3,800,000 Shares

                           JEVIC TRANSPORTATION, INC.

                                  Common Stock

                               (without par value)


                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                             ----------------------

                                                             October 7, 1997



BT Alex. Brown Incorporated
William Blair & Company, L.L.C.
Schroder & Co. Inc.
As Representatives of the
   Several Underwriters
c/o BT Alex. Brown Incorporated
One South Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Ladies and Gentlemen:
         Jevic Transportation, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to sell to the several underwriters (the "Underwriters") named in
Schedule I hereto for whom you are acting as representatives (the
"Representatives") an aggregate of 3,800,000 shares of the Company's Common
Stock, without par value (the "Firm Shares"). The respective amounts of the Firm
Shares to be so purchased by the several Underwriters are set forth opposite
their names in Schedule I hereto. Certain stockholders of the Company (the
"Option Shareholders") also propose to sell at the Underwriters' option an
aggregate of up to 570,000 additional shares of the Company's Common Stock (the
"Option Shares") as set forth below.
         As the Representatives, you have advised the Company and the Option
Shareholders (a) that you are authorized to enter into this Agreement on behalf
of the several Underwriters, and (b) that the several Underwriters are willing,
acting severally and not jointly, to purchase the numbers of Firm Shares set
forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I, plus their pro rata portion
of the Option Shares if you elect to exercise the over-allotment option in whole
or in part for the accounts of the several Underwriters. The Firm Shares and the
Option Shares (to the extent the aforementioned option is exercised) are herein
collectively called the "Shares."






         In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and of the
interests of the parties in the transactions contemplated hereby, the parties
hereto agree as follows:

1.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY, PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND
    THE OPTION SHAREHOLDERS.

         (a) The Company and each of the persons listed on Schedule II hereto
(collectively, the "Principal Shareholders") jointly and severally represents
and warrants to each of the Underwriters as follows:

             (i) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-33469) with
respect to the Shares has been carefully prepared by the Company in conformity
with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and
the Rules and Regulations (the "Rules" or the "Rules and Regulations") of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder and has been
filed with the Commission. Copies of such registration statement, including any
pre-effective amendments thereto, the preliminary prospectuses (meeting the
requirements of the Rules and Regulations) contained therein and the exhibits,
financial statements and schedules, as finally amended and revised, have
heretofore been delivered by the Company to you. Such registration statement,
together with any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule
462(b) of the Act, herein referred to as the "Registration Statement," which
shall be deemed to include all information omitted therefrom in reliance upon
Rule 430A and contained in the Prospectus referred to below, has become
effective under the Act and no post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement has been filed as of the date of this Agreement, other than any
post-effective amendment that may have been filed pursuant to Rule 462(d).
"Prospectus" means (a) the form of prospectus first filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (b) the last preliminary prospectus included in the
Registration Statement filed prior to the time it becomes effective or filed
pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Act that is delivered by the Company to the
Underwriters for delivery to purchasers of the Shares, together with the term
sheet or abbreviated term sheet filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b)(7) under the Act. Each preliminary prospectus included in the
Registration Statement prior to the time it becomes effective is herein referred
to as a "Preliminary Prospectus."

             (ii) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of New Jersey, with
corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement. The Company is duly
qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its
business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so
qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the business of the
Company.

             (iii) The outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company,
including all shares subject to the option granted by the Option Shareholders
pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof,

                                      - 2 -






have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable; the Shares to be issued and sold by the Company have been duly
authorized and when issued and paid for as contemplated herein will be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and no preemptive rights of stockholders
exist with respect to any of the Shares or the issue and sale thereof. Neither
the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Shares
as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights, other than those
which have been waived or satisfied, for or relating to the registration of any
shares of Common Stock or Class A Common Stock, without par value (the "Class A
Stock").

             (iv) The information set forth under the caption "Capitalization"
in the Prospectus is true and correct. All of the Shares conform to the
description thereof contained in the Registration Statement. The form of
certificates for the Shares conforms to the corporate law of the jurisdiction of
the Company's incorporation.

             (v) The Commission has not issued an order preventing or suspending
the use of any Prospectus relating to the proposed offering of the Shares nor
instituted proceedings for that purpose. The Registration Statement contains,
and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto will contain, all
statements which are required to be stated therein by, and will conform to, the
requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations. The Registration
Statement and any amendment thereto do not contain, and will not contain, any
untrue statement of a material fact and do not omit, and will not omit, to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus and any amendments and
supplements thereto do not contain, and will not contain, any untrue statement
of material fact; and do not omit, and will not omit, to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to
information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
any Underwriter through the Representatives, specifically for use in the
preparation thereof.

             (vi) The financial statements of the Company, together with related
notes and schedules as set forth in the Registration Statement (collectively,
the "Financial Statements"), present fairly the financial position and the
results of operations and cash flows of the Company, at the indicated dates and
for the indicated periods. Such Financial Statements have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted principles of accounting, consistently
applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed herein, and all
adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results for such periods have
been made. The summary financial and statistical data included in the
Registration Statement presents fairly the information shown therein and such
data has been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements
presented therein and the books and records of the Company. The pro forma
financial information included in the

                                      - 3 -






Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown
therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules and
guidelines with respect to pro forma financial information, have been properly
compiled on the pro forma bases described therein, and, in the opinion of the
Company, the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the
adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions or
circumstances referred to therein.

             (vii) Arthur Andersen & Co. LLP, who have certified certain of the
Financial Statements filed with the Commission as part of the Registration
Statement, are independent public accountants as required by the Act and the
Rules and Regulations.

             (viii) There is no action, suit, claim or proceeding pending or, to
the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company before any court or
administrative agency or otherwise which if determined adversely to the Company
might result in any material adverse change in the earnings, business,
management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of the Company or to prevent the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement.

             (ix) The Company has good and marketable title to all of the
properties and assets reflected in the Financial Statements (or as described in
the Registration Statement) hereinabove described, subject to no lien, mortgage,
pledge, charge or encumbrance of any kind except those reflected in such
Financial Statements (or as described in the Registration Statement) or which
are not material in amount. The Company occupies its leased properties under
valid and binding leases conforming in all material respects to the description
thereof set forth in the Registration Statement.

