its respective representatives
to, maintain in confidence and not use to the detriment of the Company any
written, oral or other information relating to the Company or to the business of
the Company obtained from the Company or any of its representatives, except to
the extent (i) any such information is or becomes generally available to the
public other

<PAGE>

than as a result of disclosure by any of the Ares Entities or any of their
respective representatives, (ii) any such information is required to be
disclosed by a court or governmental entity of competent jurisdiction or (iii)
that use of such information is necessary or appropriate in making any filing or
obtaining any consent or approval required for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated herein, and each Ares Entity shall instruct its
representatives having access to such information of such obligation of
confidentiality.

                  (e) No Disposition. Each of the Ares Entities agrees not to,
and to cause any investment banker, attorney or other adviser or representative
of any of the Ares Entities not to, directly or indirectly (i) sell, transfer,
pledge or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any arrangement with respect to
the sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of the Ares Old Notes, other
than any pledge of the Ares Old Notes existing as of the date hereof or (ii)
grant any proxies with respect to any Ares Old Notes, deposit any Ares Old Notes
into a voting trust or enter into a voting or option agreement with respect to
any Ares Old Notes.

                  (f) Parties in Interest. All the terms and provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto, whether so
expressed or not.

                  (g) Headings. The headings of the sections and paragraphs of
this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and do not
constitute a part of this Agreement.

                  (h) Choice of Law. The internal laws of the State of New York
shall govern the enforceability and validity of this Agreement, the construction
of its terms and the interpretation of the rights and duties of the parties
hereto without giving effect to conflicts of laws, rules or principles.

                  (i) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Apollo Lock-Up
Agreement, the Management Group Lock-Up Agreement and the Offering Memorandum
(including the exhibits and schedules attached to each such document) contain
the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersede and replace all other prior agreements, written or oral,
among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, including,
without limitation, that certain Commitment Letter, dated as of January 29, 2002
between the Ares Entities and the Company.

                  (j) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, with
the same effect as if all parties had signed the same document. All such
counterparts shall be deemed an original, shall be construed together and shall
constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become effective
when each party hereto shall have received a counterpart hereof signed by the
other party hereto.

                  (k) Jurisdiction. Any suit, action or proceeding seeking to
enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection
with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be brought in
any federal or state court located in the State of New York, and each of the
parties hereby consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and of the
appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding
and

<PAGE>

irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which
it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action
or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding
which is brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on any party
anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such
court. Without limiting the foregoing, each party agrees that service of process
on such party as provided in Section 11(c) hereof shall be deemed effective
service of process on such party.

                  (l) No Implied Waiver. No failure or delay by any party in
exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.
The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of
any rights or remedies provided by law.

                  (m) Waiver of Jury Trial.

                  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND
ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO
THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

                  (n) Further Assurances. Each Ares Entity agrees to do such
further acts and things, and to execute and deliver such additional conveyances,
assignments, agreements and instruments, as may be reasonably requested in
connection with the administration and enforcement of this Agreement and to
permit the exercise thereof in compliance with any applicable law, including
without limitation the execution and delivery of any additional consents in
connection with approval of the proposed amendments to the Existing Indenture
pursuant to Section 1(c) hereof, as may be reasonably requested by the Company.

                  (o) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated
so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated
hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such
a determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this
Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as
possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated
hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

                                    * * * * *

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the date first above written.

                               QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, INC.

                               /s/ Thomas L. Finkbiner
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Name:
                               Title:

                               ARES LEVERAGED INVESTMENT FUND, L.P.
                               By: Ares Management, L.P., its general partner

                               /s/ Seth J. Brufsky
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Name:
                               Title:

                               ARES LEVERAGED INVESTMENT FUND II, L.P.
                               By: Ares Management II, L.P., its general partner

                               /s/ Seth J. Brufsky
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Name:
                               Title:

<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE I

                            ARES DEBT/EQUITY EXCHANGE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    Ares Debt/Equity Securities to be Received (2)       Aggregate Principal Amount of
                                                                                                 Ares Old Notes
                                                                                              To Be Surrendered (3)
                            ---------------------- ---------------------- -------------- -----------------------------
ARES Entity (1)                                     Aggregate Principal      Number of       Fixed        FIRSTS
-------------------------    Aggregate Principal           Amount of         Warrants      Rate Notes
                             Amount of New Notes     Junior PIK Notes
                            ---------------------- ---------------------- -------------- ------------- ---------------
<S>                               <C>                   <C>                   <C>         <C>           <C>
ARES Leveraged Investment         $8,125,000            $1,875,000            19,875      $7,500,000    $5,000,000
Fund, L.P.

ARES Leveraged Investment         $6,500,000            $1,500,000            15,900     $10,000,000
Fund, II, L.P.
                            ---------------------- ---------------------- -------------- ------------- ---------------

Total                            $14,625,000            $3,375,000            35,775     $17,500,000    $5,000,000
                           ======================= ====================== ============== ============= ===============
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                           SCHEDULE II
                                    ARES SENIOR NOTE EXCHANGE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Aggregate Principal Amount of
                                                                 Ares Old Notes
                                                              To Be Surrendered (3)
                                                        --------------------------------
                                   Aggregate Principal     Fixed              FIRSTS
                                      Amount of 10%     Rate Notes
                                         Senior
ARES Entity (1)                     Secured Notes (2)
                                   -------------------- -------------- -----------------
<S>                                         <C>            <C>                <C>
ARES Leveraged Investment Fund,             $12,500,000    $7,500,000         $5,000,000
L.P.

ARES Leveraged Investment Fund II,          $10,000,000   $10,000,000
L.P.
                                   -------------------- -------------- -----------------
Total                                       $22,500,000   $17,500,000         $5,000,000
                                   ==================== ============== =================
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                             AMENDMENT NO. 1, dated as of May
                                    30, 2002 (this "Amendment No. 1"), to the
                                    Lock-Up Agreement, entered into as of April
                                    10, 2002 (the "Lock-Up Agreement"), among
                                    ARES LEVERAGED INVESTMENT FUND, L.P. and
                                    ARES LEVERAGED INVESTMENT FUND II, L.P.
                                    (collectively, the "Ares Entities") and
                                    QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, INC., a Florida
                                    corporation (the "Company").

                                    RECITALS

                  The Company and the Ares Entities agree to certain amendments
to the Lock-Up Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises contained
herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:

         Section 1. Defined Terms. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms
defined in the Lock-Up Agreement are used herein as defined therein.

         Section 2. Amendment to the Lock-Up Agreement.

                  2.1. Section 2(b) of the Lock-Up Agreement is hereby amended
in its entirety to read as follows:

                  "Company Obligations. At the Closing, the Company will cause
to be delivered to the Ares Entities (i) the Ares Debt/Equity Securities through
the facilities of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or (ii) the Ares 10%
Senior Secured Notes, as the case may be. In addition, at the Closing the
Company will cause to be delivered to the Ares Entities an executed copy of the
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among QDI
LLC (in the event of consummation of the Ares Debt/Equity Exchange) or
alternatively, the Company (in the event of consummation of the Ares Senior Note
Exchange) and The Bank of New York, substantially in the form described in the
Offering Memorandum (the "Registration Rights Agreement") and reliance letters
addressed to the Ares Entities with respect to those portions of the legal
opinions and certificates delivered to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (as Dealer
Manager for the Debt/Equity Exchange) as the Ares Entities shall reasonably
request."

