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








                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

                                 by and between


                           KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION, INC.

                              QUAD K LEASING, INC.


                                       and


                     FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF ARIZONA, N.A.















                      Dated as of __________________, 1996



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

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                -----------------


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                                                                                                               ----

                                                                                                             
ARTICLE I    RECITALS..............................................................................              1

ARTICLE 2    DEFINITIONS...........................................................................              2
         Section 2.1       Definitions.............................................................              2
         Section 2.2       Terms Generally.........................................................              7
         Section 2.3       Accounting Terms........................................................              7

ARTICLE 3    RLC           ........................................................................              8
         Section 3. 1      RLC Commitment Amount...................................................              8
         Section 3.2       RLC Note................................................................              8
         Section 3.3       RLC Advances............................................................              8
         Section 3.4       Conversion of RLC Advances..............................................              9
         Section 3.5       RLC Unused Fee..........................................................              9
         Section 3.6       RLC Payments............................................................             10
         Section 3.7       Issuance of Letter of Credit............................................             10
         Section 3.8       Conditions Precedent to the Issuance of Letters of Credit...............             10
         Section 3.9       Drawing of a Letter of Credit...........................................             11

ARTICLE 3A    TERM LOAN............................................................................             12
         Section 3A.1      Term Loan Commitment....................................................             12
         Section 3A.2      Term Note...............................................................             12
         Section 3A.3      TCM Rate Election.......................................................             12
         Section 3A.4      Term Loan Payments......................................................             12

ARTICLE 4    FIXED RATE PROVISIONS.................................................................             14
         Section 4.1       Additional Provisions for Fixed Rate Advances...........................             14
         Section 4.2       TCM Rate Prepayment.....................................................             16

ARTICLE 5    CONDITIONS PRECEDENT..................................................................             17
         Section 5.1       Conditions Precedent....................................................             17
         Section 5.2       Conditions Precedent to All Future Advances.............................             18

ARTICLE 6    GENERAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES................................................             19
         Section 6.1       Recitals................................................................             19
         Section 6.2       Organization............................................................             19
         Section 6.3       Power...................................................................             19
         Section 6.4       Enforceable.............................................................             19

                                       -i-

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
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                                   (continued)


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         Section 6.5       No Conflict.............................................................             19
         Section 6.6       No Actions..............................................................             19
         Section 6.7       Financial Statements....................................................             19
         Section 6.8       Tax Payments............................................................             20
         Section 6.9       Margin Stock............................................................             20
         Section 6.10      Affirmation.............................................................             20
         Section 6.11      Solvency................................................................             20

ARTICLE 7    AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.................................................................             21
         Section 7.1       Existence...............................................................             21
         Section 7.2       Maintain Property.......................................................             21
         Section 7.3       Insurance...............................................................             21
         Section 7.4       Payments................................................................             21
         Section 7.5       Financial Reports.......................................................             21
         Section 7.6       Records.................................................................             23
         Section 7.7       Current Obligations.....................................................             23
         Section 7.8       Other Documents.........................................................             23

ARTICLE 8    NEGATIVE COVENANTS....................................................................             24
         Section 8.1       Dissolution.............................................................             24
         Section 8.2       Fiscal Year.............................................................             24
         Section 8.3       Margin Stock............................................................             24
         Section 8.4       Debt/Worth..............................................................             24
         Section 8.5       TFCC....................................................................             24
         Section 8.6       Debt/Cash Flow..........................................................             24
         Section 8.7       Current Ratio...........................................................             24

ARTICLE 9    DEFAULT AND REMEDIES..................................................................             25
         Section 9.1       Event of Default........................................................             25
         Section 9.2       Remedies and Cure Period................................................             26

ARTICLE 10    ACTION UPON AGREEMENT................................................................             27
         Section 10.1      Third Party.............................................................             27
         Section 10.2      Entire Agreement........................................................             27
         Section 10.3      Writing Required........................................................             27
         Section 10.4      No Partnership..........................................................             27

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
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                                   (continued)


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ARTICLE 11    GENERAL..............................................................................             28
         Section 11.1      Survival................................................................             28
         Section 11.2      Context.................................................................             28
         Section 11.3      Time....................................................................             28
         Section 11.4      Notices.................................................................             28
         Section 11.5      Costs...................................................................             28
         Section 11.6      Law.....................................................................             28
         Section 11.7      Successors..............................................................             28
         Section 11.8      Headings................................................................             28
         Section 11.9      Arbitration.............................................................             28


EXHIBITS

A        Compliance Letter

B        Compliance Certificate

C        Form of Term Note
                                      -iii-

                                 LOAN AGREEMENT


         BY THIS LOAN AGREEMENT (the  "Agreement"),  made and entered into as of
this day_______ of _________,  1996,  FIRST  INTERSTATE  BANK OF ARIZONA,  N.A.,
whose address is 100 West Washington,  Post Office Box 53456,  Phoenix,  Arizona
85072-3456 (hereinafter, together with successors and assigns, called "Lender"),
and KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION,  INC., an Arizona corporation,  whose address is 5601
West Buckeye Road,  Phoenix,  Arizona 85043-4603  (hereinafter called "Company")
and QUAD K LEASING,  INC., a corporation (with the Company,  the "Borrower"),  a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, in consideration of the mutual covenants
herein  contained  and other good and  valuable  consideration,  the receipt and
sufficiency  of  which is  hereby  acknowledged,  hereby  confirm  and  agree as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                    RECITALS
                                    --------

         Section 1.1 Borrower has  requested  that Lender  establish a revolving
line of credit (the "RLC") with Borrower in the amount of $15,000,000.00,  under
which  revolving  line of  credit  advances  ("RLC  Advances")  shall be made to
Borrower for the purposes of providing (i) Borrower  with  financing for general
corporate  purposes,  and (ii) a source of funding to any  beneficiaries  of any
letters of credit (each a "Letter of Credit")  that may be issued,  from time to
time by Lender on behalf of Borrower.

         Section 1.2 Borrower  has also  requested  that Lender allow  Borrower,
upon its election, to term out the RLC.

         Section 1.3 Lender has agreed to do so upon the terms,  conditions  and
provisions set forth herein.

         Section 1.4  Effective as of the delivery of this  Agreement,  the Loan
Agreement dated November 30, 1994 (the "1994 Agreement") between the Company and
Lender will be terminated and replaced by this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   DEFINITIONS
                                   -----------

         Section  2.1  Definitions.  Although  terms  may be  defined  in  other
sections of this  Agreement,  as used herein the following  terms shall have the
meanings defined below:

         "Advance" means an RLC Advance.

         "Advance Minimum Amount" means $50,000.00.

         "Agreement" means this Loan Agreement.

         "Authorized  Officer"  means  the  chief  executive  officer  or  chief
financial officer of Borrower, or such other individual who is from time to time
designated  to  Lender in  writing  by said  officer  as  authorized  to act for
Borrower with respect to the Loan.

         "Borrower":  See the Preamble.

         "Borrowing Base" means an amount equal to:

                   (i) Eighty  percent  (80%) of the  outstanding  amount of all
         "Eligible  Accounts"  of  Borrower,  less  any  retentions,  discounts,
         delinquency  or  service   charges,   commissions,   freight   charges,
         advertising  allowances  or other  allowances  granted  or  charged  by
         Borrower; plus

                  (ii)  fifty  percent  (50%)  of  Net  Fixed  Assets  less  the
         outstanding  principal  balance  of all debt  secured  by any  security
         interest in, or lien on, such Net Fixed Assets.

         "Business  Day" means a day of the year on which  commercial  banks are
not required or authorized to close in Phoenix,  Arizona and, if the  applicable
Business Day relates to any LIBOR Rate RLC Advances or LIBOR Rate Term Loans,  a
day on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank market.

         "CD Base  Rate"  means,  for the  Interest  Period for each CD Rate RLC
Advance,  an interest rate per annum equal to the rate of interest determined by
Lender,  based on quotations  published in The Wall Street Journal or such other
comparable  source  selected  by  Lender,  to be the "CD Base Rate" for a period
equal to such  Interest  Period,  two (2) Business  Days before the first day of
such Interest Period.
                                       -2-

         "CD Rate"  means an  interest  rate per annum  equal to two and  15/100
percent (2.15%) in excess of the CD Base Rate, rounded upward, if necessary,  to
the nearest 1/16 of 1%.

         "CD Rate RLC Advance"  means an RLC Advance that bears  interest at the
CD Rate.

         "Company": See the Preamble.

         "Compliance Certificate":  See Section 7.5(f).

         "Convert," "Conversion," and "Converted" each refers to a conversion of
RLC Advances of one Type into RLC  Advances of another Type  pursuant to Section
3.4.

         "Eligible  Account"  means any account of Borrower,  so long as, at the
time of any RLC  Advance:  (i) the  account is  creditworthy  in the  reasonable
judgment of Lender; (ii) the original invoices or other statements or agreements
comprising  that account  require  payment in full within sixty (60) days of the
date of delivery of the  respective  goods or services;  and (iii) no invoice or
other statement or agreement  comprising  that account  remained unpaid for more
than  ninety  (90) days after the due date for  payment  specified  therein  (at
Lender's option, if any account becomes  ineligible  because not paid within the
above  specified  period,  all accounts  from the same  account  debtor shall be
deemed ineligible).

         "Eurocurrency  Liabilities"  has the  meaning  assigned to that term in
Regulation D by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,  12 C.F.R.
Part 204 as in effect from time to time.

         " Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" for the Interest Period for each LIBOR
Rate RLC Advance or LIBOR Rate Tenn Loan means the reserve percentage applicable
two (2)  Business  Days  before  the first  day of such  Interest  Period  under
regulations  issued from time to time by the Board of  Governors  of the Federal
Reserve  System  (or  any  successor)  for   determining   the  maximum  reserve
requirement  (including,  but not limited to, any  emergency,  supplemental,  or
other marginal  reserve  requirement)  for a member Bank of the Federal  Reserve
System in San Francisco with respect to  liabilities or assets  consisting of or
including  Eurocurrency  Liabilities  (or with respect to any other  category of
liabilities  which includes  deposits by reference to which the interest rate on
LIBOR Rate RLC  Advances or LIBOR Rate Tenn Loans is  determined)  having a term
equal to such Interest Period.