             (x) The Company has filed all Federal, State, local and foreign
income tax returns which have been required to be filed and have paid all taxes
indicated by said returns and all assessments received by them or any of them to
the extent that such taxes have become due. All tax liabilities have been
adequately provided for in the Financial Statements of the Company.

             (xi) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in
the Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented, there has not
been any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective
material adverse change in or affecting the earnings, business, management,
properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or
prospects of the Company, whether or not occurring in the ordinary course of
business, and there has not been any material transaction entered into or any
material transaction that is probable of being entered into by the Company,
other than transactions in the ordinary course of business and changes and
transactions described in the Registration Statement, as it may be amended or
supplemented. The Company has no material contingent obligations

                                      - 4 -






which are not disclosed in the Company's Financial Statements which are included
in the Registration Statement. 

             (xii) The Company is not and, solely with the giving of notice or
lapse of time or both, will not be, in violation of or in default under its
Charter or By-Laws or under any agreement, lease, contract, indenture or other
instrument or obligation to which it is a party or by which it, or any of its
properties, is bound and which default is of material significance in respect of
the condition, financial or otherwise of the Company, or the business,
management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of the Company. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and the
fulfillment of the terms hereof will not conflict with or result in a material
breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which the
Company is a party, or of the Charter or By-Laws of the Company or any order,
rule or regulation applicable to the Company of any court or of any regulatory
body or administrative agency or other governmental body having jurisdiction.

             (xiii) Each approval, consent, order, authorization, designation,
declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other
governmental body necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by the
Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein
contemplated (except such additional steps as may be required by the Commission,
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or such
additional steps as may be necessary to qualify the Shares for public offering
by the Underwriters under state securities or Blue Sky laws) has been obtained
or made and is in full force and effect.

             (xiv) The Company holds all material licenses, certificates and
permits from governmental authorities which are necessary to the conduct of its
business; and the Company has not infringed any patents, patent rights, trade
names, trademarks or copyrights, which infringement is material to the business
of the Company. The Company knows of no infringement by others of patents,
patent rights, trade names, trademarks or copyrights owned by or licensed to the
Company, which infringement is material to the business of the Company.

             (xv) Neither the Company, nor to the Company's best knowledge, any
of its affiliates, has taken or may take, directly or indirectly, any action
designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might
reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the
price of the shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Shares. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters may engage in passive
market making transactions in the Shares on The Nasdaq Stock Market in
accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

                                      - 5 -






             (xvi) The Company is not an "investment company" within the meaning
of such term under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder.

             (xvii) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are
executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to
maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.

             (xviii) The Company carries, or is covered by, insurance in such
amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of its business
and the value of its properties and as is customary for companies engaged in
similar industries.

             (xix) The Company is in compliance in all material respects with
all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations
thereunder ("ERISA"); no "reportable event" (as defined in ERISA) has occurred
with respect to any "pension plan" (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company
would have any liability; the Company has not incurred and does not expect to
incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or
withdrawal from, any "pension plan" or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder (the "Code"); and each "pension plan" for which the
Company would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section
401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has
occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of
such qualification.

             (xx) The Company confirms as of the date hereof that it is in
compliance with all provisions of Section 1 of Laws of Florida, Chapter 92-198,
An Act Relating to Disclosure of doing Business with Cuba, and the Company
further agrees that if it commences engaging in business with the government of
Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba after the date the
Registration Statement becomes or has become effective with the Commission or
with the Florida Department of Banking and Finance (the "Department"), whichever
date is later, or if the information reported in the Prospectus, if any,
concerning the Company's business with Cuba or with any person or affiliate
located in Cuba changes in any material way, the Company will provide the
Department notice of such business or change, as appropriate, in a form
acceptable to the Department.

                                      - 6 -







         (b) Each of the Option Shareholders severally represents and warrants
as follows:

             (i) Such Option Shareholder now has shares of Class A Common Stock
convertible into, and at the Option Closing Date (as such date is hereinafter
defined) will have good and marketable title to, the Option Shares to be sold by
such Option Shareholder, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances, equities and
claims, and full right, power and authority to effect the sale and delivery of
such Option Shares; and upon the delivery of, against payment for, such Option
Shares pursuant to this Agreement, the Underwriters will acquire good and
marketable title thereto, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances, equities
and claims.

             (ii) Such Option Shareholder has full right, power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, and the Custodian
Agreement referred to below and to perform its obligations under such
Agreements. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation by
such Option Shareholder of the transactions herein contemplated and the
fulfillment by such Option Shareholder of the terms hereof will not require any
consent, approval, authorization, or other order of any court, regulatory body,
administrative agency or other governmental body (except as may be required
under the Act, state securities laws or Blue Sky laws) and will not result in a
material breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default
under, organizational documents of such Option Shareholder, if not an
individual, or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or
instrument to which such Option Shareholder is a party, or of any order, rule or
regulation applicable to such Option Shareholder of any court or of any
regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body having
jurisdiction.

             (iii) Such Option Shareholder has not taken and will not take,
directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or which has constituted, or
which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or
manipulation of the price of the Common Stock of the Company and, other than as
permitted by the Act, the Option Shareholder will not distribute any prospectus
or other offering material in connection with the offering of the Shares.

             (iv) Without having undertaken to determine independently the
accuracy or completeness of either the representations and warranties of the
Company contained herein or the information contained in the Registration
Statement, such Option Shareholder has no reason to believe that the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Section 1 are
not true and correct, is familiar with the Registration Statement and has no
knowledge of any material fact, condition or information not disclosed in the
Registration Statement which has adversely affected or would reasonably be
expected to adversely affect the business of the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries; and the sale of the Option Shares by such Option Shareholder
pursuant hereto is not prompted by any information concerning the Company which
is not set forth in the

                                      - 7 -





Registration Statement. The information pertaining to such Option Shareholder 
under the caption "Principal Shareholders" in the Prospectus is complete and 
accurate in all material respects.

