Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10.3

THIS SECURITY WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT WITHIN THE MEANING OF
SECTION 1273(a) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986. THE ISSUE PRICE IS $895.84
FOR EACH $1,000.00 OF STATED PRINCIPAL AMOUNT. THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT IS
$104.16 FOR EACH $1,000.00 OF STATED PRINCIPAL AMOUNT. THE ISSUE DATE IS
NOVEMBER 26, 2003. THE YIELD TO MATURITY IS 15.57% COMPOUNDED MONTHLY. ORIGINAL
ISSUE DISCOUNT WILL BE ALLOCATED BASED ON ACCRUAL PERIODS ENDING ON EACH DATE ON
WHICH AN INTEREST PAYMENT IS DUE AND THE 360 DAY PER YEAR CONVENTION.

ALL INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCED BY THIS NOTE IS SUBORDINATED TO OTHER INDEBTEDNESS
PURSUANT TO, AND TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN, AND IS OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO THE
TERMS OF, THE INTERCREDITOR AND SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT, DATED NOVEMBER 26, 2003
(THE "SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT"), AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED, MODIFIED OR
OTHERWISE SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, BY AND AMONG VELOCITY EXPRESS INC., AS
BORROWER, EACH SUBSIDIARY OF THE BORROWER, FLEET CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS LENDER,
AND THE HOLDERS FROM TIME TO TIME OF THE OBLIGATIONS ARISING UNDER THE
SUBORDINATED LOAN AGREEMENT REFERRED TO IN THE SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT,
INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THIS NOTE.

                            SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE

$6,000,000.00                                                  November 26, 2003

                                                          Minneapolis, Minnesota

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Velocity Express, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Debtor"), hereby promises to pay to the order of BET Associates, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership, or its assigns (the "Holder"), the principal sum
of Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000.00), together with interest, in the manner
provided herein. This Note was issued pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement
dated as of November 26, 2003 (the "Agreement") among Velocity Express
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), the Debtor and the Holder (or
its predecessor in interest). This Note and is subject to, and the Holder is
entitled to, the benefits of the Agreement. Except as to those terms otherwise
defined in this Note, all capitalized terms used in this Note have the meanings
provided in the Agreement.

     1. Repayment of Principal. The principal amount of this Note shall be
payable in installments equal to the lesser of (x) Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($500,000.00) and (y) the principal amount then outstanding, and shall be
payable quarterly on the last day of January, April, July and October,
commencing January 31, 2005. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
unless all amounts due and owing under this Note shall have been otherwise
prepaid in full in accordance with the terms of the Agreement prior to October
31, 2007 (the "Stated

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Maturity Date"), on such date the Debtor shall pay to the Holder an amount equal
to the unpaid principal balance hereof, together with all unpaid interest
accrued thereon, and all other amounts payable by the Debtor under the terms of
the Agreement.

     2. Interest. Interest will accrue on all outstanding unpaid amounts
evidenced by this Note at an interest rate of twelve percent (12.0%) per annum;
provided that from and after the date of any Event of Default (as defined in the
Agreement) and until such Event of Default is remedied to the satisfaction of
the Holder all such amounts will bear interest at fourteen percent (14.0%) per
annum; and provided further, that in no event will the applicable interest rate
exceed the highest rate permitted by applicable law. All interest will be
computed on the basis of twelve (12) thirty-day months occurring in a 360-day
year, and will compound monthly. Accrued interest will be paid monthly on the
last day of each month, commencing on December 31, 2003 and continuing
thereafter until all principal amounts outstanding under this Note have been
repaid.

     3. Service Fee. During the duration of the Note, Debtor shall pay to MYFM
Capital LLC, or any other Person (as defined in the Agreement) designated to
Debtor in writing by Holder, a Service Fee of $5,000 per month, payable on the
last day of each month as set forth in Section 4 hereof.

     4. Payments of Principal, Interest and Service Fee. All payments with
respect to this Note will be made when due by wire transfer, in immediately
available funds, to such account or accounts as the Holder may specify in
writing, without any presentation of this Note. Exclusive of the Service Fee,
each such payment will be applied first to the payment of accrued and unpaid
interest and then to principal. Whenever any payment to be made under this Note
is due on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday for banks under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the State of Minnesota, such payment may be made
on the next succeeding bank business day, and such extension of time will in
such case be included in the computation of the amount of interest due.