         "Event of Default":  See Section 9. 1.

         "Financial  Covenants"  means those  financial  covenants  specified in
Sections 8.4, 8.5, 8.6 and 8.7.

         "Fixed Rate Minimum  Amount" means  $1,000,000.00,  with  increments of
$100,000.00.
                                       -3-

         "Fixed Rate Advance"  means either a LIBOR Rate RLC Advance,  a CD Rate
RLC Advance or a LIBOR Rate Term Loan.

         "Fixed Rate RLC Advance"  means either a LIBOR Rate RLC Advance or a CD
Rate RLC Advance.

         "GAAP" means  generally  accepted  accounting  principles in the United
States, consistently applied.

         " Interest  Period"  means,  for each Fixed Rate RLC Advance,  or LIBOR
Rate Tenn Loan, the period commencing on the date of such Fixed Rate RLC Advance
or LIBOR Rate Term Loan or the date of the  Conversion of any RLC Advance into a
Fixed Rate RLC Advance and ending on the last day of the period  selected by the
Borrower  pursuant to the provisions  herein and,  thereafter,  each  subsequent
period  commencing  on the day after the last day of the  immediately  preceding
Interest  Period  and  ending  on the last  day of the  period  selected  by the
Borrower pursuant to the provisions  herein.  The duration of each such Interest
Period  shall be 30,  60 or 90  days,  as the  Borrower  may  select;  provided,
however, that:

                  (i) Interest Periods  commencing on the same date for the same
         Type of RLC Advances shall be of the same duration;

                  (ii)  Whenever  the  last  day of any  Interest  Period  would
         otherwise  occur on a day other  than a Business  Day,  the last day of
         such Interest  Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding
         Business Day,  provided that if such extension would cause the last day
         of such Interest Period to occur in the next following  calendar month,
         the last day of such Interest  Period shall occur on the next preceding
         Business Day;

                  (iii) No Interest Period with respect to any RLC Advance shall
         extend beyond the RLC Maturity Date; and

                  (iv) No Interest  Period  with  respect to any LIBOR Rate Term
         Loan shall extend beyond the Term Maturity Date.

         "Lender":  See the Preamble.

         "Letter of Credit"  mean any letter of credit  issued at the request of
Borrower pursuant to Section 3.7.

         "LIBOR Base Rate" means,  for the  Interest  Period for each LIBOR Rate
RLC  Advance or LIBOR Rate Term Loan,  an  interest  rate per annum equal to the
rate of  interest  per  annum  obtained  by  dividing  (i) the rate of  interest
determined by Lender, based on Telerate System reports or such
                                       -4-

other source selected by Lender,  to be the "London  Interbank  Offered Rate" at
which  deposits in U.S.  dollars for a period equal to such Interest  Period are
offered by major  banks in London,  England,  two (2)  Business  Days before the
first day of such  Interest  Period by (ii) a  percentage  equal to one  hundred
percent (100%) minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

         "LIBOR Rate" means:

                  (a) As to a LIBOR Rate RLC Advance, an interest rate per annum
         equal to  three-quarters  percent  (0.75%)  in excess of the LIBOR Base
         Rate, rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/16 of 1%, or

                  (b) As to a LIBOR Rate Term Loan,  an interest  rate per annum
         equal to 90/100  percent  (0.90%)  in excess  of the LIBOR  Base  Rate,
         rounded upward, if necessary, to the 1/16 of 1%.

         "LIBOR Rate  Advance"  means either a LIBOR Rate RLC Advance or a LIBOR
Rate Term Loan.

         "LIBOR Rate RLC Advance"  means an RLC Advance  that bears  interest at
the applicable LIBOR Rate.

         "LIBOR  Rate Term Loan"  means the Term Loan  bearing  interest  at the
applicable LIBOR Rate.

         "Loans" means the RLC and the Term Loan.

         "Material Amount" means $1,000,000.00 for purposes of Section 7.5.

         "Maximum Letter of Credit Balance" means $1,250,000.00.

         "Net Fixed Assets" means the  consolidated  net book value of all fixed
assets of Borrower determined in accordance with GAAP.

         "1994 Agreement": See Section 1.4.

         "Notes" means the RLC Note and the Tenn Note.

         "Notice of RLC Advance": See Section 3.3(b).

         "Organizational  Documents" means Borrower's  Articles of Incorporation
and Bylaws.
                                       -5-

         "Prime Rate" means the interest rate per annum equal to the fluctuating
rate of  interest  announced  publicly by Lender from time to time as its "prime
rate".

         "Quarterly End Date" means the last day of March,  June,  September and
December.

         "Regulatory  Change" means any change  effective after the date of this
Agreement in United States federal,  state, or foreign law or regulations or the
adoption or making after such date of any interpretation,  directive, or request
applying to a class of banks  including  Lender,  of or under any United  States
federal,  state, or foreign law or regulations  (whether or not having the force
of law) by any court or  governmental  or monetary  authority  charged  with the
interpretation or administration thereof.

         "RLC":  See Section 1.1.

         "RLC Advance"  means an advance by Lender to the Borrower under the RLC
pursuant to Section 3 and includes a Variable Rate RLC Advance, a LIBOR Rate RLC
Advance  and a CD Rate  RLC  Advance  (each of  which  shall be a "Type"  of RLC
Advance).

         "RLC Commitment Amount" means $15,000,000.00.

         "RLC Expiration Date" means the earlier of the RLC Maturity Date or the
Term Conversion Date.

         "RLC Maturity Date" means                        , 1997 [12 months] .
                                   -----------------------

         "RLC Note" means that Revolving  Promissory  Note of even date herewith
in the face amount equal to the RLC Commitment Amount from Borrower,  evidencing
the RLC.

         "RLC Payment Date" means the first day of each month.

         "RLC Unused Fee" means one-eighth of one percent (1/8%).

         "TCM  Rate"  means  an  interest  rate  per  annum  equal  to  one  and
one-quarter percent (1.25%) in excess of the yield in percent per annum as shown
for three (3) year  Treasury  constant  maturities,  on the most recent  Federal
Reserve  statistical release H.15(519) available to Lender two (2) Business Days
before the Term Conversion Date.

         "TCM Rate Election": See Section 3A.3.

         "Term  Conversion Date" means that date on which Lender shall have made
the Term Loan to the Borrower.
                                       -6-

         "Term Loan" means the single advance term loan made available by Lender
to Borrower pursuant to Article 3A.

         "Tenn  Maturity Date" means that date that is three (3) years after the
Term Conversion Date.

         "Term Note" means that  Promissory  Note dated the Term Conversion Date
in the face  amount of the Term Loan from  Borrower,  evidencing  the Term Loan,
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "C".

         "Type":  See the definition of RLC Advance.

         "Variable  Rate"  means an  interest  rate per annum equal to the Prime
Rate,  adjusted  periodically on the effective date of, and in conformity  with,
changes in that Prime Rate.

         "Variable Rate RLC Advance" means an RLC Advance that bears interest at
the Variable Rate.

         Section 2.2 Terms Generally. The definitions in Section 2.1 shall apply
equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the
context may require,  any pronoun  shall  include the  corresponding  masculine,
feminine and neuter forms. All references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits
and  Schedules  shall be deemed  references  to Articles  and  Sections  of, and
Exhibits and Schedules  to, this  Agreement  unless the context shall  otherwise
require.

         Section 2.3 Accounting Terms.  Except as otherwise  expressly  provided
herein,  all terms of an  accounting  or financial  nature shall be construed in
accordance  with GAAP,  as in effect  from time to time,  consistently  applied;
provided,  however,  that,  for  purposes  of  determining  compliance  with any
covenant set forth herein, such terms shall be construed in accordance with GAAP
as in effect on the date of this Agreement  applied on a basis  consistent  with
the application used in preparing the Borrower's  consolidated audited financial
statements referred to herein.
                                       -7-

                                   ARTICLE III

                                       RLC
                                       ---

         Section 3.1 RLC Commitment Amount.  Subject to the conditions set forth
herein,  Lender, from time to time, shall make such RLC Advances as Borrower may
request  and shall  issue such  Letters  of Credit as  Borrower  shall  request,
provided  that (a) the  aggregate  amount of RLC Advances and the face amount of
Letters of Credit,  at any one time outstanding in either case, shall not exceed
the lesser of (i) the Borrowing Base, or (ii) the RLC Commitment Amount, and (b)
the aggregate amount of the face amount of Letters of Credit  outstanding at any
one time shall not exceed the Maximum Letter of Credit Balance. The RLC shall be
a revolving credit,  against which RLC Advances may be made to Borrower,  repaid
by  Borrower,  and  readvances  made to Borrower  and Letters of Credit  issued,
terminated or repaid by Borrower and reissued, provided that (i) Borrower is not
in default under any provision of this Agreement or under the RLC Note,  (ii) no
RLC  Advance  shall be made or Letter  of Credit  issued  that  would  cause the
outstanding  principal  balance of the RLC to exceed the lesser of the Borrowing
Base or the RLC  Commitment  Amount,  (iii) no Letter of Credit  shall be issued
that would  cause the  aggregate  amount of the face amount of Letters of Credit
outstanding at any one time to exceed the Maximum Letter of Credit Balance,  and
(iv) no RLC Advance shall be made on or after the RLC Expiration Date.

         Section 3.2 RLC Note. The RLC shall be evidenced by the RLC Note in the
form  approved  by  Lender,  payable  to the order of Lender  upon the terms and
conditions therein contained, and executed and delivered simultaneously with the
execution of this Agreement.

         Section 3.3   RLC Advances.

                  (a) Lender may from time to time make RLC  Advances of the RLC
         in such sums as Borrower  shall  request.  No such RLC Advance shall be
         less than the Advance Minimum Amount.

