Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.16

                    [CENTRAL FREIGHT LINES, INC. LETTERHEAD]

December 23, 2002

Mr. Doak Slay
155 Northwind Trail
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Re: Employment Offer

Dear Doak:

It is with great pleasure and excitement that we convey the following offer of
employment to you.

Your title will be Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing and you will be
an officer of the company. Your starting salary will be $190,000 per year. Your
bonus potential will be up to 50 percent of your base salary and will be an
annual bonus based upon the Operating Ratio of the company for that year. You
will be granted options to purchase 100,000 shares of Central Freight Lines
common stock. Those options will vest at a rate of 20 percent per year for the
ensuing 5 years in accordance with a Stock Option Agreement that you and the
company will sign. The Option Price will be determined by the Board of Directors
upon the Grant Date of the options and will be based upon the Fair Market Value
at that time.

You will be provided an appropriate company vehicle for your use during your
employment with Central Freight Lines. At your option, we can either purchase
your existing vehicle from you or purchase a new vehicle for your use. All of
your reasonable moving expenses will be paid by Central, which will include the
cost of the physical move and reasonable closing costs on either end. Should you
have difficulty selling your house, Central will provide you with assistance in
that matter as well. It is understood that your family may not move to Texas
until June and you will be allowed temporary living expenses until that time if
necessary as well as paid trips home to visit your family.

In addition to this package, our intention is for our Officer's Income Tax
returns and Financial and Estate Planning to be performed by the same
professionals who handle the corporate work. I have enclosed a benefit package
that will outline our Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance plans and their
requirements. You will become eligible for our benefit programs 90 days from
your date of employment and we will reimburse you for the COBRA payments that
you will have during that period of time. Although your vacation will accrue in
accordance with the
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policies of Central Freight Lines, Inc., you will be allowed the time that you
need through the course of the year.

In addition, in the event you are terminated by the company without cause, you
will receive one year's salary.

We are very enthusiastic about our future together and look forward to your
written acceptance by signing below.

Very Truly Yours,

/s/ Robert V. Fasso
-----------------------------

Robert V. Fasso
President

Agreed:

/s/ Doak Slay                               Date: 1/15/03
-----------------------------
Doak Slay<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.17

July 9, 2003

Mr. Doak Slay
1006 Wildwood Crossing
Georgetown, TX 78628

Re: Equity Advancement

Dear Doak:

By copy of this letter and upon valid signature by all parties, Central Freight
Lines, Inc. hereby conveys a check in the amount of $120,000.00. This amount
should be considered as an advance to you of the equity of your home located at
155 Northwind Trail, Fayetteville, GA 30214.

By you and your wife signing below, you hereby agree to waive any rights that
you may have in the equity of your home up to the amount of $120,000. Central
Freight Lines, Inc. will reimburse you for all reasonable closing costs
associated with the sale of your home in Fayetteville. At the time of closing,
the total reimbursable closing costs will be applied the to the $120,000 Equity
Advance. At that time, the net proceeds from the sale of the home will be
applied to the net balance of the Equity Advance. Any amounts exceeding the
$120,000 amount will be rightfully yours. Should the closing take place and any
shortfall occur, the shortfall will be considered as an expense to Central and
income to you for which you will receive a 1099 from Central. At that time, you
will have no further obligation to Central concerning this agreement.

In order for this agreement to become effective, both you and Denise will need
to sign below in the presence of a witness.

Should there be any dispute or legal action concerning this agreement, any and
all actions or suits will be filed in State District Court in Waco, McLennan
County, Texas and Texas law will apply.

Agreed:

/s/ Pat Curry                 Date:  _________
Patrick J. Curry
Executive Vice President

/s/ Doak Slay                 Date:  _________     ____________   Date:  _______
Doak D. Slay                                       Witness Name:  ______________

/s/ Denise Slay               Date:  _________     ____________   Date: ________
Denise D. Slay                                     Witness Name:  ______________EXHIBIT 10.18

August 16, 2003

To:   Mark Conard

From: Bob Fasso, CEO

Re: Employment Offer

It is with great pleasure and excitement that we convey the following offer of
employment to you.