     5. Subordination. This Note is subject to Intercreditor and Subordination
Agreement, dated November 26, 2003 (the "Subordination Agreement"), as the same
may be amended, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time, by and
among Velocity Express, Inc., as Borrower, each subsidiary of the Borrower
listed on Exhibit A thereto, Fleet Capital Corporation, as Agent, and the holder
from time to time of the obligations arising under the Agreement.

     6. Events of Default. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default (as
defined in the Agreement), in addition to the change in interest rate referred
to in Section 2 hereof, the Holder will have the rights provided in the
Agreement.

     7. Optional Prepayments. The indebtedness evidenced by this Note may be
prepaid, in whole or in part, if the prepayment will not give rise (either of
itself or with the giving of notice or passage of time or both) to an Event of
Default under the Agreement.

                                      -2-

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     8. General.

          8.1 The indebtedness evidenced by this Note is secured as provided in
the Security Agreement (as defined in the Agreement).

          8.2 Payment of principal or interest on this Note may only be made to
or upon order of the registered Holder. This Note is transferable only to any
general or limited partner of the Holder or, with the prior written consent of
the Debtor, to another accredited or institutional investor, by surrender of the
Note to the Debtor, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer executed by the registered Holder. Upon surrender of this Note for
transfer as provided above, the Debtor will issue a new Note to, and register
such new Note in the name of, the transferee and such new Note must contain the
same legend as provided in this Note.

          8.3 The Debtor hereby:

               (a) waives diligence, presentment, demand for payment, notice of
dishonor, notice of non-payment, protest, notice of protest, and any and all
other demands in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default
or enforcement of this Note;

               (b) waives the benefit of any statute of limitations to the
maximum extent permitted by law with respect to any action to enforce this Note
and any other action related to this Note;

               (c) agrees that the Holder will have the right, without notice,
to grant any extension of time for payment of any indebtedness evidenced by this
Note or any other indulgence or forbearance whatsoever;

               (d) agrees that no failure on the part of the Holder to exercise
any power, right or privilege hereunder, or to insist upon prompt compliance
with the terms of this Note, will constitute a waiver of that power, right or
privilege; and

               (e) agrees that the acceptance at any time by the Holder of any
past due amounts will not be deemed to be a waiver of the requirement to make
prompt payment when due of any other amounts then or hereafter due and payable.

          8.4 Upon delivery of an affidavit in a form reasonably satisfactory to
the Debtor from the Holder as to the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
this Note, and upon receipt of an indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the
Debtor from the Holder, or in the case of mutilation hereof, upon surrender of
the mutilated Note, the Debtor will make and deliver a new Note of like tenor in
lieu of this Note.

          8.5 This Note is governed in all respects by the internal laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without regard to the conflicts of laws principles
of any jurisdiction.

                                      -3-

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          8.6 In the event that the Debtor fails to pay any amount due under
this Note, the Debtor shall pay all of the Holder's out-of-pocket collection
costs, including without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and legal costs,
whether or not any suit or enforcement proceeding is commenced.

          8.7 AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDER, THIS NOTE, THE AGREEMENT AND THE
ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS REFERRED TO IN THE AGREEMENT MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY FEDERAL
COURT OR PENNSYLVANIA STATE COURT SITTING IN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY; AND THE
PARTIES CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF ANY SUCH COURT AND WAIVE ANY
ARGUMENT THAT VENUE IN SUCH FORUMS IS NOT CONVENIENT.

                                    * * * * *

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Debtor has caused this Note to be signed by a duly
authorized officer and dated as of the date first above written.

VELOCITY EXPRESS, INC.

By:
    --------------------------------
    Name:
    Title:

                                      -4-<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.04

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This employment agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into effective
November 15, 2003 by and between Velocity Express, Inc., hereinafter referred to
as "the Company" or "Velocity", and Wesley Fredenburg, hereinafter referred to
as "Employee".