                  2.2. Section 7(b) of the Lock-Up Agreement is hereby amended
in its entirety to read as follows:

                  "In addition to the legend set forth in Section 8(a) hereof,
the Ares 10% Senior Secured Notes, the Ares New Notes and the Ares Warrants
(including the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Ares Warrants
comprising such Ares Debt/Equity Securities), if any, shall also bear
substantially the following legend:

<PAGE>

                  THIS SECURITY IS ALSO SUBJECT TO, AND HAS THE BENEFIT OF, A
                  REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 30, 2002 BETWEEN
                  QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, LLC AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK, COPIES OF
                  WHICH ARE ON FILE WITH QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, LLC."

                  2.3. Effectiveness. This Amendment No. 1 shall become
effective as of the date hereof (the "Effective Date"). By executing this
Amendment No. 1, the Ares Entities acknowledge that they will have such
registration rights with respect to the Ares New Notes or the Ares 10% Senior
Secured Notes, as applicable, as are granted to the other holders of New Notes
or the Company's 10% Senior Secured Notes, as applicable.

         Section 3. References to the Lock-Up Agreement. From and after the
Effective Date, all references in the Lock-Up Agreement and any other documents
to the Lock-Up Agreement shall be deemed to be references to the Lock-Up
Agreement after giving effect to this Amendment No. 1.

         Section 4. No Other Amendments. Except as expressly set forth herein,
the Lock-Up Agreement remains in full force and effect in accordance with its
terms and nothing contained herein shall be deemed (i) to be a waiver,
amendment, modification or other change of any term, condition or provision of
the Lock-Up Agreement or any other document (or a consent to any such waiver,
amendment, modification or other change), (ii) to be a consent to any
transaction or (iii) to prejudice any right or rights which the Company or the
Ares Entities may have under the Lock-Up Agreement and/or any other document.

         Section 5. Further Assurances. The parties hereto agree to do such
further acts and things, and to execute and deliver such additional conveyances,
assignments, agreements and instruments, as may be reasonably requested in
connection with the administration and enforcement of this Amendment No. 1 and
to permit the exercise thereof in compliance with any applicable law.

         Section 6. Notices. All notices, demands and requests of any kind to be
delivered to any party hereto in connection with this Amendment No. 1 shall be
delivered in accordance with the notice provisions contained in the Lock-Up
Agreement.

         Section 7. Headings. The headings used herein are for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the construction of, nor shall they be taken
into consideration in interpreting, this Amendment No. 1.

         Section 8. Counterparts. This Amendment No. 1 may be executed in any
number of separate counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of
which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile
counterpart signatures to this Amendment No. 1 shall be acceptable and binding.

         Section 9. Applicable Law. THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 SHALL BE GOVERNED BY,
AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF

<PAGE>

THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW).

                            [SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment No. 1
to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.

                               COMPANY:

                               QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, INC.

                               /s/ Thomas Finkbiner
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Name:
                               Title:

<PAGE>

                               ARES ENTITIES:

                               ARES LEVERAGED INVESTMENT FUND, L.P.
                               By: Ares Management, L.P., its general partner

                               /s/ Seth J. Brufsky
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Name:
                               Title:

                               ARES LEVERAGED INVESTMENT FUND II, L.P.
                               By: Ares Management II, L.P., its general partner

                               /s/ Seth J. Brufsky
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Name:
                               Title:<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.28

                         LOCK-UP AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT

         This LOCK-UP AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into
as of April 10, 2002, by and among Quality Distribution, Inc., a Florida
corporation (the "Company"), and Apollo Investment Fund III, L.P., Apollo
Overseas Partners III, L.P. and Apollo (U.K.) Partners III, L.P. (collectively,
the "Apollo Entities").

         WHEREAS, the Company has issued $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount
of its 10% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006 (the "Fixed Rate Notes")
and $40,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Series B Floating Interest
Rate Subordinated Term Securities due 2006 (FIRSTS(SM)) (the "FIRSTS", and
together with the Fixed Rate Notes, the "Old Notes"); and

         WHEREAS, the Apollo Entities own an aggregate of $29,500,000 principal
amount of the Old Notes (the "Apollo Old Notes"), and such principal amount
remains outstanding as of the date hereof; and

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of an Offering Memorandum and Consent
Solicitation Statement, dated as of the date hereof, and incorporated herein by
reference (as such document may be amended and/or supplemented from time to
time, the "Offering Memorandum"; references herein to the Offering Memorandum or
to information included therein include all material incorporated therein by
reference), the Company is offering all holders of Old Notes (other than the
Apollo Entities, ARES Leveraged Investment Fund, L.P. and ARES Leveraged
Investment Fund II, L.P. (collectively, the "Ares Entities") and certain members
of management of the Company (the "Management Group")) the opportunity to
exchange pursuant to the terms set forth in the Offering Memorandum (the
"Debt/Equity Exchange"), Old Notes for debt and equity securities (the
"Debt/Equity Securities") consisting of (a) 12.5% Senior Subordinated Secured
Notes due 2008 (the "New Notes"), which will be issued by Quality Distribution,
LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company ("QDI LLC") to be formed on or
prior to the Closing Date, (b) 12% Junior Subordinated PIK Notes due 2009 (the
"Junior PIK Notes"), which will be issued by the Company and (c) Warrants (the
"Warrants"), each to purchase one share of the Company's Common Stock, $0.01 par
value per share (the "Common Stock"); and

         WHEREAS, simultaneous with the consummation of the Debt/Equity Exchange
and upon the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth herein, the Company
has agreed to issue to the Apollo Entities, and the Apollo Entities have agreed
to acquire from the Company, Debt/Equity Securities in exchange (the "Apollo
Debt/Equity Exchange") for all of the Apollo Old Notes, all as more fully set
forth herein; and

         WHEREAS, simultaneous with the consummation of the Debt/Equity Exchange
and upon the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in that certain
Lock-Up Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company and the Ares
Entities (the "Ares Lock-Up Agreement"), the Company has agreed to issue to the
Ares Entities, and the Ares Entities have agreed to acquire from the Company,
Debt/Equity Securities in exchange (the "Ares Debt/Equity Exchange") for all of
the Old Notes owned by the Ares Entities, all as more fully set forth therein;
and

<PAGE>

         WHEREAS, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth herein,
in lieu of consummating the Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange and simultaneous with
the consummation of the Debt/Equity Exchange, the Apollo Entities have agreed to
acquire from the Company, and the Company has agreed to issue to the Apollo
Entities, shares of the Company's 13.75% Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per
share (the "13.75% Preferred Stock"), in exchange (the "Apollo Junior Exchange")
for all of the Apollo Old Notes, all as more fully set forth herein; and

         WHEREAS, if the Apollo Junior Exchange is to be consummated and certain
conditions set forth herein are satisfied, the Apollo Entities have agreed to
purchase from the Company, and the Company has agreed to sell to the Apollo
Entities (the "Apollo Equity Investment" and, together with the Apollo Junior
Exchange, the "Apollo Junior Transactions"), additional shares of 13.75%
Preferred Stock, all as more fully set forth herein; and