                  (b)  The  Borrower  shall  give  Lender  written  notice,   or
         telephonic notice confirmed  immediately in writing, of the request for
         any RLC Advances under this Agreement, which notice (the "Notice of RLC
         Advance")  shall be  received  by Lender  not  later  than  11:00  A.M.
         (Phoenix, Arizona local time) on the same Business Day in the case of a
         Variable Rate RLC Advance,  and in the case of a Fixed Rate RLC Advance
         not later than 2:00 P.M.  (Phoenix,  Arizona  local time) on the second
         Business Day before the date of the  proposed  RLC  Advance.  Each such
         Notice of RLC Advance shall  specify:  (i) the date of the proposed RLC
         Advance,  (ii) the  amount of such RLC  Advance,  (iii) the Type of RLC
         Advance, and (iv) in the case of a Fixed Rate RLC Advance, the Interest
         Period.  Each Notice of RLC Advance shall be irrevocable and binding on
         the Borrower. Anything herein to the contrary
                                       -8-

         notwithstanding, no Fixed Rate RLC Advance shall be less than the Fixed
         Rate Minimum Amount.

                  (c) In the case of any RLC Advance which the related Notice of
         RLC Advance  specifies is to be a Fixed Rate RLC Advance,  the Borrower
         shall  indemnify  Lender on demand for,  from, and against any loss, or
         expense  incurred  by Lender as a result of any  failure by Borrower to
         fulfill on or before the date  specified  in such Notice of RLC Advance
         for such RLC Advance  the  applicable  conditions  set forth in Section
         5.2,  including,  without  limitation,  any loss,  costs,  and expenses
         incurred by Lender by reason of liquidation or reemployment of deposits
         or other funds acquired by Lender to fund the Fixed Rate RLC Advance to
         be made by Lender when such Fixed Rate RLC Advance, as a result of such
         failure, is not made on such date.

         Section 3.4 Conversion of RLC Advances.

                  (a) The Borrower may,  upon written  notice to and received by
         the Lender (i) not later than 2:00 P.M.  (Phoenix,  Arizona local time)
         on the second Business Day before the requested Conversion, in the case
         of any  Conversion of a Variable Rate RLC Advance into a Fixed Rate RLC
         Advance,  or a Fixed Rate RLC Advance of one Type into a Fixed Rate RLC
         Advance of another Type,  and (ii) not later than 11:00 A.M.  (Phoenix,
         Arizona local time) on the same Business Day as the Conversion,  in the
         case of any Conversion of a Fixed Rate RLC Advance into a Variable Rate
         RLC Advance, subject to the provisions of this Section 3.4, Convert any
         RLC Advances of one Type into RLC Advances of another  Type.  Each such
         notice  of a  Conversion  shall  be  irrevocable  and  binding  on  the
         Borrower.   Each  such  notice  of  a  Conversion  shall,   within  the
         restrictions  specified above, specify (w) the date of such Conversion,
         (x) the RLC Advances to be Converted, (y) the Type of RLC Advances into
         which the RLC Advances are to be Converted,  and (z) if such Conversion
         is into Fixed Rate RLC  Advances,  the duration of the Interest  Period
         for each such RLC Advance.

                  (b) If the Borrower  should fail to give the Lender any notice
         of Conversion  upon the  termination of the Interest Period for a Fixed
         Rate  RLC  Advance,  such RLC  Advance,  upon  the  termination  of the
         Interest  Period,  shall  automatically  become  a  Variable  Rate  RLC
         Advance.

         Section 3.5 RLC Unused Fee.  Borrower agrees to pay to Lender an unused
fee equal to the RLC Unused Fee times the average daily  undrawn  balance of the
RLC,  within  three (3) days after Lender  gives  Borrower a notice  showing the
amount due with respect to the prior three-month  period, the first such payment
to be due on 1996, and thereafter on each Quarterly End Date.
                                       -9-

         Section 3.6   RLC Payments.

                  (a) Interest on the RLC shall  accrue on the unpaid  principal
         of each RLC Advance:

                           (i) At the Variable Rate if it is a Variable Rate RLC
                  Advance.

                           (ii) At the  applicable  LIBOR  Rate if it is a LIBOR
                  Rate RLC Advance.

                           (iii)  At the  applicable  CD Rate if it is a CD Rate
                  RLC Advance.

                  (b) All accrued  interest  shall be due and payable on the RLC
         Payment Date.

                  (c) The entire outstanding  principal balance of the RLC Note,
         all  accrued  and  unpaid  interest  and all other  sums which may have
         become payable  thereunder  shall be due and payable in full on the RLC
         Maturity Date.

         Section 3.7  Issuance of Letter of Credit.  Provided  that the Borrower
has  satisfied the  conditions  precedent  contained in Section 3.8 hereof,  the
Lender  agrees,  from time to time,  to issue and/or renew  Letters of Credit on
behalf of the  Borrower  so long as upon such  issuance  or renewal (i) a fee is
paid by Borrower to Under in an amount equal to Lender's current stated rate for
the  issuance  of all other  types of Letters of Credit and for other  Letter of
Credit services, (ii) in accordance with the terms and conditions of Section 3.1
hereof, the outstanding principal balance of the RLC would not exceed the lesser
of (i) the Borrowing  Base,  or (ii) the RLC  Commitment  Amount,  and (iii) the
aggregate  amount of the face  amount of Letters of Credit  outstanding  at such
time would not exceed the Maximum Letter of Credit Balance.

         Section 3.8 Conditions  Precedent to the Issuance of Letters of Credit.
The  obligation  of the Lender to issue  and/or  renew any  Letters of Credit on
behalf of the Borrower shall be subject to the following conditions precedent on
the date of issuance or renewal of each such Letter of Credit:

                  (a) The  Borrower  shall  execute  and  deliver  to  Lender an
         application  for  letter  of  credit,  specifying  the  amount  of  the
         requested letter of credit, the requested term thereof,  which term may
         not exceed the RLC Maturity Date, and the beneficiary thereof;

                  (b) No Event of Default  shall exist and no event or condition
         shall  exist  that  after  notice  or  lapse  of  time,  or both  would
         constitute an Event of Default; and
                                      -10-

                  (c)      The RLC Expiration Date shall not have occurred.

         Section 3.9 Drawing of a Letter of Credit.  Should any Letter of Credit
be drawn  upon by the  beneficiary  thereof,  such draw  shall be deemed to be a
Variable Rate RLC Advance.
                                      -11-

                                   ARTICLE 3A

                                    TERM LOAN
                                    ---------

         Section 3A.1 Term Loan Commitment.  Subject to the terms and conditions
herein set forth, Lender agrees to make a Term Loan to the Borrower on or before
the RLC Maturity Date, in such amount as the Borrower  shall request,  up to but
not to exceed the RLC Commitment Amount;  provided,  however,  that the Borrower
shall have satisfied the following conditions precedent:

                  (a) Borrower shall have given the Lender written notice of its
         request at least thirty (30) days prior to the RLC Maturity Date;

                  (b)  Borrower  shall  have  paid to  Lender  prior to the Term
         Conversion  Date a fee  equal to one  quarter  percent  (0.25 %) of the
         amount of the Term Loan; and

                  (c) Borrower  shall not be in default  under any  provision of
         this Agreement.

         Section  3A.2 Term Note.  The Term Loan shall be  evidenced by the Term
Note,  executed  by  Borrower  and  delivered  to Lender  on or before  the Loan
Conversion Date.

         Section 3A.3   TCM Rate Election.

                  (a) The Borrower may elect that the Term Loan bear interest at
         the TCM Rate by giving Lender written notice of such election (the "TCM
         Rate  Election") at least two Business Days before the Term  Conversion
         Date. Should Borrower deliver to Lender its TCM Rate Election, interest
         shall accrue on the Tenn Loan throughout its term at the TCM Rate.

                  (b)  Should  Borrower  not  deliver  to  Lender  its TCM  Rate
         Election  pursuant to subparagraph  (a) of this Section 3A.3,  interest
         shall accrue on the entire Term Loan at the  applicable  LIBOR Rate for
         the Interest  Period selected by the Borrower from time to time. In the
         event that the Borrower  fails to select a new Interest  Period for the
         Term Loan prior to the termination of an existing Interest Period,  the
         Term Loan shall bear  interest at the LIBOR Rate with a 30 day Interest
         Period.

         Section 3A.4   Term Loan Payments.

                  (a) In the event that interest accrues on the Term Loan at the
         TCM Rate,  interest and principal shall be due in thirty-six (36) equal
         monthly payments, payable
                                      -12-

         on the  first  day of each  month,  commencing  on the first day of the
         second month after the Term Conversion Date.

                  (b) In the event that interest accrues on the Term Loan at the
         applicable  LIBOR  Rate,  principal  in an amount  sufficient  to fully
         amortize the amount of the Term Loan over thirty-six (36) equal monthly
         payments,  together with accrued interest,  shall be due and payable on
         the first day of each month,  commencing on the first day of the second
         month after the Term Conversion Date.

                  (c) The entire unpaid principal balance,  all accrued interest
         and unpaid  interest,  and all other sums which may have become payable
         hereunder shall be due and payable on the Term Maturity Date.
                                      -13-

                                   ARTICLE IV

                              FIXED RATE PROVISIONS
                              ---------------------

         Section 4.1   Additional Provisions for Fixed Rate Advances.

                  (a)  Unavailability  of Deposits or Inability to Ascertain the
         Rates.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if prior
         to the commencement of any Interest Period,  Lender shall determine (i)
         that  United  States  dollar  deposits  in the amount of any LIBOR Rate
         Advance to be outstanding  during such Interest  Period are not readily
         available to Lender in the London interbank  market,  or (ii) by reason
         of circumstances  affecting the London interbank  market,  adequate and
         reasonable  means do not exist for  ascertaining  the LIBOR  Base Rate,
         then Lender shall  promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower and the
         obligation of Lender to create,  or effect by conversion any LIBOR Rate
         RLC Advance in such amount and for such Interest Period shall terminate
         until United States dollar deposits in such amount and for the Interest
         Period selected by the Borrower shall again be readily available in the
         market and adequate and  reasonable  means exist for  ascertaining  the
         LIBOR Base Rate.