2.  PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE FIRM SHARES.

         (a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants
herein contained, and subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company
agrees to sell to the Underwriters and each Underwriter agrees, severally and
not jointly, to purchase, at a price of $_____ per share, the number of Firm
Shares set forth opposite the name of each Underwriter in Schedule I hereof,
subject to adjustments in accordance with Section 9 hereof.

         (b) Payment for the Firm Shares to be sold hereunder is to be made in
same day funds via wire transfer to the order of the Company against delivery of
certificates therefor to the Representatives for the several accounts of the
Underwriters. Such payment and delivery are to be made at the offices of BT
Alex. Brown Incorporated, One South Street, Baltimore, Maryland, at 10:00 a.m.,
Baltimore time, on the third business day after the date of this Agreement or at
such other time and date not later than five business days thereafter as you and
the Company shall agree upon, such time and date being herein referred to as the
"Closing Date." (As used herein, "business day" means a day on which the New
York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which banks in New York are open
for business and are not permitted by law or executive order to be closed.) The
certificates for the Firm Shares will be delivered in such denominations and in
such registrations as the Representatives request in writing not later than the
second full business day prior to the Closing Date, and will be made available
for inspection by the Representatives at least one business day prior to the
Closing Date.

                                      - 8 -







         (c) In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties
herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Option Shareholders listed on Schedule II hereto hereby grant an option to the
several Underwriters to purchase the Option Shares at the price per share as set
forth in the first paragraph of this Section 2. The maximum number of Option
Shares to be sold by each of the Option Shareholders is set forth opposite his
or her name on Schedule II hereto. The option granted hereby may be exercised in
whole or in part by giving written notice (i) at any time before the Closing
Date and (ii) only once thereafter within 30 days after the date of this
Agreement, by you, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, to the
Attorney-in-Fact, and the Custodian setting forth the number of Option Shares as
to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option, the names and
denominations in which the Option Shares are to be registered and the time and
date at which such certificates are to be delivered. If the option granted
hereby is exercised in part, the respective number of Option Shares to be sold
by each of the Option Shareholders listed in Schedule II hereto shall be
determined on a pro rata basis in accordance with the percentages set forth
opposite their names on Schedule II hereto, adjusted by you in such manner as to
avoid fractional shares. The time and date at which certificates for Option
Shares are to be delivered shall be determined by the Representatives but shall
not be earlier than three nor later than 10 full business days after the
exercise of such option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Date (such time
and date being herein referred to as the "Option Closing Date"). If the date of
exercise of the option is three or more days before the Closing Date, the notice
of exercise shall set the Closing Date as the Option Closing Date. The number of
Option Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be in the same
proportion to the total number of Option Shares being purchased as the number of
Firm Shares being purchased by such Underwriter bears to the total number of
Firm Shares, adjusted by you in such manner as to avoid fractional shares. The
option with respect to the Option Shares granted hereunder may be exercised only
to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares by the Underwriters.
You, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, may cancel such option at
any time prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation
to the Attorney-in-Fact. To the extent, if any, that the option is exercised,
payment for the Option Shares shall be made on the Option Closing Date in same
day funds via wire transfer to the order of "Barry Abelson, as Custodian"
against delivery of certificates therefor at the offices of BT Alex. Brown
Incorporated, One South Street, Baltimore, Maryland.

         (d) If, on Option Closing Date any Option Shareholder fails to sell the
Option Shares which such Option Shareholder has agreed to sell on such date as
set forth in Schedule II hereto, the Company agrees that it will sell or arrange
for the sale of that number of shares of Common Stock to the Underwriters which
represents the Option Shares which such Option Shareholder has failed to so
sell, as set forth in Schedule II hereto, or such lesser number as may be
requested by the Representatives.

3.  OFFERING BY THE UNDERWRITERS.

                                      - 9 -






         It is understood that the several Underwriters are to make a public
offering of the Firm Shares as soon as the Representatives deem it advisable to
do so. The Firm Shares are to be initially offered to the public at the initial
public offering price set forth in the Prospectus. The Representatives may from
time to time thereafter change the public offering price and other selling
terms. To the extent, if at all, that any Option Shares are purchased pursuant
to Section 2 hereof, the Underwriters will offer them to the public on the
foregoing terms.

         It is further understood that you will act as the Representatives for
the Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Shares in accordance with a
Master Agreement Among Underwriters entered into by you and the several other
Underwriters.

4.  COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE OPTION SHAREHOLDERS.

         (a) The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters
that:

             (i) The Company will (A) use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to become effective or, if the procedure in Rule 430A of
the Rules and Regulations is followed, to prepare and timely file with the
Commission under Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations a Prospectus in a form
approved by the Representatives containing information previously omitted at the
time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of
the Rules and Regulations and (B) not file any amendment to the Registration
Statement or supplement to the Prospectus of which the Representatives shall not
previously have been advised and furnished with a copy or to which the
Representatives shall have promptly and reasonably objected in writing or which
is not in compliance with the Rules and Regulations.

             (ii) The Company will advise the Representatives promptly (A) when
the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall have
become effective, (B) of receipt of any comments from the Commission, (C) of any
request of the Commission for amendment of the Registration Statement or for
supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, and (D) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus or of the institution of any
proceedings for that purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent
the issuance of any such stop order preventing or suspending the use of the
Prospectus and to obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if issued.

                                     - 10 -






             (iii) The Company will cooperate with the Representatives in
endeavoring to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such
jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing,
to the extent required under such securities laws, and will make such
applications, file such documents, and furnish such information as may be
reasonably required for that purpose, provided the Company shall not be required
to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of
process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or required to file
such a consent. The Company will, from time to time, prepare and file such
statements, reports, and other documents, as are or may be required to continue
such qualifications in effect for so long a period as the Representatives may
reasonably request for distribution of the Shares.

             (iv) The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the
Representatives, from time to time, as many copies of any Preliminary Prospectus
as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to, or
upon the order of, the Representatives during the period when delivery of a
Prospectus is required under the Act, as many copies of the Prospectus in final
form, or as thereafter amended or supplemented, as the Representatives may
reasonably request. The Company will deliver to the Representatives at or before
the Closing Date, four signed copies of the Registration Statement and all
amendments thereto including all exhibits filed therewith, and will deliver to
the Representatives such number of copies of the Registration Statement
(including such number of copies of the exhibits filed therewith that may
reasonably be requested), and of all amendments thereto, as the Representatives
may reasonably request.