     Article 1. Employment and Term

     1.01. Velocity hereby agrees to employ Employee in the capacity of VP &
General counsel and Employee hereby accepts and agrees to such employment from
and after the date of this agreement, on the terms and conditions of this
agreement. Subject to the termination provisions herein, the term of this
agreement will be for two years from the date hereof and will be renewed only at
the discretion of Velocity.

     1.02. Employee shall generally have the authority, responsibilities, and
perform such duties as are customarily performed by VP and General Counsel in
other or similar businesses as that engaged in by Velocity. Employee shall also
render such additional services and duties as may be reasonably requested of him
from time to time by Velocity.

     1.03. Employee shall report to [stated position] and/or the person
designated by the Company's CEO and/or President. Velocity retains the
discretion to transfer or reassign Employee to another Employee position or to
other Employee duties and any such transfer or reassignment shall not affect the
enforcement of this Agreement.

     Article 2. Best Efforts

     2.01. Employee agrees that he will at all times faithfully, industriously,
and to the best of his ability, experience, and talents, perform all of the
duties that may be required of and from him pursuant to the express and implicit
terms of this Agreement, to the reasonable satisfaction of Velocity.

     Article 3. Employment at Will

     3.01. This Agreement is not an employment agreement for any specific term.
Employee acknowledges and agrees that employment with the Company is not for any
specific period of time and he has the right to resign from such employment at
any time he desires. The Employee further acknowledges and agrees that the
Company similarly has the right to terminate the employment relationship at any
time it desires to do so, with or without cause and with or without notice,
subject only to the severance provisions herein.

     Article 4. Compensation and Benefits

     4.01. Employee will be paid a bi-weekly base salary of $8,653.85 Dollars
($225,000), pursuant to Velocity's normal payroll procedures and dates. Any
increase in Employee's base salary shall be made within Velocity's sole judgment
and discretion.

     4.02. Employee shall be eligible to receive such fringe benefits as are,
and may be, made available to other employees of Velocity from time to time in
the exclusive discretion of Velocity's Board of Directors. Such benefits may
include, but are not limited to, a medical and dental plan, short-term
disability plan, long term disability plan, and a life insurance plan. Velocity
is not obligated to provide or continue any of these benefits and may, without
any prior notice, discontinue

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any benefit already provided or as may be provided in the future, within the
exclusive discretion of the Company's Board of Directors.

     Article 5. Vacation and Leave

     5.01. Employee is entitled to paid vacation per year consistent with the
Company's policy for other employees, in addition to Velocity's normal holidays.
Vacation time will be scheduled taking into account the Executive's duties and
obligations at Velocity. Sick leave, holiday pay and all other leaves of absence
will be in accordance with Velocity's stated personnel policies.

     Article 6. Termination

     6.01. Employee may resign his position and terminate his/her employment by
giving Velocity 60 days written notice of his intention to resign. Velocity may,
at its option, waive the remaining notice period and terminate Employee
immediately without any notice period or severance obligations. If requested by
the Company, Employee agrees to cooperate in training his successor until his
actual termination. In the event of such resignation, Employee shall receive
only that compensation earned through his last day of employment; provided,
however, that in the event Employee completes said training of a successor,
Employee shall be entitled to all or a portion of any bonus due Employee
pursuant to any bonus plan or arrangement established prior to termination, to
the extent earned or performed based upon the requirements or criteria of such
plan or arrangement, as the Board shall in good faith determine.

     6.02. Velocity may, subject to applicable law, terminate this Agreement by
giving Employee two (2) months notice if Employee, due to sickness or injury, is
prevented from carrying out his essential job functions for a period of six (6)
months or longer. In the event of such termination, Employee shall receive only
that compensation earned through the date of termination; provided, however,
that Employee shall be entitled to all or a portion of any bonus due Employee
pursuant to any bonus plan or arrangement established prior to termination, to
the extent earned or performed based upon the requirements or criteria of such
plan or arrangement, as the Board shall in good faith determine.