                  (b) Increased  Costs.  (i) If, due to any  Regulatory  Change,
         there  shall be any  increase in the cost to Lender of agreeing to make
         or making,  funding or  maintaining  Fixed  Rate  Advances  (including,
         without   limitation,   any   increase   in  any   applicable   reserve
         requirement),  or of issuing or maintaining Letters of Credit, then the
         Borrower shall from time to time, upon demand by Lender,  pay to Lender
         such  amounts as Lender may  reasonably  determine  to be  necessary to
         compensate   Lender  for  any  additional  costs  which  it  reasonably
         determines are attributable to such Regulatory  Change;  (ii) if Lender
         determines  (in its  reasonable  discretion)  that,  as a result of any
         Regulatory  Change,  the amount of capital  required  or expected to be
         maintained  by Lender is  increased  by or based upon the  existence of
         Lender's commitment to lend hereunder, then, upon demand by Lender, the
         Borrower  shall  immediately  pay to Lender such  amounts as Lender may
         reasonably  determine  to be  necessary  to  compensate  Lender for any
         additional costs which it reasonably determines are attributable to the
         maintenance  by Lender of capital in respect of Lender's  commitment to
         lend  hereunder;  and (iii)  Lender  will  notify the  Borrower  of any
         Regulatory Change that will entitle Lender to compensation  pursuant to
         this Section 3.7(b) as promptly as practicable, but in any event within
         90 days after Lender obtains knowledge thereof; provided, however, that
         if Lender  fails to give such  notice  within 90 days  after it obtains
         knowledge of such a Regulatory  Change,  Lender shall,  with respect to
         compensation  payable  in  respect  of any  costs  resulting  from such
         Regulatory Change,  only be entitled to payment for costs incurred from
         and after the date that  Lender  has given  such  notice.  Lender  will
         furnish to Borrower
                                      -14-

         a  certificate  setting  forth in  reasonable  detail the basis for the
         amount of each request by Lender for  compensation.  Determinations  by
         Lender of the amounts required to compensate  Lender shall be made on a
         reasonable   basis.   Lender  shall  be  entitled  to  compensation  in
         connection with any Regulatory  Change only for costs actually incurred
         by such Lender.  Upon receipt of notice of any such  Regulatory  Change
         from  Lender,  Borrower  shall have the option to prepay or Convert any
         Fixed Rate Advances  adversely affected by any Regulatory Change within
         seven (7) days of receipt of such notice, without the obligation to pay
         to Lender with respect to such  prepayment or Conversion  any amount or
         amounts  otherwise payable to Lender by Borrower pursuant to Section 4.
         1 (e).

                  (c)  Illegality.  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this
         Agreement,  if Lender shall  notify the Borrower  that as a result of a
         Regulatory  Change it is unlawful for Lender to perform its obligations
         hereunder to make LIBOR Rate Advances or to fund or maintain LIBOR Rate
         Advances  hereunder (i) the obligation of Lender to make, or to Convert
         RLC Advances into,  LIBOR Rate Advances shall be suspended until Lender
         shall notify Borrower that the circumstances causing such suspension no
         longer  exist and (ii) in the event such  Regulatory  Change  makes the
         maintenance  of LIBOR Rate Advances  hereunder  unlawful,  the Borrower
         shall   forthwith   prepay  in  full  all  LIBOR  Rate   Advances  then
         outstanding,  together with interest accrued thereon and all amounts in
         connection with such  prepayments  specified in Section 4.1(e),  unless
         the  Borrower,  within five (5)  Business  Days of notice from  Lender,
         Converts all LIBOR Rate RLC Advances  then  outstanding  into  Variable
         Rate RLC Advances in accordance  with Section 3.4 with no obligation to
         pay any amount  described  in Section 4.1 (e) in  connection  with such
         prepayments.

                  (d)   Discretion   of  Lender   as  to   Manner  of   Funding.
         Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, Lender
         shall be entitled to fund and  maintain  its funding of all or any part
         of any Fixed Rate Advance in any manner it sees fit; provided, however,
         that for the purposes of this Agreement,  all determinations  hereunder
         shall be made as if Lender  had  actually  funded and  maintained  each
         Fixed Rate Advance  during the  Interest  Period  therefor  through the
         purchase of deposits having a maturity corresponding to the last day of
         the  Interest  Period  and  bearing  an  interest  rate  equal  to  the
         applicable Rate for such Interest Period.

                  (e) Non-availability of LIBOR Rate Advances. In the event that
         Borrower  shall have elected that the Tenn Loan accrue  interest at the
         LIBOR Rate and  pursuant to this  Section 4.1 LIBOR Rate Term Loans are
         not available, the Term Loan shall accrue interest at a comparable rate
         as shall be agreed to by Borrower in writing and as shall be acceptable
         to Lender.
                                      -15-

         Section 4.2 TCM Rate Prepayment.  Should the Term Loan bear interest at
the TCM Rate,  all  prepayments of the Term Loan shall be made with a prepayment
premium  computed as follows:  1 % of the outstanding  principal  balance if the
outstanding  principal  balance is less than $50,000.00,  and if the outstanding
principal  balance is equal to or more than  $50,000.00,  an amount equal to the
present value of the remaining  cash flows  discounted at the Treasury  Constant
Yield (TCY) + 100 basis points] - outstanding  principal.  The TCY is calculated
as the interpolated constant maturity Treasury rate with a maturity matching the
remaining  average term of the Term Note to the Term Maturity Date. Rate data is
obtained,  at the  time of  prepayment,  from the most  recent  Federal  Reserve
statistical  release  H.15  (519),  using data from the most  recent week ending
column.
                                      -16-

                                    ARTICLE V

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
                              --------------------

         Section 5.1 Conditions Precedent.  The obligation of Lender to fund the
Loan is subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions:

                  (a) Borrower shall have executed (or obtained the execution or
         issuing  of)  and  delivered  to  Lender  the  following  documents  or
         information, all in form satisfactory to Lender:

                           (i) The RLC Note;

                           (ii) A corporate  resolution of Borrower  authorizing
                  (i) the Loans, and (ii) the execution and delivery by Borrower
                  of  all  documents  to  be  executed  by  Borrower,   and  the
                  performance by Borrower of all acts and things to be performed
                  by Borrower, pursuant to this Agreement; and

                           (iii) A copy of the current Organizational Documents,
                  so certified by the  Secretary  of the  corporation,  together
                  with a copy of a current  Certificate  of Good Standing in the
                  State of incorporation for Borrower;  and such other documents
                  as Lender  may  require  relating  to the  existence  and good
                  standing of Borrower and the authority of any person acting or
                  executing documents on behalf of Borrower.

                  (b) All  representations  and warranties by Borrower contained
         in this  Agreement  shall  remain true and correct and the Borrower has
         performed  or complied  with all  agreements  of Borrower  made in this
         Agreement  that  Borrower is to have  performed or complied with by the
         date of the first Advance.

                  (c) No Event of Default  shall exist and no event or condition
         shall  exist  that  after  notice  or  lapse  of  time,  or both  would
         constitute an Event of Default.

                  (d) Should  Lender so require,  Lender shall have  received an
         opinion of Counsel to Borrower in a form satisfactory to it.

                  (e) All amounts  under the 1994  Agreement  due and payable to
         Lender shall have been paid.
                                      -17-

         Section 5.2 Conditions Precedent to All Future Advances. The obligation
of the Lender to make any Advances to the Borrower following the initial Advance
under Section 5.1 hereof shall be subject to the condition precedent that on the
date of each  such  Advance  no Event of  Default  shall  exist  and no event or
condition  shall  exist  that  after  notice  of lapse  of time or  both,  would
constitute an Event of Default.
                                      -18-

                                   ARTICLE VI

                     GENERAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                     --------------------------------------

         Each Borrower hereby represents and warrants to Lender as follows:

         Section 6.1 Recitals.  The recitals and statements of intent  appearing
in this Agreement are true and correct.

         Section 6.2 Organization.  Borrower is duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the state of its  organization.  Borrower
is qualified to do business and is in good  standing in the State of Arizona and
in each state in which it is required by law to do so.

         Section 6.3 Power.  Borrower  has full power and  authority  to own its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently being conducted.

         Section 6.4 Enforceable.  Borrower is fully authorized and permitted to
enter into this Agreement, to execute any and all documentation required herein,
to borrow the amounts contemplated herein upon the terms set forth herein and to
perform the terms of this Agreement,  none of which conflicts with any provision
of law or regulation applicable to Borrower. This Agreement and the RLC Note are
valid and binding legal  obligations  of Borrower,  and each is  enforceable  in
accordance with its terms.

         Section 6.5 No Conflict.  The  execution,  delivery and  performance by
Borrower of this  Agreement,  the Notes and all other  documents and instruments
relating to the Loans are not in conflict with any  provision by law  applicable
to Borrower or with the Organizational Documents of Borrower and will not result
in any  breach of the terms or  conditions  or  constitute  a default  under any
agreement  or  instrument  under  which  Borrower  is a party  or is  obligated.
Borrower is not in default in the performance or observance of any  obligations,
covenants or conditions of any such agreement or instrument.

         Section 6.6 No  Actions.  There are no  actions,  suits or  proceedings
pending or threatened  against Borrower which materially affect the repayment of
the Loans,  the  performance  by Borrower  under this Agreement or the financial
condition, business or operations of Borrower.

         Section 6.7 Financial  Statements.  All financial statements and profit
and loss statements,  all statements as to ownership and all other statements or
reports  previously  or  hereafter  given to Lender by Borrower are and shall be
true and  correct as of the date  thereof.  There has been no  material  adverse
change in the  business,  properties  or condition  (financial  or otherwise) of
Borrower since the date of the latest financial statements given to Lender.
                                      -19-

         Section 6.8 Tax  Payments.  Borrower has filed all  federal,  state and
local tax returns by the due date as extended  and has paid all  federal,  state
and  local  taxes  shown due  thereon  by such  extended  due date and all other
payments required under federal, state or local law.

         Section 6.9 Margin  Stock.  No part of the  proceeds  of any  financial
accommodation  made by Lender in connection  with this Agreement will be used to
purchase or carry  "margin  stock,  " as that term is defined in Regulation U of
the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve  System,  or to extend  credit to
others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying such margin stock.