             (v) The Company will comply with the Act and the Rules and
Regulations, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to permit the
completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this Agreement
and the Prospectus. If during the period in which a prospectus is required by
law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur as a
result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of
the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend
or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is delivered to a
purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time to amend or
supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company promptly will
prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment to the
Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as
so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when it
is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with the
law.

             (vi) The Company will make generally available to its security
holders, as soon as it is practicable to do so, but in any event not later than
15 months after the effective date of

                                     - 11 -





the Registration Statement, an earning statement (which need not be audited) in
reasonable detail, covering a period of at least 12 consecutive months beginning
after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which earning statement
shall satisfy the requirements of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the
Rules and Regulations and will advise you in writing when such statement has
been so made available.

             (vii) The Company will, for a period of five years from the Closing
Date, deliver to the Representatives copies of annual reports and copies of all
other documents, reports and information furnished by the Company to its
stockholders or filed with any securities exchange pursuant to the requirements
of such exchange or with the Commission pursuant to the Act or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company will deliver to the
Representatives similar reports with respect to significant subsidiaries, as
that term is defined in the Rules and Regulations, which are not consolidated in
the Company's Financial Statements.

             (viii) No offering, sale, short sale or other disposition of any
shares of Common Stock of the Company, the Class A Stock of the Company or other
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common
Stock or the Class A Stock of the Company or derivative of Common Stock or the
Class A Stock of the Company (or agreement for such) will be made for a period
of 180 days after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, by the
Company otherwise than hereunder or with the prior written consent of BT Alex.
Brown Incorporated, except in connection with the Company's employee benefit
plans described in the Registration Statement.

             (ix) The Company will use its best efforts to list, subject to
notice of issuance, the Shares on The Nasdaq Stock Market.

             (x) The Company has caused each officer and director and specific
shareholders of the Company to furnish to you, on or prior to the date of this
agreement, a letter or letters, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Underwriters, pursuant to which each such person shall agree not to offer, sell,
sell short or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock or Class A Stock
of the Company or other capital stock of the Company, or any other securities
convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock, Class A Stock or
derivative of Common Stock owned by such person or request the registration for
the offer or sale of any of the foregoing (or as to which such person has the
right to direct the disposition of) for a period of 180 days after the date of
this Agreement, directly or indirectly, except with the prior written consent of
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated ("Lockup Agreements"); provided, however, that the
Lockup Agreements will not prohibit any transfer or disposition (A) to a trust
or custodial account for the benefit of the transferor's family members, or (B)
by any member of the Muhlschlegel Family (as defined in the Prospectus) to any
other member of the Muhlschlegel Family as long as the permitted transferee has
executed a Lockup Agreement prior to or simultaneous with the permitted
transfer.

                                     - 12 -






             (xi) The Company shall apply the net proceeds of its sale of the
Shares as set forth in the Prospectus and shall disclose appropriately in
Exchange Act reports filed with the Commission subsequent to the Closing Date
the application of the proceeds therefrom as may be required in accordance with
Rule 463 under the Act.

             (xii) The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds
received by the Company from its sale of the Shares in such a manner as would
require the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to register as an investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").

             (xiii) The Company will maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary
under the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar for the
Common Stock.

             (xiv) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action
designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be
expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any
securities of the Company.

         (b) Each of the Option Shareholders covenants and agrees with the
several Underwriters that:

             (i) No offering, sale, short sale or other disposition of any
shares of Common Stock or Class A Stock of the Company or other capital stock of
the Company or other securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for
Common Stock or Class A Stock or derivative of Common Stock or Class A Stock
owned by the Option Shareholder or request the registration for the offer or
sale of any of the foregoing (or as to which the Option Shareholder has the
right to direct the disposition of) will be made for a period of 180 days after
the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, by such Option Shareholder
otherwise than hereunder or with the prior written consent of BT Alex. Brown
Incorporated; provided, however, that the Option Shareholder shall not be
prohibited from making any transfer or disposition (A) to a trust or custodial
account for the benefit of the transferor's family members, or (B) by any member
of the Muhlschlegel Family (as defined in the Prospectus) to any other member of
the Muhlschlegel Family as long as the permitted transferee has executed a
Lockup Agreement prior to or simultaneous with the permitted transfer.

             (ii) In order to document the Underwriters' compliance with the
reporting and withholding provisions of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility
Act of 1982 and the Interest and Dividend Tax Compliance Act of 1983 with
respect to the transactions herein contemplated, each of the Option Shareholders
agrees to deliver to you prior to or at the Option Closing Date a properly
completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-9 (or other
applicable form or statement specified by Treasury Department regulations in
lieu thereof).

                                     - 13 -






             (iii) Such Option Shareholder will not take, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted
or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation
of the price of any securities of the Company.

5.  COSTS AND EXPENSES.

         The Company will pay all costs, expenses and fees incident to the
performance of the obligations of the Company and the Option Shareholders under
this Agreement, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
following: accounting fees of the Company; the fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Company and the Option Shareholders; the cost of printing and delivering
to, or as requested by, the Underwriters copies of the Registration Statement,
Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus, this Agreement, the Underwriters'
Selling Memorandum, the Underwriters' Invitation Letter, the Listing
Application, the Blue Sky Survey and any supplements or amendments thereto; the
filing fees of the Commission; the filing fee of the NASD relating to their
review and approval of the terms of the sale of the Shares; the Listing Fee of
the Nasdaq Stock Market. To the extent, if at all, that any of the Option
Shareholders engage special legal counsel to represent them in connection with
this offering, the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be borne by such
Option Shareholder. Any transfer taxes imposed on the sale of the Shares to the
several Underwriters will be paid by the Company, on the one hand, and the
Option Shareholders, on the other hand, pro rata. The Company shall not,
however, be required to pay for any of the Underwriter's expenses (other than
those related to qualification under NASD regulation) except that, if this
Agreement shall not be consummated because the conditions in Section 6 hereof
(other than Section 6(c)) are not satisfied, or because this Agreement is
terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof, or by reason
of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company or the Option
Shareholders to perform any undertaking or satisfy any condition of this
Agreement or to comply with any of the terms hereof on their part to be
performed, unless such failure to satisfy said condition or to comply with said
terms be due to the default or omission of any Underwriter, then the Company
shall reimburse the several Underwriters for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses,
including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred in connection
with investigating, marketing and proposing to market the Shares or in
contemplation of performing their obligations hereunder (up to a maximum amount
of $100,000 for such fees and disbursements of counsel); but the Company and the
Option Shareholders shall not in any event be liable to any of the several
Underwriters for damages on account of loss of anticipated profits from the sale
by them of the Shares.