     6.03. Employee's employment and this Agreement will be deemed terminated
upon the death of the Employee. In the event of such termination, the Employee's
heir(s), as identified on the Employee's life insurance beneficiary card, shall
receive only compensation earned through the date of termination provided,
however, that Employee shall be entitled to all or a portion of any bonus due
Employee pursuant to any bonus plan or arrangement established prior to
termination, to the extent earned or performed based upon the requirements or
criteria of such plan or arrangement, as the Board shall in good faith
determine.

     6.04. Any other provision of this Agreement notwithstanding, the Company
may terminate Executive's employment without notice if the termination is based
on any of the following events that constitute Cause:

     (a)  Any conviction or nolo contendere plea by Employee to a felony or
          gross misdemeanor, or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, or any
          public conduct by Employee that has or can reasonably be expected to
          have a detrimental effect on Velocity; or

     (b)  Any fraud, misappropriations or embezzlement, breach of
          confidentiality, noncompetition, fiduciary duty or other obligation to
          Company, by Employee or intentional material damage to the property or
          business of Velocity.

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     In the event of such termination, and not withstanding any contrary
provision otherwise stated, Employee shall receive only his base salary earned
through the date of termination.

     Article 7. Non-renewal of Contract and Severance

     7.01. During the two (2) year period of this Agreement, if the Company, its
successors or assigns, terminates Executive's employment for any reason other
than those listed in Sections 6.02 and 6.03 above, the Company, its successors
or assigns, shall:

     (a)  pay Employee as severance pay each month for twelve (12) consecutive
          months following his termination his monthly base salary in effect at
          the time of separation, less customary withholdings, beginning one (1)
          month after termination;

     (b)  if Employee timely elects to continue his group health and dental
          insurance coverage pursuant to applicable COBRA/continuation law and
          the terms of the respective benefit plans, pay on Employee's behalf
          the premiums for such coverage for the lesser of (i) twelve (12)
          months, (ii) such time as Employee's COBRA/continuation rights expire,
          and (iii) the date on which Employee becomes eligible to participate
          in any other health and welfare benefit program; and

     (c)  cause the immediate vesting of any unvested stock options or stock
          grants then held by Employee.

     7.02 At the termination of this Agreement, Velocity may, in its sole
discretion, extend, renew or renegotiate the Agreement. Any such renewal or
extension must be in writing.

     (a)  In the event that Velocity elects to not renew or extend this
          Agreement, Velocity may, in it sole discretion, offer to Employee
          severance for a period of up to twelve (12) month (the "Severance
          Option") in exchange for Employee executing a restrictive covenant as
          set forth in Exhibit A, hereto. If Velocity offers, and Employee
          accepts the Severance Option, Velocity will pay each month for twelve
          (12) consecutive months following Employees termination his monthly
          base salary in effect at the time of separation, less customary
          withholdings, beginning one (1) month after termination.

     (b)  In the event that Velocity does not offer Employee the Severance
          Option, Employee will not be entitled to any severance or benefits.

     Article 8. Nondisclosure

     8.01. Except as permitted or directed by Velocity or as may be required in
the proper discharge of Executive's employment hereunder, Employee shall not,
during the Term or at any time thereafter, divulge, furnish or make accessible
to anyone or use in any way any confidential, trade secret or proprietary
information of Velocity, including without limitation, whether or not reduced to
writing, customer lists, customer files or information, planning and financial
information, contracts, sales and marketing information, business strategy or
opportunities for new or developing business, which Employee has prepared,
acquired or become acquainted with during his employment by the Company. Upon
termination of Employee's employment for any reason, Employee shall promptly
return to Velocity all such confidential, trade secret and proprietary
information, including all copies thereof, then in Executive's possession,
control or influence, whether prepared by Employee or others.

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     8.02. The Employee understands and agrees that any violation of this
Article 8 while employed by the Company may result in immediate disciplinary
action by Velocity, including termination of employment.

     8.03. The provisions of this Article 8 shall survive termination of this
Agreement indefinitely.

     Article 9. Miscellaneous

     9.01. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed and construed
according to the laws of the State of Minnesota without regard to conflicts of
law provisions. The parties further agree that all legal actions hereunder shall
only be brought in an appropriate Minnesota court and both parties hereby
consent to such exclusive jurisdiction.