         Section  6.10  Affirmation.  Each  request by  Borrower  for an Advance
hereunder  shall  constitute an affirmation on the part of the Borrower that the
representations  and warranties of Section 6.7 are true and correct with respect
to any financial  statements submitted by Borrower to Lender between the date of
this  Agreement  and the  date of such  request,  that the  representations  and
warranties of Sections 6.1, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7 and 6.8 hereof are true and correct as
of the time of such  request  and that the  condition  precedents  set  forth in
Article 5 hereof are fully satisfied.  All  representations  and warranties made
herein shall  survive the execution of this  Agreement,  any and all Advances or
proceeds of the Loans and the execution and delivery of all other  documents and
instruments in connection  with the Loans,  so long as Lender has any commitment
to lend to Borrower hereunder and until the Loans and all indebtedness hereunder
have been paid in full and all of  Borrower's  obligations  hereunder  have been
fully discharged.

         Section 6.11 Solvency. Borrower (both before and after giving effect to
the transactions contemplated hereby) is solvent, has assets having a fair value
in excess of the amount required to pay its probable liabilities on its existing
debts as they become  absolute  and matured,  and has, and will have,  access to
adequate  capital  for the  conduct of its  business  and the ability to pay its
debts from time to time incurred in connection therewith as such debts mature.
                                      -20-

                                   ARTICLE VII

                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
                              ---------------------

         Each  Borrower  hereby  covenants and agrees that so long as Lender has
any  commitment to lend to Borrower  hereunder and until the Loans and all other
indebtedness  hereunder have been paid in full and all of Borrower's obligations
hereunder have been fully discharged:

         Section 7.1  Existence.  Borrower  shall maintain its existence with no
material amendments or changes in its Organizational Documents without the prior
written approval of the Lender.

         Section 7.2 Maintain  Property.  Borrower  shall maintain in full force
and effect all agreements, rights, trademarks, patents and licenses necessary to
carry out its business,  shall keep all of its  properties in good condition and
repair,  and shall make all needed and proper  repairs and  improvements  to its
properties in order to properly conduct its business.

         Section 7.3  Insurance.  To the extent  Borrower  is not  self-insured,
Borrower  shall  maintain  in full  force  and  effect  at all  times  insurance
coverages in scope and amount not less than,  and not less  extensive  than, the
scope and amount of insurance  coverages  customary  for companies of comparable
size and financial  strength in the trades or  businesses  in which  Borrower is
from time to time engaged.  All of the aforesaid  insurance  coverages  shall be
issued  by  insurers  acceptable  to  Lender.  Copies  of all  policies  of,  or
certificates of, insurance evidencing such coverages in effect from time to time
shall be delivered  to Lender  prior to the initial  advance of funds under this
Agreement and promptly upon  issuance of new policies  thereafter.  From time to
time,   promptly  upon  Lender's   request,   Borrower  shall  provide  evidence
satisfactory to Lender that required  coverage in required amounts is in effect.
Borrower  shall deliver to Lender  certificates  of, and copies of the originals
of, all such  policies of insurance in effect from time to time,  to be retained
by Lender so long as Lender shall have any commitment to lend to Borrower and/or
any portion of the Loans shall be outstanding or unsatisfied.

         Section 7.4 Payments.  Borrower shall make all payments of interest and
principal  on the Loans as and when the same  become due and  payable  and shall
keep and comply with all covenants, terms and provisions of the Notes.

         Section  7.5  Financial  Reports.  Borrower  shall  maintain a standard
system of accounting in accordance with good business  practices,  that reflects
the application of GAAP and Borrower shall furnish to Lender the following:

                  (a)  Within  thirty  (30) days  after the end of each  monthly
         period (or comparable fiscal  accounting  period of Borrower),  monthly
         and year-to-date  financial and operating statements for Borrower as of
         the end of the preceding month and profit and loss statements  covering
         that period, certified by Borrower to be a true
                                      -21-

         and accurate  representation of its operations and financial  condition
         during that period and at its end.

                  (b) Not later than  thirty-one (31) days after the end of each
         fiscal  year,  a  copy  of  Borrower's  monthly  financial  projections
         relating to its business  operations for the new fiscal year and annual
         financial  projections  relating to the Borrower's  business operations
         for the new fiscal year,  certified by Borrower to be representative of
         its projected  operation and projected  financial  condition during the
         period covered.

                  (c) Within  ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year
         of Borrower,  financial  statements  which  accurately  and  completely
         reflect Borrower's assets,  liabilities and net worth, as of the end of
         the fiscal  year,  together  with  profit and loss  statements  for the
         fiscal year,  all prepared in  accordance  with GAAP  together  with an
         opinion thereon (which shall not be limited by reason of any limitation
         imposed by Borrower) of  independent  certified  public  accountants of
         national  standing selected by Borrower and acceptable to Lender to the
         effect that such financial  statements have been prepared in accordance
         with GAAP and that their  examination  of such  accounts in  connection
         with  such  financial  statements  has  been  made in  accordance  with
         generally accepted auditing standards and,  accordingly,  included such
         tests of the accounting  records and such other auditing  procedures as
         were considered necessary under the circumstances.

                  (d)  With  each   statement   submitted   by  Borrower   under
         subparagraphs (a) and (c) above, a certificate  signed by an Authorized
         Officer,  in the form of Exhibit "A" attached  hereto,  stating that no
         Event of Default  exists  and no event has  occurred  and no  condition
         exists that, after notice or passage of time, or both, would constitute
         an Event of Default.

                  (e) A statement of litigation  matters involving Borrower that
         could cause any  materially  adverse  effect upon the operations of the
         Borrower  or in which the  amount in  controversy  or  exposure  to the
         Borrower  is in excess  of a  Material  Amount,  such  statement  to be
         furnished  within  fifteen  (15) days  after  date of  service  of such
         litigation or the occurrence of any such change.

                  (f)  Within  thirty  (30)  days  of  each  fiscal  quarter  of
         Borrower,  a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer in the form of
         Exhibit "B" attached hereto (the "Compliance Certificate").

                  (g) Such other information as Lender may reasonably request.

         Section 7.6 Records.  Borrower shall maintain,  in a safe place, proper
and accurate books,  ledgers,  correspondence  and other records relating to its
operations and business affairs. Lender
                                      -22-

shall  have  the  right  from  time to time to  examine  and  audit  and to make
abstracts from and photocopies of Borrower's books, ledgers,  correspondence and
other records.

         Section 7.7 Current  Obligations.  Except for tax protests made in good
faith and, the posting,  if required,  of any and all bonds therewith,  Borrower
shall  pay  all  of its  current  obligations  before  they  become  delinquent,
including  all  federal,  state  and  local  taxes,   assessments,   levies  and
governmental charges and all other payments required under any federal, state or
local law.

         Section  7.8 Other  Documents.  Borrower  shall  execute and deliver to
Lender such other instruments and documents and do such other acts as Lender may
reasonably require in connection with the Loans.
                                      -23-

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS
                               ------------------

         Each  Borrower  covenants  and  agrees  that so long as Lender  has any
commitment  to lend to  Borrower  hereunder  and  until  the Loans and all other
indebtedness  hereunder  have  been  paid  in  full  and  all of the  Borrower's
obligations  hereunder  have been fully  discharged,  Borrower shall not without
receiving the prior written consent of Lender:

         Section 8.1 Dissolution.  Dissolve,  liquidate, or merge or consolidate
with or into any corporation or entity, or turn over the management or operation
of its property,  assets or businesses to any other person, firm or corporation,
or make any material change in its ownership, management structure or management
personnel.

         Section  8.2  Fiscal  Year.   Change  the  times  of   commencement  or
termination  of its  fiscal  year or other  accounting  periods;  or change  its
methods of accounting other than to conform to GAAP.

         Section  8.3  Margin  Stock.  Use any  proceeds  of the  Loans,  or any
proceeds of any other or future financial accommodation from Lender to Borrower,
directly or  indirectly,  for the  purpose,  whether  immediate,  incidental  or
ultimate,  of purchasing or carrying any "margin  stock" as that term is defined
in  Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve  System,  and
will  not use such  proceeds  in a  manner  that  would  involve  Borrower  in a
violation of Regulation  T, U or X of such Board,  nor use such proceeds for any
purpose not  permitted by Section 7 of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or any of the rules or regulations  respecting the extensions of credit
promulgated thereunder.

         Section  8.4   Debt/Worth.   Permit  the  ratio  of  Borrower's   total
liabilities  to its net worth at the end of any fiscal  quarter of  Borrower  to
exceed 1.0 to 1.

         Section  8.5  TFCC.  Permit  (i)  the  sum of  Borrower's  net  profit,
depreciation  expense,   amortization  expense,  deferred  income  tax  expense,
interest  expense and rent expense,  (ii) divided by the sum of Borrower's prior
period current portion of long-term debt, interest expense and rent expense (the
latter two adjusted for taxes) to be less than 3.0.

