UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C.  20549
                              ____________________

                                    FORM 8-A

               FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                           UNITED ROAD SERVICES, INC.
                           --------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


               Delaware                                94-3278455
               --------                                ----------
(State of incorporation or organization)    (IRS Employer Identification No.)
                                         


                               8 Automation Lane
                            Albany, New York  12205
                            -----------------------
              (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

         Title of each class                Name of each exchange on which
         to be so registered                each class is to be registered
         -------------------                ------------------------------
                 None                                    N/A
                     

    If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant
to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), please check the following box.  [ ]

    If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant
to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective upon filing pursuant to
General Instruction A.(d), please check the following box.  [X]

Securities Act registration statement file number to which this Form relates:
333-46925

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                    Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
                    ----------------------------------------
                                (Title of Class)

                                      -1-

 
Item 1.  Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.
         ------------------------------------------------------- 

        Information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the
description of capital stock provided under the caption "Description of Capital
Stock" in the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of United Road Services, Inc.
(the "Company") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Registration No. 333-46925) (the
"Registration Statement").

        Certain provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws may have the effect of discouraging unsolicited acquisition proposals or
making it more difficult for a third party to gain control of the Company.
Information concerning these provisions is included under the caption
"Description of Capital Stock" in the Registration Statement and is incorporated
herein by reference.

Item 2.  Exhibits.
         -------- 

1.      Registrant's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
        Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the
        Registration Statement.

2.      Registrant's Amended and Restated Bylaws. Incorporated herein by
        reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement.
        
3.      Specimen Common Stock Certificate of registrant. Incorporated herein by
        reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement.

4.      Description of the registrant's capital stock incorporated herein by
        reference to the description of capital stock under the caption
        "Description of Capital Stock" in the Registration Statement.

                                      -2-

 
                                   SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.


Dated:  April 13, 1998      UNITED ROAD SERVICES, INC.


                            By  /s/ Edward T. Sheehan 
                                --------------------------------------
                             Name:   Edward T. Sheehan
                             Title:  Chairman and Chief Executive
                                     Officer

                                      -3-