         WHEREAS, if the Debt/Equity Exchange is not consummated because certain
conditions thereto are not satisfied, in lieu of the Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange
or the Apollo Junior Transactions, as the case may be, the Company has agreed to
issue to the Apollo Entities, and the Apollo Entities have agreed to acquire
from the Company, the Company's 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2008 (the "Apollo
10% Senior Secured Notes") in exchange (the "Apollo Senior Note Exchange") for
all of the Apollo Old Notes, all as more fully set forth herein; and

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms set forth in that certain Lock-Up
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company and the Management
Group (the "Management Group Lock-Up Agreement"), the Company has agreed to
issue to the Management Group, and the Management Group has agreed to acquire
from the Company, (i) Debt/Equity Securities, (ii) shares of 13.75% Preferred
Stock or (iii) the Company's 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2008, in each case in
exchange for all of the Old Notes owned by the Management Group and simultaneous
with the consummation of the Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange, Apollo Junior
Transactions or Apollo Senior Note Exchange, respectively, all as more fully set
forth therein.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound
hereby, agree as follows:

    1. The Transactions.

         (a) The Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange.

                  (i) Consideration. Subject to the terms and conditions
    contained herein, if the conditions set forth in Section 5(a) and Section
    5(b) hereof are satisfied (or waived by the Apollo Entities), then the
    Company shall issue to each Apollo Entity that number of Debt/Equity
    Securities (the "Apollo Debt/Equity Securities") set forth opposite such
    Apollo Entity's name in column 2 of Schedule I attached hereto and each
    Apollo Entity shall deliver to the Company in exchange therefor the
    principal amount of Apollo Old Notes set forth opposite such Apollo Entity's
    name in column 3 of Schedule I attached hereto. Any unpaid interest on the
    Apollo Old Notes accrued through the Closing Date (as defined herein) will
    become immediately due and payable on the first interest payment date
    provided for in the New Notes.

                                        2

<PAGE>

                  (ii) Terms of the Apollo Debt/Equity Securities. The Apollo
    Debt/Equity Securities will be governed by (A) in the case of the New Notes
    (the "Apollo New Notes"), an Indenture in the form attached to the Offering
    Memorandum (the "New Note Indenture"), (B) in the case of the Junior PIK
    Notes (the "Apollo Junior PIK Notes"), an Indenture in the form attached to
    the Offering Memorandum (the "Junior PIK Note Indenture") and (C) in the
    case of the Warrants (the "Apollo Warrants"), a Warrant Agreement in the
    form attached to the Offering Memorandum (the "Warrant Agreement"); in each
    case as such document may be amended and/or supplemented from time to time.

        (b) The Apollo Junior Exchange.

                  (i)  Consideration. Subject to the terms and conditions
    contained herein, if the conditions set forth in Section 5(a) and Section
    5(c) hereof are satisfied (or waived by the Apollo Entities), then in lieu
    of consummating the Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange, the Company shall issue to
    each Apollo Entity that number of shares of 13.75% Preferred Stock set forth
    opposite such Apollo Entity's name in column 2 of Schedule II attached
    hereto and each Apollo Entity shall deliver to the Company in exchange
    therefor the principal amount of Apollo Old Notes set forth opposite such
    Apollo Entity's name in column 3 of Schedule II attached hereto. Any unpaid
    interest on the Apollo Old Notes accrued through the Closing Date will
    become immediately due and payable on the same date that holders of
    Debt/Equity Securities receive such interest on their Old Notes pursuant to
    the terms of the Offering Memorandum.

                  (ii) Terms of the 13.75% Preferred Stock. The terms and
    conditions of the 13.75% Preferred Stock shall be as set forth in the
    Articles of Amendment filed in connection therewith in the form attached to
    the Offering Memorandum.

        (c) The Apollo Equity Investment.

                  (i)  Consideration. Subject to the terms and conditions
    hereof, if the conditions set forth in Section 5(a) and Section 5(d) hereof
    are satisfied (or waived by the Apollo Entities), then the Company shall
    sell to each Apollo Entity, and each Apollo Entity shall purchase from the
    Company, that number of shares of 13.75% Preferred Stock set forth opposite
    such Apollo Entity's name in column 2 of Schedule III attached hereto in
    exchange for the cash consideration set forth opposite such Apollo Entity's
    name in column 3 of Schedule III attached hereto.

                  (ii) Repayment of Tranche D Term Loan. The Company hereby
    agrees that upon its receipt of the cash consideration (the "Cash
    Consideration") delivered by the Apollo Entities pursuant to the terms of
    the Apollo Equity Investment, the Company shall immediately use all of such
    Cash Consideration to repay that portion of the Tranche D Term Loan (as
    defined in the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 9, 1998 and amended and
    restated as of August 28, 1998, as further amended to the date hereof
    (including without limitation pursuant to Amendment No. 5 to the Credit
    Agreement) (the "Credit Agreement"), among the Company and the other parties
    thereto) equal to the amount of the Cash Consideration.

                                      3

<PAGE>

        (d) The Apollo 10% Senior Note Exchange.

                  (i)  Consideration. Subject to the terms and conditions
    contained herein, if the conditions set forth in Section 5(a) have been
    satisfied (or waived by the Apollo Entities) and if the Senior Note Exchange
    (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) has been consummated pursuant to the
    terms set forth in the Offering Memorandum, then the Company shall issue to
    each Apollo Entity the principal amount of Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes
    set forth opposite such Apollo Entity's name in column 2 of Schedule IV
    attached hereto and each Apollo Entity shall deliver to the Company in
    exchange therefor the principal amount of Apollo Old Notes set forth
    opposite such Apollo Entity's name in column 3 of Schedule IV attached
    hereto. Any unpaid interest on the Apollo Old Notes accrued through the
    Closing Date will become immediately due and payable on the first interest
    payment date provided for in the Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes.

                  (ii) Terms of the Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes. The Apollo
    10% Senior Secured Notes will be governed by an Indenture to be dated the
    Closing Date (as defined below) (the "10% Senior Secured Note Indenture").
    The Company hereby agrees that in the event the Apollo Senior Note Exchange
    is to be consummated, the Company shall take all action necessary to have
    the 10% Senior Secured Note Indenture and any security agreement related
    thereto (reasonably acceptable to the Apollo Entities) executed and
    delivered on or prior to the Closing Date.

    2. Closing.

         (a) Closing Date. The consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby (each, a "Closing"), shall occur at the offices of O'Sullivan LLP, 30
Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10112 on the following dates: (i) in the
case of the Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange and the Apollo Junior Transactions,
simultaneously with the closing of the Debt/Equity Exchange and (ii) in the case
of the Apollo Senior Note Exchange, simultaneously with the closing of the
Senior Note Exchange (as defined in the Offering Memorandum). For purposes of
this Agreement, the date of the Closing provided for in the immediate preceding
sentence is hereinafter referred to as the "Closing Date".