         Section 8.6 Debt/Cash Flow. Permit (i) the sum of Borrower's  long-term
debt,  including the current portion thereof, and the outstanding balance of the
RLC,  (ii)  divided  by  Borrower's   net  profit,   depreciation   expense  and
amortization expense for the most recent four quarters to be more than 3.0.
                                      -24-

         Section  8.7  Current  Ratio.  Permit the ratio of  Borrower's  current
assets to its current liabilities,  excluding the outstanding balance of the RLC
at the end of any fiscal quarter of Borrower to be less than 1.00 to 1.
                                      -25-

                                   ARTICLE IX

                              DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
                              --------------------

         Section 9.1 Event of Default.  The  occurrence  of any of the following
events  or  conditions  shall  constitute  an  "Event  of  Default"  under  this
Agreement:

                  (a) Failure to pay any  installment  of  principal or interest
         under the Notes as and when the same  become  due and  payable,  or the
         failure to pay any other sum due under the Notes or this Agreement when
         the same shall become due and payable;

                  (b) Any  failure or  neglect to perform or observe  any of the
         terms, provisions, or covenants of this Agreement (other than a failure
         or neglect  described  in one or more of the other  provisions  of this
         Section 9. 1);

                  (c) Any  warranty,  representation  or statement  contained in
         this  Agreement,  or made or furnished to the Lender by or on behalf of
         the Borrower, that shall be or shall prove to have been false when made
         or furnished;

                  (d) The  filing by  Borrower  (or  against  Borrower  in which
         Borrower  acquiesces or which is not dismissed  within  forty-five (45)
         days  of the  filing  thereof)  of any  proceeding  under  the  federal
         bankruptcy laws now or hereafter  existing or any other similar statute
         now or hereafter in effect; the entry of an order for relief under such
         laws with  respect  to  Borrower;  or the  appointment  of a  receiver,
         trustee,  custodian or  conservator of all or any part of the assets of
         Borrower;

                  (e) The  insolvency of Borrower;  or the execution by Borrower
         of an  assignment  for the benefit of  creditors;  or the  convening by
         Borrower  of a meeting  of its  creditors,  or any class  thereof,  for
         purposes of effecting a moratorium  upon or extension or composition of
         its debts;  or the failure of Borrower to pay its debts as they mature;
         or if Borrower is generally not paying its debts as they mature;

                  (f) The  admission in writing by Borrower that it is unable to
         pay its debts as they  mature or that it is  generally  not  paying its
         debts as they mature;

                  (g) The liquidation, termination or dissolution of Borrower;

                  (h) The  occurrence  of any  default  under  the  Notes or any
         document or instrument  given by Borrower in connection  with any other
         indebtedness  of  Borrower  to Lender and the  expiration  of any grace
         period provided therein;
                                      -26-

                  (i) The  failure  of  Borrower  to comply  with any  Financial
         Covenant at the end of any fiscal quarter; or

                  (j) The  occurrence  of any  adverse  change in the  financial
         condition of Borrower that Lender, in its reasonable discretion,  deems
         material, or if Lender in good faith shall believe that the prospect of
         payment or performance of the Loan is impaired.

         Section 9.2 Remedies and Cure Period.  Upon the occurrence of any Event
of Default and at any time thereafter while such Event of Default is continuing,
subject to the provisions of subparagraphs (b) and (c) hereof, Lender may do one
or more of the following:

                  (a)  Cease  making   Advances  or   extensions   of  financial
         accommodations  in any  form  to or for the  benefit  of  Borrower  and
         declare the entire Loans immediately due and payable, without notice or
         demand;

                  (b) Proceed to protect  and  enforce  its rights and  remedies
         under this Agreement and the Notes; and

                  (c) Avail  itself of any other  relief to which  Lender may be
         legally or equitably entitled.
                                      -27-

                                    ARTICLE X

                              ACTION UPON AGREEMENT
                              ---------------------

         Section  10.1  Third  Party.  This  Agreement  is  made  for  the  sole
protection and benefit of the parties hereto,  their successors and assigns, and
no other  person or  organization  shall  have any right of  action  hereon.  No
representation  of any kind is made to third parties by the execution hereof, by
the existence or form of the indebtedness treated herein, or by any performance,
or failure or waiver  thereof,  by any party of the terms hereof.  Specifically,
without  limitation of the foregoing,  the Lender makes no representation to any
third  party  as  to  the  solvency  of  the  Borrower  or  of  the   commercial
practicability  of any business  enterprise  to which or for which the Loans are
made.

         Section  10.2 Entire  Agreement.  This  Agreement  embodies  the entire
Agreement of the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof.  There are no
representations,  promises, warranties,  understandings or agreements express or
implied, oral or otherwise, in relation thereto, except those expressly referred
to or set  forth  herein.  Borrower  acknowledges  that  the  execution  and the
delivery of this Agreement is its free and voluntary act and deed, and that said
execution and delivery have not been induced by, nor done in reliance  upon, any
representations,  promises,  warranties,  understandings  or agreements  made by
Lender, its agents, officers, employees or representatives.

         Section 10.3 Writing Required. No promise, representation,  warranty or
agreement made  subsequent to the execution and delivery  hereof by either party
hereto, and no revocation, partial or otherwise, or change, amendment, addition,
alteration  or  modification  of this  Agreement  shall be valid unless the same
shall be in writing signed by all parties hereto.

         Section 10.4 No Partnership. Lender and Borrower each have separate and
independent  rights and  obligations  under this  Agreement.  Nothing  contained
herein shall be construed as creating, forming or, constituting any partnership,
joint venture, merger or consolidation of Borrower and Lender for any purpose or
in any respect.
                                      -28-

                                   ARTICLE XI

                                     GENERAL
                                     -------

         Section 11.1 Survival.  This Agreement  shall survive the making of the
Loans and shall  continue so long as any part of the Loans,  or any extension or
renewal thereof, or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding.

         Section 11.2 Context.  This Agreement shall apply to the parties hereto
according to the context  hereof,  and without regard to the number or gender of
words or expressions used herein.

         Section  11.3  Time.  Time is  expressly  made of the  essence  of this
Agreement.

         Section  11.4  Notices.  All notices  required or permitted to be given
hereunder  shall be in  writing,  and  shall  become  effective  immediately  if
personally  delivered  or  effective  twenty-four  (24)  hours  after  such  are
deposited in the United States mail,  certified or registered,  postage prepaid,
addressed as shown above,  or to such other  address as such party may from time
to time  designate in writing.  Any notice sent to Borrower shall be sent to the
attention of its chief financial officer.

         Section 11.5 Costs.  Borrower shall pay all costs and expenses  arising
from the preparation of this Agreement, the Notes, the closing of the Loans, the
making of Advances thereunder, and the enforcement of Lender's rights hereunder,
including but not limited to, accounting fees,  appraisal fees,  attorneys' fees
and any charges  that may be imposed on Lender as a result of this  transaction.
At the option of Lender and upon written notice to Borrower, RLC Advances may be
made and disbursed from time to time by Lender directly in payment of such costs
and expenses.

         Section 11.6 Law. This  Agreement  shall be construed  according to the
laws of the State of  Arizona.

         Section  11.7  Successors.  This  Agreement  shall,  except  as  herein
otherwise  provided,  be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors
and assigns of the parties, hereto.

         Section  11.8  Headings.  The  headings or captions of sections in this
Agreement are for convenience and reference only, and in no way define, limit or
describe  the  scope or  intent  of this  Agreement  or the  provisions  of such
sections.

         Section 11.9   Arbitration.

                  (a) Binding Arbitration. Upon the demand of Borrower or Lender
         (collectively,  the "parties"),  whether made before the institution of
         any  judicial  proceeding  or not more than 60 days after  service of a
         complaint,  third party  complaint,  cross-claim or counterclaim or any
         answer thereto or any amendment to
                                      -29-

         any of the above,  any Dispute (as defined  below) shall be resolved by
         binding  arbitration in accordance  with the terms of this  arbitration
         clause.  A  "Dispute"  shall  include any action,  dispute,  claim,  or
         controversy of any kind, whether founded in contract,  tort,  statutory
         or  common  law,  equity,  or  otherwise,  now  existing  or  hereafter
         occurring  between the  parties  arising  out of,  pertaining  to or in
         connection with this Agreement or any related agreements, documents, or
         instruments  (the  "Documents").  The parties  understand  that by this
         Agreement  they have  decided  that the  Disputes  may be  submitted to
         arbitration  rather  than being  decided  through  litigation  in court
         before a judge  or jury and that  once  decided  by an  arbitrator  the
         claims involved cannot be brought, filed or pursued in court.

                  (b) Governing Rules.  Arbitrations  conducted pursuant to this
         Agreement, including selection of arbitrators, shall be administered by
         the American Arbitration Association  ("Administrator") pursuant to the
         Commercial   Arbitration  rules  of  the  Administrator.   Arbitrations
         conducted  pursuant  to the  terms  hereof  shall  be  governed  by the
         provisions of the Federal Arbitration Act (Title 9 of the United States
         Code), and to the extent the foregoing are inapplicable,  unenforceable
         or invalid,  the laws of the State of Arizona.  Judgment upon any award
         rendered  hereunder  may be entered in any court  having  jurisdiction;
         provided,  however, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be
         a waiver by any party that is a Lender of the  protections  afforded to
         it under 12 U.S.C. ss. 91 or similar governing state law. Amy party who
         fails to submit to binding arbitration following a lawful demand by the
         opposing party shall bear all costs and expenses,  including reasonable
         attorney's   fees,   incurred  by  the  opposing  party  in  compelling
         arbitration of any Dispute.

                  (c) No Waiver,  Preservation of Remedies, Multiple Parties. No
         provision  of, nor the exercise of any rights under,  this  arbitration
         clause shall limit the right of any party to (1) foreclose  against any
         real or personal  property  collateral or other security,  (2) exercise
         self-help  remedies  (including  repossession and setoff rights) or (3)
         obtain  provisional  or ancillary  remedies such as injunctive  relief,
         sequestration, attachment, replevin, garnishment, or the appointment of
         a  receiver  from a  court  having  jurisdiction.  Such  rights  can be
         exercised at any time except to the extent such action is contrary to a
         final award or decision in any arbitration proceeding.  The institution
         and  maintenance of an action as described above shall not constitute a
         waiver of the right of any party,  including the  plaintiff,  to submit
         the Dispute to  arbitration,  nor render  inapplicable  the  compulsory
         arbitration provisions hereof. Any claim or Dispute related to exercise
         of any  self-help,  auxiliary  or other  exercise of rights  under this
         section (c) shall be a Dispute hereunder.