Your title will be Senior Vice President of Yield Management and Pricing
Services and you will be an officer of the company. Your starting salary will be
$180,000 per year. Your bonus potential will be up to 50 percent of your base
salary and will be an annual bonus based upon the Operating Ratio of the company
for that year. For the year 2003, a bonus amount of $80,000 will be guaranteed
to be paid prior to the end of the calendar year. You will be granted options to
purchase 100,000 shares of Central Freight Lines common stock. Those options
will vest at a rate of 20 percent per year for the ensuing 5 years in accordance
with a Stock Option Agreement that you and the company will sign. The Option
Price will be determined by the Board of Directors upon the Grant Date of the
options and will be based upon the Fair Market Value at that time.

You will be provided an appropriate company vehicle, as customary for an officer
position, for your use during your employment with Central Freight Lines. At
your option, we can either purchase your existing vehicle from you or purchase a
new vehicle for your use. All of your reasonable moving expenses will be paid by
Central, which will include the cost of the physical move and reasonable closing
costs on either end. Should you have difficulty selling your house, Central will
provide you with assistance in that matter as well and provide a minimum
guarantee of the equity in that house. It is understood that your family may not
move to Texas until December or January and you will be allowed temporary living
expenses until that time if necessary as well as paid trips home to visit your
family.

In addition to this package, our intention is for our Officer's Income Tax
returns and Financial and Estate Planning to be performed by the same
professionals who handle the corporate work. We will soon provide a benefit
package that will outline our Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance plans
and their requirements. You will become eligible for our benefit programs 90
days from your date of employment and we will reimburse you for the COBRA
payments that you will have during that period of time or until your family
moves to Texas in order that they will be able to remain with their current
providers until such time that they move to Texas. Although your vacation will
accrue in accordance with the policies of Central Freight Lines, Inc., you will
be allowed the time that you need through the course of the year.

In addition, in the event you are terminated by the company without cause, you
will receive one year's salary.

We are very enthusiastic about our future together and look forward to your
written acceptance by signing below.

Very Truly Yours,

/s/ Robert V. Fasso
Bob Fasso
President and CEO

Agreed:

/s/ Mark Conard                              Date: August 16, 2003
------------------------
Mark Conard<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.19

Jeff Hale
312 E. Southfork Drive
Phoenix, Arizona 85048

June 7, 2002

Jeff:

The purpose of this letter is to outline the commitments that were made to you
upon joining the Central Freight Lines Team.

A Central Freight Lines, Texas Corporation (Texas Corporation) and a Central
Freight Lines, a Nevada Corporation (Nevada Corporation) exist. The Texas
Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Nevada Corporation. You are
being hired to be the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of both these entities.

Your starting date will be June 10, 2002 and your starting base annual salary
will be $150,000.00. Upon board of director approval, you will be granted
100,000 stock options in the Nevada Corporation, which will vest 20% per year
over 5 years. The grant date will be your date of hire (June 10, 2002).

If your employment is involuntarily terminated for anything other than gross
misconduct or you voluntarily terminate your employment because 1) your duties
as CFO of either or both of the corporations listed above are materially
reduced, 2) your base salary is lowered below its then current level, 3) other
benefits are materially reduced, or 4) you are required to involuntarily
relocate from the Phoenix, Arizona area, you will be paid a lump sum payment
equal to your then current annual salary. The lump sum payment will be paid
within 10 days of your termination date.

Any reasonable legal expense on behalf of either party in connection with this
agreement will be paid by the Texas Corporation.

We are enthusiastic about our future together and look forward to your written
acceptance by signing below.

/s/ Robert V. Fasso
Bob Fasso
CEO
Central Freight Lines, Inc. (Nevada)
Central Freight Lines, Inc. (Texas)

Agreed:

/s/ Jeffrey A. Hale                          Date: June 7, 2002
-------------------------
Jeffrey A. Hale

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