Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                     Exhibit 4.1
                             [NATIONS EXPRESS LOGO]

                              NATIONS EXPRESS, INC.
           Incorporated under the Laws of the State of North Carolina

                                                        CUSIP NUMBER 638576 10 8
                                        See Reverse Side for Certain Definitions

THIS CERTIFIES THAT _____________________ is the owner of ________________ fully
paid and non-assessable shares of common stock, no par value per share, of
Nations Express, Inc. transferable only on the books of the Corporation by the
holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this
certificate properly endorsed. This certificate and the shares represented
hereby are issued under and shall be subject to all of the provisions of the
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Corporation and any amendments
thereto which the holder, by acceptance hereof, assents. This certificate is not
valid unless countersigned and registered by the Agent.

     WITNESS the facsimile seal of the Corporation and the facsimile signatures
of its duly authorized officers.

Dated:

NATIONS EXPRESS, INC.

By:                                       By:
   ---------------------------------         -----------------------------------
         President                                    Chief Financial Officer

COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:
First Union National Bank (Charlotte NC), Agent
<PAGE>

                                      BACK

                             NATIONS EXPRESS, INC.

     THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY
OF STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA SET FORTH IN FULL (A) THE DENIAL TO THE SHAREHOLDERS
OF PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS TO ACQUIRE UNISSUED OR TREASURY SHARES OF THE CORPORATION,
(B) THE DENIAL OF THE RIGHT OF CUMULATIVE VOTING, AND (C) THE TWO CLASSES OF
STOCK, AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS
AUTHORIZED TO FIX AND DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF SHARES AND THE DESIGNATION OF ANY
SERIES OF PREFERRED STOCK AND TO DETERMINE THE RIGHTS, PREFERENCES, PRIVILEGES
AND RESTRICTIONS GRANTED TO OR IMPOSED ON ANY SERIES OF PREFERRED STOCK.

     THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH A FULL COPY OF SUCH STATEMENTS TO THE RECORD
HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE WITHOUT CHARGE, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE
CORPORATION AT ITS PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS OR REGISTERED OFFICE.

     The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of
this Certificate shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                               <C>
TEN COM - as tenants in common                    UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - _________ Custodian _______
                                                                        (Cust)            (Minor)
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties                                   under Uniform Gifts to Minors

JT TEN  - as joint tenants with right                                    Act ______________________
           of survivorship and not as                                               (State)
           tenants in common

     Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

            For value received, hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

 PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
     IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
-----------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                                              shares
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
of the Common stock represented by the within Certificate and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

                                                                                                             Attorney
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
to transfer the said stock on the books or the within named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises

Dated                                                         -----------------------------------------------------
      -----------------------------------------------
                                                              -----------------------------------------------------
                                                              NOTICE:   The  signature  to  this   assignment  must
                                                              correspond  with  the name as  written  upon the face
                                                              of  the  Certificate  in  every  particular   without
                                                              alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever

</TABLE>
Signature(s) Guaranteed

By:
         ---------------------------------------------------------
         The signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible
         guarantor institution with membership in an approved
         signature guarantee medallion program, pursuant to S.E.C.
         Rule 17A(d)-15/<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 4.1a
                             [NATIONS EXPRESS LOGO]

                              NATIONS EXPRESS, INC.
           Incorporated under the Laws of the State of North Carolina
                                                        CUSIP NUMBER 638576 20 7
                                        See Reverse Side for Certain Definitions

THIS CERTIFIES THAT, FOR VALUE RECEIVED _____________________________ (the
"Registered Holder") is the owner of fully-paid and nonassessable Units
specified above, transferable only by the Registered Holder thereof in person or
by his or her duly authorized attorney, on surrender of this Unit Certificate
properly endorsed.