                  (d)   Arbitrator    Powers   and    Qualifications,    Awards.
         Arbitrator(s)  shall  resolve  all  Disputes  in  accordance  with  the
         applicable   substantive  law.  Arbitrator(s)  may  make  an  award  of
         attorneys' fees and expenses if permitted by law or the
                                      -30-

         agreement of the parties. All statutes of limitation  applicable to any
         Dispute  shall  apply  to  any  proceeding  in  accordance   with  this
         arbitration  clause.  Any  arbitrator  selected  to  act  as  the  only
         arbitrator in a Dispute  shall be required to be a practicing  attorney
         with not less than 10 years  practice in commercial law in the State of
         Arizona.  With  respect  to a Dispute in which the claims or amounts in
         controversy do not exceed five hundred thousand dollars  ($500,000),  a
         single  arbitrator  shall be chosen and shall  resolve the Dispute.  In
         such case the arbitrator  shall have authority to render an award up to
         but not to exceed five hundred  thousand dollars  ($500,000)  including
         all  damages  of  any  kind  whatsoever,   costs,  fees  and  expenses.
         Submission  to a single  arbitrator  shall be a waiver of all  parties'
         claims to recover more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). A
         Dispute  involving  claims or amounts  in  controversy  exceeding  five
         hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) shall be decided by a majority vote
         of a panel of three arbitrators  ("Arbitration  Panel"). An Arbitration
         Panel shall be composed of one arbitrator who would be qualified to sit
         as a single arbitrator in a Dispute decided by one arbitrator,  one who
         has at least ten years experience in commercial lending and one who has
         at least ten years experience in the trucking  industry.  Arbitrator(s)
         may, in the exercise of their  discretion,  at the written request of a
         party  in any  Dispute,  (1)  consolidate  in a single  proceeding  any
         multiple party claims that are  substantially  identical and all claims
         arising out of a single loan or series of loans including  claims by or
         against borrower(s) guarantors, sureties and or owners of collateral if
         different from the Borrower,  and (2) administer  multiple  arbitration
         claims as class actions in accordance with Rule 23 of the Federal Rules
         of Civil Procedure. The arbitrator(s) shall be empowered to resolve any
         dispute  regarding the terms of this Agreement or the  arbitrability of
         any  Dispute  or  any  claim  that  all  or any  part  (including  this
         provision)  is void or  voidable  but shall  have no power to change or
         alter the terms of this Agreement. The award of the arbitrator(s) shall
         be in writing  and shall  specify  the  factual and legal basis for the
         award.

                  (e)  Miscellaneous.  To the maximum  extent  practicable,  the
         Administrator,  the Arbitrator(s) and the parties shall take any action
         necessary  to  require  that an  arbitration  proceeding  hereunder  be
         concluded  within  180  days of the  filing  of the  Dispute  with  the
         Administrator. The Arbitrator(s) shall be empowered to impose sanctions
         for any party's failure to proceed within the times established herein.
         Arbitration  proceedings  hereunder  shall be conducted in Arizona at a
         location  determined  by the  Administrator.  In any such  proceeding a
         party shall state as a  counterclaim  any claim which arises out of the
         transaction  or  occurrence  or is in any way related to the  Documents
         which does not require the presence of a third party which could not be
         joined as a party in the proceeding. The provisions of this arbitration
         clause shall survive any termination,  amendment,  or expiration of the
         Documents  and  repayment  in full of sums owed to  Lender by  Borrower
         unless the parties  otherwise  expressly  agree in writing.  Each party
         agrees to keep all Disputes
                                      -31-

         and  arbitration   proceedings   strictly   confidential,   except  for
         disclosures of information  required in the ordinary course of business
         of the parties or as required by applicable law or regulation.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, these presents have been executed as of the day and
year first set forth above.

                                        FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF ARIZONA,
                                        N.A.



                                        By
                                          --------------------------------------
                                             Its
                                                --------------------------------

                                                                          LENDER


                                        KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION, INC., an
                                        Arizona corporation



                                        By
                                          --------------------------------------
                                        Name
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Its
                                           -------------------------------------


                                        QUAD K LEASING, INC., a______________
                                        corporation



                                        By
                                          --------------------------------------
                                        Name
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Its
                                           -------------------------------------

                                                                        BORROWER
                                      -32-

         Each  party  hereby  acknowledges  that  it has  read  the  Arbitration
provisions contained in Section 11.9 of this Agreement.

                                        FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF ARIZONA,
                                        N.A.



                                        By
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Its
                                             -----------------------------------

                                                                          LENDER


                                        KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION, INC., an
                                        Arizona corporation



                                        By
                                          --------------------------------------
                                        Name
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Its
                                           -------------------------------------


                                        QUAD K LEASING, INC., a
                                        corporation



                                        By
                                          --------------------------------------
                                        Name
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Its
                                           -------------------------------------

                                                                        BORROWER
                                      -33-

                                   EXHIBIT "A"


                                                             ___________________



Mr.
Vice President
Commercial Banking Division
First Interstate Bank of Arizona, N.A.
P.O. Box 53456
Phoenix, Arizona  85072-3456

Dear Mr.

         Enclosed are the required financial  statements for the [month] [fiscal
year] ending _________________for  Borrower as required under Section 7.5 of the
Loan Agreement dated ________________, 1996 (the "Agreement").

         To the best of my  knowledge  in all  material  respects,  no "Event of
Default, " as defined in the Agreement,  exists and no event has occurred and no
condition  exists  that,  after  notice  or  passage  of time,  or  both,  would
constitute an Event of Default.

Very truly yours,

                                   EXHIBIT "B"


TO:      FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF ARIZONA, N.A.

        Certificateof Borrower's Covenant Compliance with Section 7.5(f)
           of the Loan Agreement dated _________________, 1996 between
             Knight Transportation, Inc., an Arizona corporation and
                Quad K Leasing, Inc., a ____________ corporation
                   and First Interstate Bank of Arizona, N.A.


                                                          Date__________________


The undersigned officer of Knight Transportation,  Inc., an Arizona corporation,
and Quad K Leasing, Inc., a ______________ corporation, Borrower under said Loan
Agreement,  hereby  certifies that as of the date written  above,  the following
computations were true and correct:

I.   Section 8.4 - Debt/Worth
                                                                                                         
Numerator:            Total Liabilities                                                                           A
                                                                                divided by:                   -----

Denominator:          Net Worth                                                                                   B
                                                                                                              -----
                                                                                equals                          A/B
                                                                                                              =====
                                                                                maximum                        1.0x
                                                                                                              =====
II.   Section 8.5 - TFCC

Numerator:            Long-term debt (with CPLTD)
                                                                                                              -----
                      plus:  RLC balance
                                                                                                              -----
                                                                                Equals                            A
                                                                                                              -----
                                                                                divided by:
Denominator:          Net profit
                                                                                                              -----
                      plus:  depreciation
                                                                                                              -----
                      plus:  amortization
                                                                                                              -----
                      =  Cash Flow                                                                                B
                                                                                                              -----
                      A divided by B equals
                                                                                                              =====
                                                                                maximum                        3.0x
                                                                                                              =====

III.   Section 8.6 - Debt/Cash Flow

Numerator:            Net Profit
                                                                                                              -----
                      plus:  Depreciation
                                                                                                              -----
                      plus:  Amortization
                                                                                                              -----
                      plus:  Interest Expense
                                                                                                              -----
                      plus:  Operating Lease Rent Expense
                                                                                                              -----
                      plus:  Deferred Income Tax Expense
                                                                                                              -----
                      EBITDA                                                                                      A
                                                                                                              -----

                                                                                divided by:

Denominator:          CPLTD
                                                                                                              -----
                      plus:  Operating Leases Rent Expense
                                                                                                              -----
                      plus:  Interest Expense
                                                                                                              -----
                      = Current Portion                                                                           B
                                                                                                              -----

                      A divided by B equals                                                                     A/B
                                                                                                              =====
                                                                                minimum                        3.0x
                                                                                                              =====

IV.   Section 8.7 - Current Ratio

Numerator:            Cash
                                                                                                              -----
                      plus:  Accounts Receivable
                                                                                                              -----
                      Equals                                                                                      A
                                                                                                              -----
                                                                                divided by:

Denominator:          Current liabilities
                                                                                                              -----
                      excluding:  any RLC Advances outstanding
                                                                                                              -----
                      Equals                                                                                      B
                                                                                                              -----
                      A divided by B equals                                                                     A/B
                                                                                                              =====
                                                                                minimum                         10x
                                                                                                              =====

                                        KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION, INC., an
                                        Arizona corporation



                                        By
                                          --------------------------------------
                                        Name
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Its
                                           -------------------------------------


                                        QUAD K LEASING, INC., a ________________
                                        corporation



                                        By
                                          --------------------------------------
                                        Name
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Its
                                           -------------------------------------

                                   EXHIBIT "C"

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE
                                 ---------------


$___________________                                            Phoenix, Arizona

                                                            ______________, 1996


         FOR VALUE RECEIVED,  the undersigned  KNIGHT  TRANSPORTATION,  INC., an
Arizona  corporation  and  QUAD  K  LEASING,  INC.,  a   _______________________
corporation  (together,  "Maker"),  promises  to  pay  to  the  order  of  FIRST
INTERSTATE  BANK OF  ARIZONA,  N.A.  (the  "Payee";  Payee  and each  subsequent
transferee  and/or  owner  of  this  Note,  whether  taking  by  endorsement  or
otherwise,  are herein successively called "Holder"),  at Post Office Box 53456,
Phoenix,  Arizona 85072-3456,  or at such other place as Holder may from time to
time designate in writing, the principal sum of ____________________ MILLION AND
NO/100 DOLLARS ($_____________________) or so much thereof as Holder may advance
to or for the benefit of Maker plus interest  calculated on a daily basis (based
on a 360-day  year) from the date hereof on the  principal  balance from time to
time outstanding as hereinafter provided, principal, interest and all other sums
payable  hereunder to be paid in lawful money of the United States of America as
follows:

                  (a) Interest. Interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal of
         this Note at [the applicable LIBOR Rate] [the TCM Rate].

                  (b) Monthly  Payments.  [In the event that interest accrues on
         the Term Loan at the TCM Rate,]  Interest  and  principal  shall be due
         hereunder in  thirty-six  (36) equal  monthly  payments  payable on the
         first day of each  month,  commencing  on the  first day of the  second
         month after the Term Conversion Date.

                  [In the event  that  interest  accrues on the Term Loan at the
         applicable  LIBOR  Rate,]  Principal in an amount  sufficient  to fully
         amortize the amount of the Term Loan over thirty-six (36) equal monthly
         payments,  together  with  accrued  interest,  shall be due and payable
         hereunder on the first day of each month,  commencing  on the first day
         of the second month after the Term Conversion Date.

                  (c) Final Payment.  The entire outstanding  principal balance,
         all  accrued  and  unpaid  interest  and all other  sums which may have
         become payable  thereunder shall be due and payable in full on the Term
         Maturity Date.