6.  CONDITIONS OF OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS.

         The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Shares
on the Closing Date and the Option Shares, if any, on the Option Closing Date
are subject to the accuracy, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date,
as the case may be, of the representations and

                                     - 14 -





warranties of the Company, the Principal Shareholders and the Option
Shareholders contained herein, and to the performance by the Company and the
Option Shareholders of their covenants and obligations hereunder and to the
following additional conditions:

         (a) The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments
thereto shall have become effective and any and all filings required by Rule 424
and Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations shall have been made, and any request
of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration
Statement or otherwise) shall have been disclosed to the Representatives and
complied with to their reasonable satisfaction. No stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, shall
have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been taken or,
to the knowledge of the Company or the Option Shareholders, shall be
contemplated by the Commission and no injunction, restraining order, or order of
any nature by a Federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been
issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent the issuance of the Shares.

         (b) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the opinion of Pepper, Hamilton &
Sheetz, counsel for the Company and the Option Shareholders, dated the Closing
Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the
Underwriters (and stating that it may be relied upon by counsel to the
Underwriters) to the effect that:

             (i) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of New Jersey, with
corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement; the Company is duly
qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its
business requires such qualification, or in which the failure to qualify would
have a materially adverse effect upon the business of the Company.

             (ii) The Company has authorized and outstanding capital stock as
set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in the Prospectus; the authorized
shares of the Company's Common Stock have been duly authorized; the outstanding
shares of the Company's Common Stock, including the Shares to be sold by the
Option Shareholders, have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully
paid and non-assessable; all of the Shares conform to the description thereof
contained in the Prospectus; the certificates for the Shares, assuming they are
in the form filed with the Commission, are in due and proper form; the shares of
Common Stock, to be sold by the Company pursuant to this Agreement have been
duly authorized and will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable when
issued and paid for as contemplated by this Agreement; and no preemptive rights
of stockholders exist with respect to any of the Shares or the issue or sale
thereof.

                                     - 15 -






             (iii) Except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus, to
the knowledge of such counsel, there are no outstanding securities of the
Company convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the right to purchase or
subscribe for any shares of capital stock of the Company and there are no
outstanding or authorized options, warrants or rights of any character
obligating the Company to issue any shares of its capital stock or any
securities convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the right to purchase
or subscribe for any shares of such stock; and except as described in the
Prospectus, to the knowledge of such counsel, no holder of any securities of the
Company or any other person has the right, contractual or otherwise, which has
not been satisfied or effectively waived, to cause the Company to sell or
otherwise issue to them, or to require the Company or the Option Shareholders to
permit them to underwrite the sale of, any of the Shares or the right to have
any Common Stock, Class A Stock or other securities of the Company included in
the Registration Statement or the right, as a result of the filing of the
Registration Statement, to require registration under the Act of any shares of
Common Stock, Class A Stock or other securities of the Company.

             (iv) Such counsel has been advised by the Commission that the
Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and that no stop order
proceedings with respect thereto have been instituted or are pending or
threatened under the Act.

             (v) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and each amendment
or supplement thereto comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder
(except that such counsel need express no opinion as to the Financial Statements
or any financial or statistical information therein).

             (vi) The statements under the captions "Management-Executive
Incentive Plans," "Business-Properties," "Business-Legal Proceedings,"
"Description of Capital Stock" and "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" in the
Prospectus, insofar as such statements constitute a summary or description of
documents referred to therein or matters of law, fairly present in all material
respects the information called for with respect to such documents and matters.

             (vii) Such counsel does not know of any contracts or documents
required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are no so filed or described
as required, and such contracts and documents as are described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus are fairly described in all material
respects.

             (viii) Such counsel knows of no material legal or governmental
proceedings pending or threatened against the Company except as set forth in the
Prospectus.

                                     - 16 -






             (ix) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions herein contemplated do not and will not
conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitute a default under, the Charter or By-Laws of the Company, or any
agreement or instrument known to such counsel (A) to which the Company is a
party or (B) by which the Company is to be bound.

             (x) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Company.

             (xi) Assuming the accuracy of the advice received from the
commission as described in paragraph (iv) above, no approval, consent, order,
authorization, designation, declaration or filing by or with any regulatory,
administrative or other governmental body is necessary in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated (other than as may be required by the NASD or
as required by State securities and Blue Sky laws as to which such counsel need
express no opinion) except such as have been obtained or made, specifying the
same (other than effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act,
which need not be specified).

             (xii) The Company is not, and will not become, as a result of the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and application
of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus, required to
register as an investment company under the 1940 Act.

             (xiii) This Agreement and the Custodian Agreements and
Power-of-Attorney have been duly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of
the Option Shareholders and represent valid and binding obligations of the
Option Shareholders.

             (xiv) Each Option Shareholder has full legal right, power and
authority, and, assuming the accuracy of the advice recieved from the Commission
as described in paragraph (iv) above, any approval required by law (other than
as required by State securities and Blue Sky laws as to which such counsel need
express no opinion), to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the portion of the
Option Shares to be sold by such Option Shareholder when and as required
pursuant to the terms hereof.

                                     - 17 -






             (xv) The Underwriters (assuming that they are bona fide purchasers
within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code) have acquired good and
marketable title to the Shares being sold by each Option Shareholder on the
Option Closing Date, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities and
claims. The opinion set forth in this paragraph (xv) of Section 6(b) is required
to be given only on the Option Closing Date.