         (b) Company Obligations. At the Closing, the Company will cause to be
delivered to the Apollo Entities (i) the Apollo Debt/Equity Securities through
the facilities of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), (ii) the Apollo 10%
Senior Secured Notes, or (iii) the 13.75% Preferred Stock, as the case may be.
In addition, at the Closing (other than in the case of a closing of the Apollo
Junior Transactions) the Company will cause to be delivered to the Apollo
Entities an executed copy of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the
Closing Date, by and among QDI LLC (in the event of consummation of the Apollo
Debt/Equity Exchange) or alternatively, the Company (in the event of
consummation of the Apollo Senior Note Exchange), the Apollo Entities and the
other parties thereto, substantially in the form described in the Offering
Memorandum (the "Registration Rights Agreement") and reliance letters addressed
to the Apollo Entities with respect to those portions of the legal opinions and
certificates delivered to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (as Dealer Manager for
the Debt/Equity Exchange) as the Apollo Entities shall reasonably request.

                                      4

<PAGE>

         (c) Apollo Entities' Obligations. At the Closing, the Apollo Entities
will cause to be delivered to the Company (i) the Apollo Old Notes through the
facilities of DTC, (ii) if applicable, an executed copy of the Registration
Rights Agreement and (iii) if applicable, the Cash Consideration in immediately
available funds as set forth on Schedule III attached hereto.

    3. Representations of the Apollo Entities.

         The Apollo Entities hereby represent and warrant to the Company as
follows:

         (a) Authorization. Each Apollo Entity has the requisite power and
authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been duly and validly
authorized, and all necessary action has been taken to make this Agreement a
legal, valid and binding obligation of each Apollo Entity, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to
(i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or
other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights
generally, (ii) general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such
enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public
policy considerations.

         (b) No Violations. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement
nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by any of the
Apollo Entities shall (i) violate any law, the result of which would prevent
such Apollo Entity from consummating the transactions contemplated hereby or
(ii) conflict with the organizational documents of any of the Apollo Entities or
result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration
of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel,
or require any notice under, any contract to which such Apollo Entity is a party
or by which such Apollo Entity is bound or to which any of such Apollo Entity's
assets is subject, the result of which would prevent the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

         (c) No Consents. No material permit, authorization, order, consent or
approval of or by, or any material notification of or filing with, any person
(governmental or private) is required in connection with the execution, delivery
and performance by any of the Apollo Entities of this Agreement or the
consummation by any of the Apollo Entities of the transactions contemplated
hereby.

         (d) Access to Information. The Company has made available to the Apollo
Entities all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents filed by
the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), and the Apollo Entities have received physical delivery of all
such documents, records and information which the Apollo Entities have
requested, and have had adequate opportunity to ask questions of, and receive
answers from, the Company's officers, employees, agents, accountants, and
representatives concerning the Company's business, operations, financial
condition, assets, liabilities, and all other matters relevant in consummating
the transactions contemplated herein.

                                      5

<PAGE>

         (e) Title to Old Notes. Immediately prior to the Closing, each Apollo
Entity will have title to the Apollo Old Notes being exchanged by such Apollo
Entity, as applicable, free and clear of all claims, liens, title defects and
objections or equities of any kind and nature whatsoever.

         (f) Investment Representations.

                     (i)     Each Apollo Entity is the person who exercises full
     investment discretion with respect to the Apollo Old Notes owned by such
     Apollo Entity and the Apollo Entities have neither purchased nor sold for
     their account any Apollo Old Notes, as applicable, since the original
     issuance thereof.

                     (ii)    Each Apollo Entity is acquiring the Apollo 10%
     Senior Secured Notes, the Apollo Debt/Equity Securities or the 13.75%
     Preferred Stock, as applicable, for its own account, and not as a nominee
     or agent for any other person, firm or corporation, and not with a view to
     the sale or distribution of all or any part thereof in any transaction that
     would be in violation of the securities laws of the United States, and it
     has no present intention of selling or otherwise distributing any of such
     securities in violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
     "Securities Act"). The Apollo Entities do not have any contract,
     undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any person, firm or corporation
     to sell, transfer or grant participations to such person, firm or
     corporation with respect to any such securities.

                     (iii)   Each Apollo Entity understands that none of the
     Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes, the Apollo Debt/Equity Securities
     (including the Apollo Warrants and the Common Stock issuable upon exercise
     of the Apollo Warrants comprising the Apollo Debt/Equity Securities) or the
     13.75% Preferred Stock, as applicable, acquired hereunder will be
     registered under the Securities Act on the Closing Date, in part based upon
     an exemption from registration predicated on the accuracy and completeness
     of its representations and warranties appearing herein. Each Apollo Entity
     understands and acknowledges that, as a result, it will not be permitted to
     sell, transfer or assign any of such securities acquired hereunder until
     such securities are registered, or an exemption from the registration and
     prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act is available.

                     (iv)    Each Apollo Entity agrees that in no event will it
     make a disposition of any of the Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes, the
     Apollo Debt/Equity Securities (including the Apollo Warrants and the Common
     Stock issuable upon exercise of the Apollo Warrants comprising the Apollo
     Debt/Equity Securities) or the 13.75% Preferred Stock, as applicable, or
     any interest therein, unless such securities are registered under the
     Securities Act or unless and until (A) it shall have notified the Company
     of the proposed disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a
     statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition and (B)
     it shall have furnished the Company with an opinion of counsel,
     satisfactory in form and content to the Company, to the effect that (x)
     such disposition will not require registration of such security under the
     Securities Act or compliance with applicable state securities laws or (y)
     an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is
     available and that all appropriate action

                                      6

<PAGE>

     necessary for compliance thereunder and under the applicable state
     securities laws has been taken.

                     (v)     Each Apollo Entity is an "Accredited Investor" as
     such term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the
     Securities Act; does not require the assistance of an investment advisor or
     other purchaser representative to participate in the transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement; has such knowledge and experience in
     financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits
     and risks of its investment in the Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes, the
     Apollo Debt/Equity Securities or the 13.75% Preferred Stock, as applicable;
     has the ability to bear the economic risks of its investment for an
     indefinite period of time; and has had adequate opportunity to ask
     questions of, and receive answers from, the Company concerning all matters
     relevant to the transactions contemplated herein.

         (g) Section 4(2) Exemption. Each Apollo Entity acknowledges that the
transactions contemplated hereby are intended to be exempt from registration by
virtue of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. Each Apollo Entity knows of no
reason why such exemption would not be available for the transactions
contemplated hereby.

         (h) Brokers. There is no broker, investment banker, financial advisor,
finder or other person which has been retained by or is authorized to act on
behalf of the Apollo Entities who might be entitled to any fee or commission for
which the Company will be liable in connection with the execution of this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

     4. The Company's Representations.

         The Company hereby represents and warrants to each Apollo Entity (i)
with respect to itself and each Guarantor (as defined below) on the date hereof
and (ii) in the event of the Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange, with respect to QDI
LLC on the Closing Date, as follows:

         (a) Organization, Authority, etc. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries which are guarantors of the Old Notes and will become guarantors of
the Apollo New Notes or the Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes, as applicable (the
"Guarantors"), has been duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, is
validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization, with all requisite corporate or other power and
authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its businesses as now
conducted as described in the Offering Memorandum, and is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in all other
jurisdictions where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of
its businesses requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so
qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse
effect on the business, condition (financial or other) or results of operations
of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a "Material Adverse
Effect").