     9.02. Successors. This Agreement is personal to Employee and Employee may
not assign or transfer any part of his rights or duties hereunder, or any
compensation due to him hereunder, to any other person or entity. This Agreement
may be assigned by Velocity and Velocity may require any successors or assigns
to expressly assume and agree to perform Velocity's obligations under this
Agreement.

     9.03. Waiver. The waiver by the Company of the breach or nonperformance of
any provision of this Agreement by Employee will not operate or be construed as
a waiver of any future breach or nonperformance under any such provision of this
Agreement or any similar agreement with any other employee.

     9.04. Modification. This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all
prior oral or written understandings or agreements, if any, between the parties
relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, which are hereby revoked.
Additionally, the severance provisions of Article 7 supersede and replace all
rights Employee may otherwise have under the Company's regular severance or
termination policies. The parties agree that this Agreement (a) is the entire
understanding and agreement between the parties and (b) is the complete and
exclusive statement of the terms and conditions thereof, and there are no other
written or oral agreements in regard to the subject matter of this Agreement.
This Agreement shall not be changed or modified except by a written document
signed by the parties hereto.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF the following parties have executed the above instrument
the day and year first above written.

                                        Velocity Express, Inc.

                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------------

                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Employee

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                                    Exhibit A

     In the event Employee is offered and accepts the Severance Option under
Article 7.02 of this Agreement, he will sign a restrictive covenant that
includes the following terms.

Restrictive Covenants

     The Company and Employee recognize and agree that: (i) Employee has
received, and will in the future receive, substantial amounts of highly
confidential and proprietary information concerning the Company, its business,
customers and employees; (ii) as a consequence of using or associating himself
with the Company 's name, goodwill, and reputation, Employee will develop
personal and professional relationships with the Company 's current and
prospective customers and clients; and (iii) provision for non-competition and
non-recruitment obligations by Employee is critical to the Company 's continued
economic well-being and protection of the Company 's confidential and
proprietary business information. In light of these considerations, this section
sets forth the terms and conditions of Employee's obligations of non-competition
and non-recruitment during the Term of and subsequent to the termination of this
Agreement and/or Employee's employment for any reason.

     Unless the obligation is waived or limited by the Company as set forth
herein, Employee agrees that during the term of Employee's employment pursuant
to this Agreement and for a period of twelve (12) months following termination
of Employee's employment for any reason, Employee will not directly or
indirectly (a) solicit or do competitive business with any person or entity that
is or was a customer or vendor of the Company within the twelve (12) months
prior to the date of termination, or (b) engage within the North American
markets in which the Company engages in business at the time of termination, in
any similar or related business activity in competition with the Company 's
direct line of business as conducted at the time of Employee's termination.
Among all other competitive actions that are likewise restricted, Employee shall
not cause or attempt to cause any existing or prospective customer, client or
account who then has a relationship with the Company for current or prospective
business to divert, terminate, limit or in any adverse manner modify, or fail to
enter into any actual or potential business with the Company.

     At its sole option, the Company may, by express written notice to Employee,
waive or limit the time and/or geographic area in which Employee cannot engage
in competitive activity or the scope of such competitive activity.

     For a period of twelve (12) months following termination of Employee's
employment for any reason, Employee will not initiate or actively participate in
any other employer's recruitment or hiring of any of the Company 's employees.

     Employee agrees that breach by him of the provisions of this article will
cause the Company irreparable harm that is not fully remedied by monetary
damages. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Employee of the
provisions of this article, the Company shall be entitled to an injunction
restraining Employee from directly or indirectly competing or recruiting as
prohibited herein, without posting a bond or other security. Nothing herein
shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other equitable
or legal remedies available to it for such breach or threatened breach,
including the recovery of damages from Employee. Employee agrees that the
Company shall be entitled to recover its costs of litigation and attorney fees
incurred in enforcing this Agreement.

     The Employee understands and agrees that any violation of this article
while employed by the Company may result in immediate disciplinary action by the
Company, including termination of employment.

     The obligations contained in this article shall survive the termination of
this Agreement.

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