         In rendering such opinion Pepper, Hamilton & Sheetz may rely as to
matters governed by the laws of states other than New Jersey and Pennsylvania or
Federal laws on local counsel in such jurisdictions, provided that in each case
Pepper, Hamilton & Sheetz shall state that they believe that they and the
Underwriters are justified in relying on such other counsel. In addition, such
counsel shall state that, because the primary purpose of such counsel's
engagement was not to establish or confirm factual matters or financial,
accounting or statistical matters and because of the wholly or partially
non-legal character of many of the statements contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, such counsel is not passing upon and does not
assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and such
counsel has not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of
such statements. Without limiting the foregoing, such counsel shall state that
such counsel shall assume no responsibility for and has not independently
verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the Financial Statements and
other financial and statistical data included in the Registration Statement and
have not examined the accounting, financial or statistical records from which
such Financial Statements and related data are derived. Such counsel shall not
that, although certain portions of the Registration Statement (including
Financial Statements) have been included therein on the authority of "experts"
within the meaning of the Act, such counsel are not experts with respect to any
portion of the Registration Statement, including, without limitation, such
Financial Statement or the other financial or statistical data included therein.
However, such counsel shall state that such counsel have participated in
conferences with officers and other representatives and legal counsel of the
Company, representatives of the independent public accountants of the Company
and representatives of and legal counsel for the Underwriters at which the
contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus were discussed. Based
upon such participation and review, and relying as to materiality in part upon
the factual statements of officers and other representatives of the Company,
such counsel shall advise you that no facts have come to such counsel's
attention that has caused such counsel to believe that (i) the Registration
Statement, at the time it became effective under the Act (but after giving
effect to any modifications incorporated therein pursuant to Rule 430A under the
Act) and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, and (ii) the Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, on the date
it was filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations and as of the Closing Date or
the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained

                                     - 18 -





an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances
under which they are made, not misleading (except that such counsel need express
no view as to Financial Statements and statistical information therein). With
respect to such statement, Pepper, Hamilton & Sheetz may state that their belief
is based upon the procedures set forth therein, but is without independent check
and verification.

         (c) The Representatives shall have received from Piper & Marbury
L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, an opinion dated the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, substantially to the effect specified
in subparagraphs (ii), (iii), (iv), (x) and (xi) of Paragraph (b) of this
Section 6, and that the Company is a duly organized and validly existing
corporation under the laws of the State of New Jersey. In rendering such
opinion, Piper & Marbury L.L.P. may rely as to all matters governed other than
by the laws of the State of Maryland or Federal laws on the opinion of counsel
referred to in Paragraph (b) of this Section 6. In addition to the matters set
forth above, such opinion shall also include a statement to the effect that
nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe
that (i) the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, as of the time it
became effective under the Act (but after giving effect to any modifications
incorporated therein pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act) as of the Closing Date
or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of
a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (ii) the
Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, on the date it was filed pursuant to the
Rules and Regulations and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as
the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact, necessary in order to make the statements, in the light
of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading (except that such
counsel need express no view as to Financial Statements, schedules and
statistical information therein). With respect to such statement, Piper &
Marbury L.L.P. may state that their belief is based upon the procedures set
forth therein, but is without independent check and verification.

         (d) You shall have received, on each of the dates hereof, the Closing
Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a letter dated the date
hereof, the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, in form
and substance satisfactory to you, of Arthur Andersen & Co. LLP confirming that
they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Act and the
applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder and stating that in their
opinion the Financial Statements and schedules examined by them and included in
the Registration Statement comply in form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published Rules
and Regulations; and containing such other statements and information as is
ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to Underwriters with
respect to the Financial Statements and certain financial and statistical
information contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.

                                     - 19 -





         (e) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate or certificates of the
Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to the
effect that, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may
be, each of them severally represents as follows:

             (i) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act
and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has
been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose have been taken or are, to his
knowledge, contemplated by the Commission;

             (ii) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in
Section 1 hereof are true and correct as of the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be;

             (iii) All filings required to have been made pursuant to Rules 424
or 430A under the Act have been made;

             (iv) He has carefully examined the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and, in his or her opinion, as of the effective date of the
Registration Statement, the statements contained in the Registration Statement
were true and correct, and such Registration Statement and Prospectus did not
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein not misleading, and since the effective
date of the Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should have been
set forth in a supplement to or an amendment of the Prospectus which has not
been so set forth in such supplement or amendment; and

             (v) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in
the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been any material
adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse
change in or affecting the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company or
the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations,
condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company, whether or not
arising in the ordinary course of business.

         (f) The Company and the Option Shareholders shall have furnished to the
Representatives such further certificates and documents confirming the
representations and warranties, covenants and conditions contained herein and
related matters as the Representatives may reasonably have requested.

         (g) The Firm Shares and Option Shares, if any, have been approved for
designation upon notice of issuance on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

                                     - 20 -






         (h) The Lockup Agreements described in Section 4(a)(x) are in full
force and effect.

         The opinions and certificates mentioned in this Agreement shall be
deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in all
material respects satisfactory to the Representatives and to Piper & Marbury
L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters.

         If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section 6
shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be
fulfilled, the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by
the Representatives by notifying the Company and the Option Shareholders of such
termination in writing or by telegram at or prior to the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be.

         In such event, the Option Shareholders, the Company and the
Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to each other (except to the
extent provided in Sections 5 and 8 hereof).

7.  CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY AND THE OPTION SHAREHOLDERS.

         The obligations of the Company and the Option Shareholders to sell and
deliver the portion of the Shares required to be delivered as and when specified
in this Agreement are subject to the conditions that at the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and in effect
or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened.

