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                                                                   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
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Mark Conard