         (b) Corporate Acts and Proceedings. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
authorized, and all necessary corporate action has been taken to make this
Agreement a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement

                                      7

<PAGE>

thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent
conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating
to creditors' rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity and the
discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought
(regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law) and (iii) public policy considerations.

         (c) Valid Issuance.

         The Apollo New Notes or the Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes, as
applicable, will be in the form contemplated by the New Note Indenture or the
10% Senior Secured Note Indenture, as applicable, and will conform in all
material respects to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandum; the
Apollo New Notes or the Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes have been duly
authorized by QDI LLC or the Company, as applicable, and, when executed by QDI
LLC or the Company and authenticated by the trustee in accordance with the
provisions of the New Note Indenture or the 10% Senior Secured Note Indenture,
as applicable, and when delivered against receipt of the Apollo Old Notes in
connection with the consummation of the Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange or the
Apollo Senior Note Exchange, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of the
Offering Memorandum, will be duly executed, issued and delivered and will
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against QDI
LLC or the Company, as applicable, in accordance with their terms, and will be
entitled to the benefits of the New Note Indenture or the 10% Senior Secured
Note Indenture, as applicable, except that the enforcement thereof may be
subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance,
moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to
creditors' rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity and the
discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought
(regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law) and (iii) public policy considerations.

         The Apollo Junior PIK Notes, when and if issued, will be in the form
contemplated by the Junior PIK Note Indenture and will conform in all material
respects to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandum; the Apollo
Junior PIK Notes have been duly authorized by the Company and, when executed by
the Company and authenticated by the trustee thereunder in accordance with the
provisions of the Junior PIK Note Indenture and, when delivered against receipt
of the Apollo Old Notes in connection with the consummation of the Apollo
Debt/Equity Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Offering Memorandum,
will be duly executed, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Junior
PIK Note Indenture, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or
other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights
generally, (ii) general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such
enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public
policy considerations.

         The 10% Senior Secured Note Indenture has been duly authorized by the
Company and each of the Guarantors and, when executed and delivered by the
Company and each of the Guarantors (assuming the due authorization, execution
and delivery by the trustee thereunder), will have been duly executed and
delivered, and upon consummation of the Apollo

                                      8

<PAGE>

Senior Note Exchange will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the
Company and each of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and each of
the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof
may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent
conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating
to creditors' rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity and the
discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought
(regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law) and (iii) public policy considerations.

         The New Note Indenture has been duly authorized by QDI LLC and each of
the Guarantors and, when executed and delivered by QDI LLC and each of the
Guarantors (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the
trustee thereunder), will have been duly executed and delivered, and upon
consummation of the Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange will constitute a valid and
binding obligation of QDI LLC and each of the Guarantors, enforceable against
QDI LLC and each of the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except that the
enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or
hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally, (ii) general
principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding
therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public policy considerations.

         The Junior PIK Note Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company
and, when executed and delivered by the Company (assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery by the trustee under the Junior PIK Note Indenture), will
have been duly executed and delivered, and upon consummation of the Apollo
Debt/Equity Exchange will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except
that the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or
hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally, (ii) general
principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding
therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public policy considerations.

         The Apollo Warrants to be issued pursuant to the Apollo Debt/Equity
Exchange have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and executed
by the Company, authenticated by the Warrant Agent under the Warrant Agreement
and delivered against receipt of the Apollo Old Notes in connection with the
consummation of the Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange in accordance with the terms of
the Offering Memorandum, will be validly issued and will constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Warrant
Agreement and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms,
except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar
laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally, (ii)
general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any
proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public policy
considerations.

                                      9

<PAGE>

         The Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and, when
executed and delivered by the Company (assuming the due authorization, execution
and delivery by the Warrant Agent under the Warrant Agreement), will have been
duly executed and delivered, and upon consummation of the Apollo Debt/Equity
Exchange will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except that the
enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or
hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally, (ii) general
principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding
therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public policy considerations.

         The guarantees of the Apollo New Notes or the Apollo 10% Senior Secured
Notes, as applicable, to be issued by each of the Guarantors have been duly
authorized by each Guarantor and, upon the execution, authentication and
delivery of the Apollo New Notes or the Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes, as
applicable, and delivery against receipt of the Apollo Old Notes in connection
with the consummation of the Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange or the Apollo Senior
Note Exchange, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of the Offering
Memorandum, will be duly executed and delivered, will be entitled to the
benefits of the New Note Indenture or the 10% Senior Secured Note Indenture, as
applicable, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors,
enforceable against each of the Guarantors in accordance with their terms,
except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar
laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally, (ii)
general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any
proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public policy
considerations.

         Each of the Security Documents (as defined in the Offering Memorandum)
has been duly authorized by the Company and/or each of the Guarantors party
thereto and, when executed and delivered by the Company and/or each of such
Guarantors (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by
Credit Suisse First Boston, as collateral agent (the "Collateral Agent")), will
have been duly executed and delivered on the Closing Date and will constitute a
valid and binding obligation of the Company and/or each of such Guarantors,
enforceable against the Company and/or each of such Guarantors in accordance
with its terms and, upon filing of financing statements (containing adequate
descriptions of the Collateral (as defined in the Offering Memorandum)) or
recording of Mortgages (as defined in the Offering Memorandum), or an amendment
to existing Mortgages, as appropriate, with the appropriate governmental
authorities (including payment of the appropriate filing or recording fees and
any applicable taxes) and delivery of the applicable documents to the Collateral
Agent in accordance with the provisions of the Security Documents, a valid and
perfected Lien (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) on the Collateral
consisting of real property and a perfected security interest in the Collateral
consisting of personal property on the Closing Date securing obligations of the
Company and the Guarantors under the New Note Indenture or the 10% Senior
Secured Note Indenture, as applicable, which lien and security interest will be
superior to and prior to the Liens of all third persons other than the holders
of Liens permitted by the applicable Security Document or Permitted Liens under
the Credit Agreement, except that the enforcement thereof

                                      10

<PAGE>

may be subject to (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
relating to creditors' rights generally, (2) general principles of equity and
the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought
(regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law) and (3) public policy considerations.

         The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized by the
Company or QDI LLC, as applicable, and each of the Guarantors and, when executed
and delivered by the Company or QDI LLC, as applicable, and each of the
Guarantors, will have been duly executed and delivered and will constitute a
valid and binding obligation of the Company or QDI LLC, as applicable, and each
of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Company or QDI LLC, as applicable,
and each of the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except that (i) the
enforcement thereof may be subject to (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in
effect relating to creditors' rights generally, (2) general principles of equity
and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law) and (3) public policy considerations and (ii) any rights to
indemnity or contribution thereunder may be limited by federal and state
securities laws and public policy considerations.

         (d) No Integration, General Solicitation or Advertising. Subject to the
accuracy of the Apollo Entities' representations and warranties contained in
Section 3 hereof, none of the Company or any of the Guarantors or any of their
respective Affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the
Securities Act) has directly, or through any agent (other than the Dealer
Manager for the Debt/Equity Exchange), (i) sold, offered for sale, solicited
offers to buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of any "security" (as defined
in the Securities Act) that is or could be integrated with the sale of the
Apollo Debt/Equity Securities or the Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes, as
applicable, in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities
Act of the Apollo Debt/Equity Securities or the Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes,
as applicable, or (ii) engaged in any form of general solicitation or general
advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Securities Act)
in connection with the offering of the Apollo Debt/Equity Securities or the
Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes, as applicable, or in any manner involving a
public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.