                                     - 21 -

 




8.  INDEMNIFICATION.

         (a) The Company and the Option Shareholders, jointly and severally,
agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any,
who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act, against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter or any such controlling
person may become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto,
or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; and will reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling person
upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
Underwriter or such controlling person in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage or liability, action or proceeding or in
responding to a subpoena or governmental inquiry related to the offering of the
Shares, whether or not such Underwriter or controlling person is a party to any
action or proceeding; provided, however, that the Company and the Option
Shareholders will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission made in
the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or such
amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or through the Representatives
specifically for use in the preparation thereof; provided further that the
indemnification contained in this paragraph with respect to, based on or arising
out of an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission
in a Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any
Underwriter or other person indemnified under this Section 8(a) with respect to
a claim made by a third party if (i) a copy of the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, shall have been provided to the Underwriters, (ii) a copy of the
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, shall not have been delivered or sent to
such third party making claims or seeking damages or to impose liabilities or
losses within the time required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and
(iii) the untrue statement or omission or the alleged untrue statement or
omission was corrected in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented. In no
event, however, shall the liability of any Option Shareholder for
indemnification under this Section 8(a) exceed the proceeds received by such
Option Shareholder from the Underwriters in the offering. This indemnity
agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company or the Option
Shareholders may otherwise have.

         (b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly will indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who have
signed the Registration Statement and the Option Shareholders, and each person,
if any, who controls the Company or the Option

                                     - 22 -





Shareholders within the meaning of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities to which the Company or any such director, officer, Option
Shareholder or controlling person may become subject under the Act or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission or the alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made; and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by the Company or any such director, officer, Option Shareholder or
controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability, action or proceeding; provided, however, that each
Underwriter will be liable in each case to the extent, but only to the extent,
that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission has been made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or through
the Representatives specifically for use in the preparation thereof. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Underwriter
may otherwise have.

         (c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to this Section 8, such person (the "indemnified party") shall
promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the
"indemnifying party") in writing. No indemnification provided for in Section
8(a) or (b) shall be available to any party who shall fail to give notice as
provided in this Section 8(c) if the party to whom notice was not given was
unaware of the proceeding to which such notice would have related and was
materially prejudiced by the failure to give such notice, but the failure to
give such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party or parties from any
liability which it or they may have to the indemnified party for contribution or
otherwise than on account of the provisions of Section 8(a) or (b). In case any
such proceeding shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall
wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party and
shall pay as incurred the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such
proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right
to retain its own counsel at its own expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
indemnifying party shall pay as incurred (or within 30 days of presentation) the
fees and expenses of the counsel retained by the indemnified party in the event
(i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed
to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding
(including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party and representation of both parties

                                     - 23 -

 



by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing
interests between them or (iii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to
assume the defense and employ counsel acceptable to the indemnified party within
a reasonable period of time after notice of commencement of the action. It is
understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any
proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the
reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm for all such
indemnified parties. Such firm shall be designated in writing by you in the case
of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a) and by the Company and the
Option Shareholders in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b).
The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent but if settled with such consent or if
there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to
indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason
of such settlement or judgment. In addition, the indemnifying party will not,
without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, settle or compromise
or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim,
action or proceeding of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether
or not any indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such claim,
action or proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an
unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out
of such claim, action or proceeding.

         (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
Section 8(a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein,
then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and, if
the Option Shares are purchased hereunder, the Option Shareholders on the one
hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. If,
however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not
permitted by applicable law then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Company and the Option Shareholders on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and, if the Option
Shares are purchased hereunder, the Option Shareholders on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the
total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the
Company and the Option Shareholders bear to the total underwriting discounts and
commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table
on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact

                                     - 24 -





or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company or the Option Shareholders on the one hand
or the Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.

         The Company the Option Shareholders and the Underwriters agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(d)
were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as
one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not
take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section
8(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect
thereof) referred to above in this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), (i) no Underwriter shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and
commissions applicable to the Shares purchased by such Underwriter, (ii) no
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation, and (iii) no Option Shareholder
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the proceeds received by
such Option Shareholder from the Underwriters in the offering. The Underwriters'
obligations in this Section 8(d) to contribute are several in proportion to
their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

         (e) In any proceeding relating to the Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any supplement or amendment thereto,
each party against whom contribution may be sought under this Section 8 hereby
consents to the jurisdiction of any court having jurisdiction over any other
contributing party, agrees that process issuing from such court may be served
upon him or it by any other contributing party and consents to the service of
such process and agrees that any other contributing party may join him or it as
an additional defendant in any such proceeding in which such other contributing
party is a party.

         (f) Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which an
indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this
Section 8 shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred. The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 8 and the
representations and warranties of the Company, the Principal Shareholders and
the Option Shareholders set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and
in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on
behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter, the
Company, its directors or officers, the Option Shareholders or any persons
controlling the Company or the Option Shareholders, (ii) acceptance of any
Shares and payment therefor hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this
Agreement. A successor to any Underwriter, or to the

                                     - 25 -





Company, its directors or officers, or any person controlling the Company, shall
be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution and reimbursement
agreements contained in this Section 8.

   
         (g) The Underwriters agree that the aggregate amounts payable jointly
and severally by the Principal Shareholders to the Underwriters for any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by the Underwriters as a
result of a breach of one or more representations or warranties of the
Principal Shareholders set forth in this Agreement shall not exceed the
aggregate amounts paid by the Company to the Principal Shareholders or their
affiliates out of the proceeds from the sale of the Firm Shares hereunder.
    

                                     - 26 -

 




9.  DEFAULT BY UNDERWRITERS.

         If on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
any Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay for the portion of the Shares
which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for on such date
(otherwise than by reason of any default on the part of the Company or a Option
Shareholder), you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, shall use your
reasonable efforts to procure within 36 hours thereafter one or more of the
other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase from the Company and the Option
Shareholders such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms set forth
herein, the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, which the
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase. If during such 36
hours you, as such Representatives, shall not have procured such other
Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as
the case may be, agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, then (a) if the aggregate number of shares with respect to which
such default shall occur does not exceed 10% of the Firm Shares or Option
Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby, the other Underwriters shall be
obligated, severally, in proportion to the respective numbers of Firm Shares or
Option Shares, as the case may be, which they are obligated to purchase
hereunder, to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be,
which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase, or (b) if
the aggregate number of shares of Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may
be, with respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Firm
Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby, the Company or the
Option Shareholders, as the case may be, or you as the Representatives of the
Underwriters will have the right, by written notice given within the next
36-hour period to the parties to this Agreement, to terminate this Agreement
without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters or of the
Company or of the Option Shareholders, as the case may be except to the extent
provided in Section 8 hereof. In the event of a default by any Underwriter or
Underwriters, as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date or Option Closing
Date, as the case may be, may be postponed for such period, not exceeding seven
days, as you, as Representatives, may determine in order that the required
changes in the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus or in any other
documents or arrangements may be effected. The term "Underwriter" includes any
person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter. Any action taken under this
Section 9 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect
of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