     Each Unit consists of one share of common stock, no par value (the "Common
Stock") and one redeemable common stock purchase warrant (the "Warrant"), each
Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock at an
exercise price of $__ per share, subject to adjustment in certain events,
exercisable at any time during the period beginning on December __, 2001 and
ending on December __, 2006, unless earlier redeemed by the Company. The terms
of this Unit and the Warrants are governed by a Unit, Common Stock and Warrant
Agreement, dated as of November __, 2000 (the "Unit, Common Stock and Warrant
Agreement"), between the Company and First Union National Bank, as Agent, and
are subject to the terms and provisions contained therein. The Registered Holder
of this Unit Certificate consents to all of the terms and provisions contained
in the Unit, Common Stock and Warrant Agreement by acceptance hereof. Copies of
the Unit, Common Stock and Warrant Agreement are on file at the office of the
Agent at 1525 West W.T. Harris, Blvd., 3C3, Charlotte, North Carolina
28262-1153, and are available to any holder upon written request without cost.

     This certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by the
Agent.

     The Warrants and shares of Common Stock of the Company represented by this
Unit Certificate shall not be separately transferable until such time as
Schneider Securities, Inc., as representative of the several underwriters, shall
determine in its sole discretion (the "Separation Date"). On and after the
Separation Date, the Registered Holder of this Unit Certificate may surrender it
to the Agent at its corporate office specified in the Unit, Common Stock and
Warrant Agreement in exchange for the Warrants and shares of Common Stock
represented hereby. The Units represented by this Unit Certificate shall not be
transferable on and subsequent to the Separation Date. On and subsequent to the
Separation Date, the Warrants and shares of Common Stock represented by this
Unit Certificate shall only be separately transferred.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Unit Certificate to be duly
executed, manually or by facsimile, by two of its officers thereunto duly
authorized and a facsimile of the corporate seal to be imprinted hereon.

Dated:

NATIONS EXPRESS, INC.

By:___________________________                 By:_____________________________
         President                                   Chief Financial Officer

COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:
First Union National Bank (Charlotte, NC), Agent
<PAGE>

                                      BACK
                              NATIONS EXPRESS, INC.

     This certificate certifies that for value received the Registered Holder
hereby is entitled, at any time commencing on the Separation Date, to exchange
each Unit represented by this Unit Certificate for Common Stock Certificates
representing one share of Common Stock for each Unit represented by this Unit
Certificate and Warrant Certificates representing one Warrant to purchase one
share of Common Stock for each Unit represented by this Unit Certificate upon
surrender of this Unit Certificate to the Agent at its corporate offices
specified in the Unit, Common Stock and Warrant Agreement together with any
documentation required by such Agent.

     REFERENCE IS MANDE TO THE UNIT, COMMON STOCK AND WARRANT AGREEMENT REFERRED
TO ON THE FRONT SIDE HEREON AND THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF SUCH UNIT, COMMON
STOCK AND WARRANT AGREEMENT SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS
THOUGH FULLY SET FORTH ON THIS CERTIFICATE.

         The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face
of this Certificate shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:

<TABLE>
<S>                                       <C>
TEN COM - as tenants in common             UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - _________ Custodian _______
                                                                 (Cust)            (Minor)
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties                         under Uniform Gifts to Minors

JT TEN - as joint tenants with right                           Act ______________________
          of survivorship and not as                                       (State)
          tenants in common
</TABLE>

     Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 For value received, _____________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

 PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
     IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
-----------------------------------------

----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                          shares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
of the Common stock represented by the within Certificate and do hereby
irrevocably constitute and appoint

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                        Attorney
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
to transfer the said stock on the books or the within named Corporation with
full power of substitution in the premises

<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
                                                              -------------------------------------------------

Dated
      -----------------------------------------------

                                                              -------------------------------------------------
                                                              NOTICE:  The  signature  to this  assignment  must
                                                              correspond  with  the  name as  written  upon  the
                                                              face  of  the  Certificate  in  every   particular
                                                              without  alteration or enlargement,  or any change
                                                              whatever
</TABLE>

Signature(s) Guaranteed

By:
         --------------------------------------------
         The signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible
         guarantor institution with membership in an approved
         signature guarantee medallion program, pursuant to S.E.C.
         Rule 17A(d)-15/

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