         (e) Exempt Offering. Assuming the accuracy of the Apollo Entities'
representations and warranties contained in Section 3 hereof, it is not
necessary in connection with the offer, exchange and delivery of the Apollo
Debt/Equity Securities or Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes, as applicable, in the
manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Offering Memorandum to register
any of the Apollo Debt/Equity Securities or Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes, as
applicable, under the Securities Act or to qualify the New Note Indenture or 10%
Senior Secured Note Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

         (f) Brokers. Except as contemplated by the Dealer Manager Agreement to
be entered into between the Company and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., the
Company has not paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for (i)
soliciting another to purchase any of the Company's securities or (ii) the
solicitation of tenders or Consents (as defined in the Offering

                                      11

<PAGE>

Memorandum) by holders of the Old Notes pursuant to the Debt/Equity Exchange or
the Apollo Senior Note Exchange.

         (g) Compliance with Other Instruments. The consummation of the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement will not conflict with or constitute
or result in a breach or violation of, or result in the creation or imposition
of a lien, charge or encumbrance on any property or assets of the Company or any
Guarantor (other than as created pursuant to the New Note Indenture or the 10%
Senior Secured Note Indenture, as applicable, the Credit Agreement or the
Security Documents) under the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default by
the Company or any of the Guarantors under (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, loan agreement, note, lease, license, franchise agreement, permit,
certificate, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or
any of the Guarantors is a party or to which the Company or any of the
Guarantors is subject, which conflict, breach, violation or default would have a
Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or
similar organizational documents) of the Company or any of the Guarantors or
(iii) any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation of any court or
governmental agency or other body applicable to the Company or any of the
Guarantors or any of their respective properties, which conflict, breach,
violation or default, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         (h) No Consents. No material permit, authorization, order, consent or
approval of or by, or any material notification of or filing with, any person
(governmental or private) is required in connection with the execution, delivery
and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation by the
Company and the Guarantors of the transactions contemplated hereby, except (i)
such as have been obtained on or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) such as may be
required under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, state securities or "Blue
Sky" laws in connection with the exchange of the Apollo Debt/Equity Securities
or the Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes, as applicable, (iii) such as may be
required under the Registration Rights Agreement and (iv) such filings and
recordings with governmental authorities as may be required to perfect liens
under the Security Documents.

         (i) None of the Company or any of the Guarantors is now or, after
giving effect to the offering and issuance of the Apollo Debt/Equity Securities
or the Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes, as applicable, and the cancellation of
the Apollo Old Notes accepted in the Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange or the Apollo
Senior Note Exchange and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated
by the Offering Memorandum, will be an "investment company" or a company
"controlled by" an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.

         (j) As of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, the Offering
Memorandum does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading, except that the Company makes no representation or warranty with
respect to any statement contained in, or any matter omitted from, the Offering
Memorandum relating to the Apollo Entities in reliance upon information
furnished by the Apollo Entities.

                                       12

<PAGE>

         (k) The Company's authorized equity capitalization is as set forth in
the Offering Memorandum, and the capital stock of the Company conforms in all
material respects to the description thereof contained in the Offering
Memorandum.

         (l) The audited consolidated financial statements and related notes of
the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the
Offering Memorandum present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated
financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries at the dates and for the periods to which they relate
and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis; and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, which
has audited the consolidated financial statements as set forth in its reports
incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum, is an independent public
accountant with respect to the Company under Rule 101 of the Code of
Professional Conduct of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants,
and its rulings and interpretations.

    5. Conditions of Apollo Entities' Obligations. If any Apollo Entity desires
to claim that any of the conditions set forth in this Section 5 have not been
satisfied, such Apollo Entity must deliver a notice (the "Condition Notice") to
the Company prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Expiration Date (as
defined in the Offering Memorandum). If a Condition Notice is not timely
delivered pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the Apollo Entities
shall be deemed to have waived the conditions set forth in this Section 5;
provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall remain
obligated to fully perform all of its covenants herein and shall take all
actions necessary to satisfy all of its conditions that are to be satisfied
simultaneously with the Closing.

         (a) Conditions with Respect to All Transactions. The obligation of each
of the Apollo Entities to consummate any of the transactions set forth in
Section 1 hereof is subject to the fulfillment of each of the following
conditions before or simultaneously with the Closing, any of which may be waived
in whole or in part by the Apollo Entities:

             (i)   Continued Accuracy of the Company's Representations and
    Warranties and Performance of the Company's Covenants. The representations
    and warranties of the Company contained in Section 4 hereof shall be true
    and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though
    such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the Closing
    Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which
    case as of such earlier date). The covenants of the Company contained herein
    shall have been fully performed, including, without limitation, those
    provided for in Section 2(b) hereof.

             (ii)  Reimbursement of Expenses. On or prior to the Closing, the
    Company shall have reimbursed the Apollo Entities for the fees and expenses
    incurred by the Apollo Entities (including the fees and expenses of legal
    counsel) in connection with the transactions contemplated herein as provided
    for in Section 11(b) hereof.

             (iii) No Material Adverse Change. There shall not have occurred
    since the date of the Offering Memorandum any material adverse change in the
    Company's business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations,
    properties, assets, liabilities or

                                       13

<PAGE>

      prospects, or any development or event shall have occurred prior to the
      Closing which is reasonably likely to result in such material adverse
      change.

             (iv)  Officer's Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to
      the Apollo Entities a certificate executed by an authorized officer of the
      Company stating that each of the conditions set forth in this Section 5
      applicable to the transaction to be consummated have each been satisfied
      (including the delivery of any supporting documentation reasonably
      requested by the Apollo Entities).

         (b) Conditions with Respect to the Apollo Debt/Equity Exchange. In
addition to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5(a) hereof,
the obligation of each of the Apollo Entities to consummate the Apollo
Debt/Equity Exchange is subject to the fulfillment of each of the following
conditions before or simultaneously with the Closing, any of which may be waived
in whole or in part by the Apollo Entities:

             (i)   Closing of Debt/Equity Exchange. The Debt/Equity Exchange
      shall have been consummated pursuant to the terms set forth in the
      Offering Memorandum.

             (ii)  Closing of Ares Debt/Equity Exchange. In the event that prior
      to or on the Expiration Date (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) (A)
      the $61.3 Million Threshold (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) has
      been satisfied and (B) the $78.3 Million Threshold (as defined in the
      Offering Memorandum) has not been satisfied, the Ares Debt/Equity Exchange
      shall have been consummated pursuant to the terms set forth in the Ares
      Lock-Up Agreement.

         (c) Conditions with Respect to the Apollo Junior Exchange. In addition
to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5(a) hereof, the
obligation of each of the Apollo Entities to consummate the Apollo Junior
Exchange is subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions
before or simultaneously with the Closing, any of which may be waived in whole
or in part by the Apollo Entities:

             (i)   Apollo Junior Tender Condition. Prior to 5:00 p.m., New York
      City time, on May 31, 2002, the $78.3 Million Threshold (as defined in the
      Offering Memorandum) has been satisfied.