                                     - 27 -

 




10. NOTICES.

   
         All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, except as
otherwise provided herein, will be mailed, delivered, telecopied or telegraphed
and confirmed as follows: if to the Underwriters, to BT Alex. Brown
Incorporated, One South Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, Attention: William
Legg; with a copy to BT Alex. Brown Incorporated, One South Street, Baltimore,
Maryland 21202. Attention: General Counsel; if to the Company or the Option
Shareholders, to Harry J. Muhlschlegel, Jevic Transportation, Inc., P.O. Box
5157, Delance, New Jersey 08075, with a copy to Barry M. Abelson, Esquire,
Pepper, Hamilton & Scheetz LLP, 3000 Two Logan Square, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19103.
    

11. TERMINATION.

         This Agreement may be terminated by you by notice to the Company and
the Option Shareholders as follows:

         (a) at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the time the Shares are
released by you for sale by notice to the Underwriters, or (ii) 11:30 a.m. on
the first business day following the date of this Agreement;

         (b) at any time prior to the Closing Date if any of the following has
occurred: (i) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, any material adverse change or any
development involving a prospective material adverse change in or affecting the
condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company or the earnings, business,
management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary
course of business; (ii) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or
declaration of war or national emergency or other national or international
calamity or crisis or change in economic or political conditions if the effect
of such outbreak, escalation, declaration, emergency, calamity, crisis or change
on the financial markets of the United States would, in your reasonable
judgment, make it impracticable to market the Shares or to enforce contracts for
the sale of the Shares; (iii) trading generally shall have been suspended or
materially limited on or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock
Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market, other than
program trading automatic shutdowns; (iv) the enactment, publication, decree or
other promulgation of any statute, regulation, rule or order of any court or
other governmental authority which in your reasonable opinion materially and
adversely affects or may materially and adversely affect the business or
operations of the Company; (v) declaration of a banking moratorium by United
States or New York State authorities, (vi) any downgrading in the rating of the
Company's debt securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Exchange Act);
(vii) the suspension of trading of the Company's Common

                                     - 28 -





Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market or (viii) the taking of any action by any
governmental body or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which
in your reasonable opinion has a material adverse effect on the securities
markets in the United States; or

         (c) as provided in Sections 6 and 9 of this Agreement.

12. SUCCESSORS.

         This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the
Underwriters, the Company and the Option Shareholders and their respective
successors, executors, administrators, heirs and assigns, and the officers,
directors and controlling persons referred to herein, and no other person will
have any right or obligation hereunder. No purchaser of any of the Shares from
any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign merely because of such
purchase.

13. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY UNDERWRITERS.

         The Company, the Option Shareholders and the Underwriters acknowledge
and agree that the only information furnished or to be furnished by any
Underwriter to the Company specifically for use in the preparation of any
Preliminary Prospectus, any Prospectus or the Registration Statement consists of
the information set forth in the last paragraph on the front cover page (insofar
as such information relates to the Underwriters), legends required by Item
502(d) of Regulation S-K under the Act and the information under the caption
"Underwriting" in the Prospectus.

14. MISCELLANEOUS.

         The reimbursement, indemnification and contribution agreements
contained in this Agreement and the representations, warranties and covenants in
this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of (a) any
termination of this Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on behalf of any
Underwriter or controlling person thereof, or by or on behalf of the Company or
its directors or officers or the Principal Shareholders and (c) delivery of and
payment for the Shares under this Agreement.

         This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.

         This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of Delaware.

         If the foregoing letter is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicates hereof,
whereupon it will become a binding

                                     - 29 -





agreement among the Option Shareholders, the Company and the several
Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

         Any person executing and delivering this Agreement as Attorney-in-Fact
for an Option Shareholder represents by so doing that he or she has been duly
appointed as Attorney-in-Fact by such Option Shareholder pursuant to a validly
existing and binding Power of Attorney which authorizes such Attorney-in-Fact to
take such action.

                              Very truly yours,

                              JEVIC TRANSPORTATION, INC.

                              By _______________________________________
                                 Harry Muhlschlegel, Chairman and
                                 Chief Executive Officer

                              PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

                              ------------------------------------------
                                 Harry J. Muhlschlegel

                              ------------------------------------------
                                 Karen B. Muhlschlegel

                              OPTION SHAREHOLDERS

                              By _______________________________________
                                 Harry Muhlschlegel, Attorney-in-Fact
                                 for Option Shareholders listed on Schedule III


                                     - 30 -






The foregoing Underwriting Agreement 
is hereby confirmed and accepted as 
of the date first above written.

BT ALEX. BROWN INCORPORATED
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.
SCHRODER & CO. INC.
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters listed on Schedule I
By:  BT Alex. Brown Incorporated

By:______________________________
                         ,Authorized Officer


                                     - 31 -





                                   SCHEDULE I



                            SCHEDULE OF UNDERWRITERS



                                                           Number of Firm Shares
                                                                  to be
Underwriter                                                      Purchased
- -----------                                                ---------------------

BT Alex. Brown Incorporated
William Blair & Company, L.L.C.
Schroder & Co. Inc.







                                                                ----------
                          Total                                  3,800,000
                                                                ==========



                                      - 1 -





                                   SCHEDULE II



                       SCHEDULE OF PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS





Harry Muhlschlegel
Karen Muhlschlegel







                         SCHEDULE OF OPTION SHAREHOLDERS




                                Number of Maximum                Percent of
Option Shareholder           Option Shares to be Sold        Total Option Shares
- ------------------           ------------------------        -------------------
Harry Muhlschlegel                   285,000                        50.0%
Karen Muhlschlegel                   285,000                        50.0%
                                     -------                       ------
              Total                  570,000                       100.0%
                                     =======                       ======



                                      - 1 -