             (ii)  Closing of Debt/Equity Exchange. The Debt/Equity Exchange
      shall have been consummated pursuant to the terms set forth in the
      Offering Memorandum.

             (iii) Closing of the Ares Debt/Equity Exchange. The Ares Debt/
      Equity Exchange shall have been consummated pursuant to the terms set
      forth in the Ares Lock-Up Agreement.

         (d) Conditions with Respect to the Apollo Equity Investment. In
addition to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5(a) hereof,
the obligation of each of the Apollo Entities to consummate the Apollo Equity
Investment is subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions
before or simultaneously with the Closing, any of which may be waived in whole
or in part by the Apollo Entities:

                                       14

<PAGE>

             (i)   Closing of the Apollo Junior Exchange. The Apollo Junior
      Exchange shall have been consummated pursuant to the terms set forth in
      this Agreement.

             (ii)  Repayment of the Tranche D Term Loan. The Company shall have
      used the Cash Consideration delivered pursuant to the terms hereof to
      repay that portion of the Tranche D Term Loan equal to the amount of the
      Cash Consideration.

      6. Conditions of the Company's Obligations. The obligation of the Company
to consummate the transactions contemplated herein at the Closing is subject to
the fulfillment of each of the following conditions before or simultaneously
with the Closing, any of which may be waived in whole or in part by the Company:

         (a) Continued Accuracy of the Apollo Entities' Representations and
Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Apollo Entities contained
in Section 3 hereof shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with
the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on
and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier
date, in which case as of such earlier date).

         (b) Performance of Covenants. The covenants of the Apollo Entities
contained herein shall have been performed.

      7. Registration Rights.

         The Apollo Entities will have such registration rights (a) with respect
to the Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes, as set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement or (b) with respect to the Apollo New Notes, as provided for in the
Registration Rights Agreement.

      8. Legends.

         (a) Until a registration statement covering the Apollo 10% Senior
Secured Notes, the Apollo Debt/Equity Securities (including the Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of the Apollo Warrants comprising such Apollo Debt/Equity
Securities), or the 13.75% Preferred Stock, if any, is declared effective, all
certificates representing such securities which were issued in exchange for the
Apollo Old Notes hereunder shall bear substantially the following legend:

         THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
         AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE UNLESS REGISTERED
         UNDER SAID ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR UNLESS AN
         EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE OR UPON DELIVERY OF AN
         OPINION OF COUNSEL OR OTHER EVIDENCE REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO QUALITY
         DISTRIBUTION, INC. THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

         (b) In addition to the legend set forth in Section 8(a) hereof, the
Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes, the Apollo New Notes and the Apollo Warrants
(including the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Apollo Warrants
comprising such Apollo Debt/Equity Securities), if any, shall also bear
substantially the following legend:

                                       15

<PAGE>

         THIS SECURITY IS ALSO SUBJECT TO, AND HAS THE BENEFIT OF, A
         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF [________] [__], 2002 BETWEEN
         THE HOLDER AND QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, [INC.][LLC] , COPIES OF WHICH ARE
         ON FILE WITH QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, [INC.][LLC].

         (c) In addition to the legend set forth in Section 8(a) and Section
8(b) hereof, the Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes, the Apollo New Notes, the
Apollo Junior PIK Notes, the 13.75% Preferred Stock and the Apollo Warrants
(including the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Apollo Warrants
comprising such Apollo Debt/Equity Securities), if any, shall also bear any
legend required to be placed thereon by DTC or any applicable state corporation,
commercial or securities law.

    9.   Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. None of the
representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement or in any
instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing.

   10.   Termination; Effect of Termination.

         (a) Termination. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein may, by
written notice given at any time prior to the Closing, be terminated:

             (i)   by either the Company, on the one hand, or any of the Apollo
      Entities, on the other hand, upon their mutual written consent;

             (ii)  by either the Company, on the one hand, or any of the Apollo
      Entities, on the other hand, without liability to the terminating party or
      parties on account of such termination if the Closing has not occurred
      (other than through the failure of any party seeking to terminate this
      Agreement to fully comply with its obligations hereunder) on or before
      June 30, 2002; or

             (iii) by any of the Apollo Entities, if the Company has amended the
      terms of the Offering Memorandum as in effect as of the date hereof in a
      manner that materially adversely affects the value of the Apollo
      Debt/Equity Securities, the Apollo 10% Senior Secured Notes or the 13.75%
      Preferred Stock to be received by the Apollo Entities pursuant to the
      terms of this Agreement.

         (b) Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination and
abandonment of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10(a) of this Agreement, this
Agreement (other than Section 11(b) (Expenses), Section 11(c) (Notices), Section
11(d) (Confidentiality), Section 11(g) (Choice of Law), Section 11(j)
(Jurisdiction) and Section 11(l) (Waiver of Jury Trial) which shall remain in
full force and effect) shall forthwith become null and void and no party hereto
(or any of their respective representatives) shall have any liability or further
obligation to any other party hereto, except as provided in this Section 10(b);
provided, however, that if this Agreement is terminated by a party because of
the breach of this Agreement by the other party or because one or more of the
conditions to the terminating party's obligations under this Agreement is not
satisfied as a

                                       16

<PAGE>

result of the other party's failure to fully comply with its obligations under
this Agreement, the terminating party's rights to pursue all legal remedies will
survive such termination unimpaired.

   11.   Miscellaneous.

         (a) Amendment. This Agreement and any provision hereof may only be
changed, waived, discharged or terminated upon the written consent of each of
the parties hereto; provided, however, that if the number, composition or terms
of the Debt/Equity Securities offered on the date hereof in the Debt/Equity
Exchange are revised, then the number of Apollo Debt/Equity Securities to be
delivered to the Apollo Entities pursuant to Schedule I attached hereto shall be
deemed to be automatically amended to reflect such change(s), without any action
by the parties hereto.

         (b) Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are
consummated, the Company shall (i) pay its own expenses incurred in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) pay the expenses of the
Apollo Entities incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby.

         (c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, next-day air courier, telex, facsimile, telecopier, or similar
writing:

             (i)  if to any Apollo Entity, to such Apollo Entity at:

                      c/o Apollo Management, L.P.
                      1301 Avenue of the Americas
                   38th Floor
                      New York, New York  10019
                      Attention:  General Counsel
                      Telephone:  (212) 515-3200
                      Facsimile:  (212) 515-3232

             (ii) If to the Company, to:

                  Quality Distribution, Inc.
                  3802 Corporex Park Drive
                  Tampa, Florida  33619
                  Attention: Chief Executive Officer and President
                  Telephone: (800) 282-2031
                  Facsimile: (813) 630-9637

                  with a copy to:

                  O'Sullivan LLP
                  30 Rockefeller Plaza
                  New York, New York 10112
                  Attention:  Stewart A. Kagan
                  Telephone:  (212) 408-2442

                                       17

<PAGE>

                  Facsimile:  (212) 408-2420

             (iii) All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
    been duly given: (A) when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; (B)
    five (5) business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid,
    if mailed; (C) one (1) business day after being timely dispatched postage
    prepaid, if by same-day or next-day courier; (D) when answered back, if
    telexed; (E) when receipt acknowledged, if sent by facsimile transmission
    and (F) if given by any other means, when delivered at the addresses
    referred to in this Section 11(c). Any of the above addresses may be changed
    by notice made in accordance with this Section 11(c).

      (d)    Confidentiality. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
each Apollo Entity shall, and shall cause its respective representatives to,
maintain in confidence and not use to the detriment of the Company any written,
oral or other information relating to the Company or to the business of the
Company obtained from the Company or any of its representatives, except to the
extent (i) any such information is or becomes generally available to the public
other than as a result of disclosure by any of the Apollo Entities or any of
their respective representatives, (ii) any such information is required to be
disclosed by a court or governmental entity of competent jurisdiction or (iii)
that use of such information is necessary or appropriate in making any filing or
obtaining any consent or approval required for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated herein, and each Apollo Entity shall instruct its
representatives having access to such information of such obligation of
confidentiality.

      (e)    Parties in Interest. All the terms and provisions of this Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto, whether so expressed or
not.

      (f)    Headings. The headings of the sections and paragraphs of this
Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and do not
constitute a part of this Agreement.

      (g)    Choice of Law. The internal laws of the State of New York shall
govern the enforceability and validity of this Agreement, the construction of
its terms and the interpretation of the rights and duties of the parties hereto
without giving effect to conflicts of laws, rules or principles.

      (h)    Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Ares Lock-Up Agreement, the
Management Group Lock-Up Agreement and the Offering Memorandum (including the
exhibits and schedules attached to each such document) contain the entire
agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersede and replace all other prior agreements, written or oral, among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, including, without
limitation, that certain Commitment Letter, dated as of January 29, 2002 between
the Ares Entities and the Company.

      (i)    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, with the
same effect as if all parties had signed the same document. All such
counterparts shall be deemed an original, shall be construed together and shall
constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become

                                       18

<PAGE>

effective when each party hereto shall have received a counterpart hereof signed
by the other party hereto.

      (j)    Jurisdiction. Any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any
provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be brought in any federal
or state court located in the State of New York, and each of the parties hereby
consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate
courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives,
to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or
hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding
in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding which is brought
in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such
suit, action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world,
whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court. Without limiting
the foregoing, each party agrees that service of process on such party as
provided in Section 11(c) hereof shall be deemed effective service of process on
such party.

      (k)    No Implied Waiver. No failure or delay by any party in exercising
any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor
shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The
rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any
rights or remedies provided by law.

      (l)    Waiver of Jury Trial.

      EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

      (m)    Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority
to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated so long as the
economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not
affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such a
determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this
Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as
possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated
hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

                                    * * * * *

                                       19

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the date first above written.

                     QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, INC.

                     By: /s/ Thomas L. Finkbiner
                         Name:  Thomas L. Finkbiner
                         Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

                     APOLLO INVESTMENT FUND III, L.P.
                     By: Apollo Advisors II, L.P., its general partner
                     By: Apollo Capital Management II, Inc., its general partner

                     By: /s/ Marc E. Becker
                         Name: Marc. E. Becker
                         Title:

                     APOLLO OVERSEAS PARTNERS III, L.P.
                     By: Apollo Advisors II, L.P., its general partner
                     By: Apollo Capital Management II, Inc., its general partner

                     By: /s/ Marc E. Becker
                         Name: Marc. E. Becker
                         Title:

                     APOLLO (U.K.) PARTNERS, L.P.
                     By: Apollo Advisors II, L.P., its general partner
                     By: Apollo Capital Management II, Inc., its general partner

                     By: /s/ Marc E. Becker
                         Name: Marc. E. Becker
                         Title:

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I

                           APOLLO DEBT/EQUITY EXCHANGE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    Apollo Debt/Equity Securities to be Received (2)        Aggregate Principal Amount
                                                                                                of Apollo Old Notes
                                                                                               To Be Surrendered (3)
                                -------------------------------------------------------     -------------------------
Apollo Entity (1)               Aggregate Principal    Aggregate Principal    Number of         Fixed       FIRSTS
-----------------------         Amount of New Notes         Amount of         Warrants       Rate Notes
                                                         Junior PIK Notes
                                -------------------    -------------------    ---------     -----------   -----------
<S>                                     <C>                    <C>               <C>        <C>           <C>
Apollo Investment Fund III,
L.P.                                    $17,481,750            $4,034,250        42,763     $10,484,000   $16,411,000
Apollo Overseas Partners III,
L.P.                                    $ 1,045,200            $  241,200         2,557     $   627,000   $   981,000
Apollo (UK) Partners III,
L.P.                                    $   648,050            $  149,550         1,585     $   389,000   $   608,000
                                -------------------    ------------------     ---------     -----------   -----------

Total                                   $19,175,000            $4,425,000        46,905     $11,500,000   $18,000,000
                                ===================    ==================     =========     ===========   ===========
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE II
                             APOLLO JUNIOR EXCHANGE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        Aggregate Principal Amount
                                                            of Apollo Old Notes
                                                           To Be Surrendered (3)
                                                        --------------------------
Apollo Entity (1)                   Number of Shares        Fixed         FIRSTS
----------------------                 of 13.75%         Rate Notes
                                  Preferred Stock (2)
                                  -------------------   -----------    -----------
<S>                               <C>                   <C>            <C>
Apollo Investment Fund III,
L.P.                                          268,950   $10,484,000    $16,411,000

Apollo Overseas Partners III,
L.P.                                           16,080   $   627,000    $   981,000

Apollo (UK) Partners III, L.P.                  9,970   $   389,000    $   608,000
                                  -------------------   -----------    -----------

Total                                         295,000   $11,500,000    $18,000,000
                                  ===================   ===========    ===========
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE III
                            APOLLO EQUITY INVESTMENT

Apollo Entity (1)                   Number of Shares      Aggregate Cash
----------------------                 of 13.75%         Consideration (3)
                                  Preferred Stock (2)
                                  -------------------    -----------------
Apollo Investment Fund III,
L.P.                                           91,169          $ 9,116,949

Apollo Overseas Partners III,
L.P.                                            5,451          $   545,085

Apollo (UK) Partners III, L.P.                  3,380          $   337,966
                                  -------------------    -----------------

Total                                         100,000          $10,000,000
                                  ===================    =================

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE IV
                           APOLLO SENIOR NOTE EXCHANGE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         Aggregate Principal Amount of
                                                                Apollo Old Notes
                                                             To Be Surrendered (3)
                                                         ------------------------------
Apollo Entity (1)                                            Fixed          FIRSTS
----------------------             Aggregate Principal     Rate Notes
                                  Amount of 10% Senior
                                    Secured Notes (2)
                                  --------------------   -------------   -------------
<S>                               <C>                    <C>             <C>
Apollo Investment Fund III,
L.P.                                       $26,895,000     $10,484,000     $16,411,000

Apollo Overseas Partners III,
L.P.                                       $ 1,608,000     $   627,000     $   981,000

Apollo (UK) Partners III, L.P.             $   997,000     $   389,000     $   608,000
                                  --------------------   -------------   -------------

Total                                      $29,500,000     $11,500,000     $18,000,000
                                  ====================   =============   =============
</TABLE>

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00043-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00043-of-00352.parquet"}]]