                  (d) Definitions.  The capitalized terms used and not otherwise
         defined  herein  shall  have the same  meanings  as defined in the Loan
         Agreement (defined below).

         Maker agrees to an effective  rate of interest  that is the rate stated
above plus any additional  rate of interest  resulting from any other charges in
the  nature of  interest  paid or to be paid by or on  behalf  of Maker,  or any
benefit received or to be received by Holder, in connection with this Note.

         If any  payment  required  under this Note is not paid  within five (5)
Business Days when due,  then, at the option of Holder,  Maker shall pay a "late
charge"  equal to four percent (4%) of the amount of that payment to  compensate
Holder for administrative  expenses and other costs of delinquent payments. This
late charge may be assessed without notice, shall be immediately due and payable
and shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies available to Holder.

         All payments on this Note shall be applied  first to the payment of any
costs,  fees or other  charges  incurred  in  connection  with the  indebtedness
evidenced  hereby,  next to the  payment  of  accrued  interest  and then to the
reduction of the principal balance.

         This Note is issued  pursuant to that Loan Agreement dated of even date
herewith between Maker and Payee, the ("Loan Agreement").

         Time is of the  essence  of this Note.  At the  option of  Holder,  the
entire unpaid principal  balance,  all accrued and unpaid interest and all other
amounts  payable  hereunder  shall become  immediately  due and payable  without
notice  upon the  failure  to pay any sum due and owing  hereunder  as  provided
herein or upon the  occurrence of any event of default under the Loan  Agreement
or any Security Documents.

         After  maturity,  including  maturity  upon  acceleration,  the  unpaid
principal balance, all accrued and unpaid interest and all other amounts payable
hereunder  shall bear  interest at that rate that is five percent (5%) above the
rate that would otherwise be payable under the terms hereof. Maker shall pay all
costs and  expenses,  including  reasonable  attorneys'  fees and  court  costs,
incurred in the collection or enforcement of all or any part of this Note.  Such
court costs and attorneys' fees shall be set by the court and not by jury, shall
be included in any judgment obtained by Holder.

         Maker shall have the option to prepay this Note, in full or in part, at
any time. In the event interest  accrues  hereunder at the TCM Rate, Maker shall
pay to Holder such premium as provided for in Section 4.2 of the Loan Agreement.

         Failure of Holder to exercise any option hereunder shall not constitute
a waiver  of the  right to  exercise  the  same in the  event of any  subsequent
default or in the event of continuance of any existing  default after demand for
strict performance hereof.

         Maker (a) waives any and all  formalities in connection  with this Note
to the maximum  extent  allowed by law,  including  (but not limited to) demand,
diligence, presentment for payment, protest and demand, and notice of extension,
dishonor,  protest,  demand and  nonpayment of this Note;  and (b) consents that
Holder may extend the time of payment or otherwise modify the terms of payment
                                       -2-

of any part or the whole of the debt  evidenced by this Note,  at the request of
any other person  liable  hereon,  and such consent shall not alter nor diminish
the liability of any person hereon.

         In addition,  Maker  waives and agrees not to assert:  (a) any right to
require  Holder to  proceed  against  Maker to proceed  against  or exhaust  any
security  for the Note,  to pursue any other remedy  available to Holder,  or to
pursue any remedy in any  particular  order or  manner;  (b) the  benefit of any
statute of  limitations  affecting  its liability  hereunder or the  enforcement
hereof;  (c) the  benefits of any legal or  equitable  doctrine or  principle of
marshalling;  (d)  notice of the  existence,  creation  or  incurring  of new or
additional  indebtedness  of Maker to Holder;  (e) the benefits of any statutory
provision  limiting the liability of a surety,  including without limitation the
provisions of Sections 12-1641,  et seq., of the Arizona Revised  Statutes;  and
(f) any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of Maker or
by reason of the  cessation  from any cause  whatsoever  (other than  payment in
full) of the liability of Maker for payment of the Note.

         Maker  agrees  that to the extent  Maker makes any payment to Holder in
connection with the indebtedness  evidenced by this Note, and all or any part of
such  payment  is  subsequently  invalidated,   declared  to  be  fraudulent  or
preferential,  set  aside or  required  to be repaid by Holder or paid over to a
trustee,  receiver or any other  entity,  whether  under any  bankruptcy  act or
otherwise  (any such  payment  is  hereinafter  referred  to as a  "Preferential
Payment"),  then the  indebtedness  of Maker  under this Note shall  continue or
shall be  reinstated,  as the case may be, and, to the extent of such payment or
repayment  by Holder,  the  indebtedness  evidenced by this Note or part thereof
intended  to be  satisfied  by such  Preferential  Payment  shall be revived and
continued in full force and effect as if said Preferential  Payment had not been
made.

         Without  limiting the right of Holder to bring any action or proceeding
against Maker or against any property of Maker (an  "Action")  arising out of or
relating  to this Note or any  indebtedness  evidenced  hereby in the  courts of
other  jurisdictions,  Maker  hereby  irrevocably  submits to the  jurisdiction,
process  and venue of any  Arizona  State or Federal  court  sitting in Phoenix,
Arizona,  and  hereby  irrevocably  agrees  that any  Action  may be  heard  and
determined  in such Arizona State court or in such Federal  court.  Maker hereby
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, the defenses
of lack of jurisdiction over any person,  inconvenient  forum or improper venue,
to the maintenance of any Action in any jurisdiction.

         This Note shall be binding  upon Maker and its  successors  and assigns
and shall  inure to the  benefit of Payee,  and any  subsequent  holders of this
Note, and their successors and assigns.

         All notices required or permitted in connection with this Note shall be
given at the place and in the  manner  provided  in the Loan  Agreement  for the
giving of notices.

         This  Note  shall be  construed  according  to the laws of the State of
Arizona.
                                       -3-

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  this  Promissory Note has been executed as of the
date first written above.

                                        KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION, INC., an
                                        Arizona corporation



                                        By
                                          --------------------------------------
                                             Its
                                                --------------------------------


                                        QUAD K LEASING, INC., a_________________
                                        corporation



                                        By
                                          --------------------------------------
                                             Its
                                                --------------------------------

                                                                           MAKER
                                       -4-

                            REVOLVING PROMISSORY NOTE
                            -------------------------


$15,000,000.00                                                  Phoenix, Arizona

                                                           _______________, 1996


         FOR VALUE RECEIVED,  the undersigned  KNIGHT  TRANSPORTATION,  INC., an
Arizona  corporation and QUAD K LEASING,  INC., a  ________________  corporation
(together,  "Maker"),  promises to pay to the order of FIRST  INTERSTATE BANK OF
ARIZONA, N.A. (the "Payee"; Payee and each subsequent transferee and/or owner of
this Note, whether taking by endorsement or otherwise,  are herein  successively
called "Holder"), at Post Office Box 53456, Phoenix,  Arizona 85072-3456,  or at
such  other  place as Holder may from time to time  designate  in  writing,  the
principal sum of FIFTEEN MILLION AND NO/100 DOLLARS  ($15,000,000.00) or so much
thereof as Holder  may  advance  to or for the  benefit  of Maker plus  interest
calculated  on a daily basis  (based on a 360-day  year) from the date hereof on
the principal  balance from time to time  outstanding as  hereinafter  provided,
principal,  interest and all other sums  payable  hereunder to be paid in lawful
money of the United States of America as follows:

                  (a) Interest. Interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal of
         each RLC Advance:

                           (i) At the Variable Rate if it is a Variable Rate RLC
                  Advance.

                           (ii) At the  applicable  LIBOR  Rate if it is a LIBOR
                  Rate RLC Advance.

                           (iii)  At the  applicable  CD Rate if it is a CD Rate
                  RLC Advance.

                  (b) Interest  Payment.  All accrued  interest shall be due and
         payable on the RLC Payment Date.

                  (c)  Principal  Payment.  The  entire  outstanding   principal
         balance,  all accrued and unpaid  interest and all other sums which may
         have become payable  thereunder shall be due and payable in full on the
         RLC Maturity Date.

                  (d) Definitions.  The capitalized terms used and not otherwise
         defined  herein  shall  have the same  meanings  as defined in the Loan
         Agreement (defined below).

         The principal balance of this Note represents a revolving credit all or
any part of which may be advanced to Maker,  repaid by Maker,  and readvanced to
Maker from time to time,  subject to the other terms hereof and the  conditions,
if any,  contained in the Loan Agreement and provided that the principal balance
outstanding at any one time shall not exceed the face amount hereof.

         Maker agrees to an effective  rate of interest  that is the rate stated
above plus any additional  rate of interest  resulting from any other charges in
the  nature of  interest  paid or to be paid by or on  behalf  of Maker,  or any
benefit received or to be received by Holder, in connection with this Note.

         All payments on this Note shall be applied  first to the payment of any
costs,  fees or other  charges  incurred  in  connection  with the  indebtedness
evidenced  hereby,  next to the  payment  of  accrued  interest  and then to the
reduction of the principal balance.

         This Note is issued  pursuant to that Loan Agreement dated of even date
herewith between Maker and Payee, the ("Loan Agreement").

         Time is of the  essence  of this Note.  At the  option of  Holder,  the
entire unpaid principal  balance,  all accrued and unpaid interest and all other
amounts  payable  hereunder  shall become  immediately  due and payable  without
notice  upon the  failure  to pay any sum due and owing  hereunder  as  provided
herein or upon the  occurrence of any event of default under the Loan  Agreement
or any Security Documents.

         After  maturity,  including  maturity  upon  acceleration,  the  unpaid
principal balance, all accrued and unpaid interest and all other amounts payable
hereunder  shall bear interest at the rate that would otherwise be payable under
the  terms  hereof.  Maker  shall  costs  and  expenses,   including  reasonable
attorneys'  fees and court costs,  incurred in the  collection or enforcement of
all or any part of this Note.  Such court costs and attorneys' fees shall be set
by the court and not by jury,  shall be  included  in any  judgment  obtained by
Holder.

         Maker shall have the option to prepay this Note, in full or in part, at
any  time.  Maker  shall  pay to  Holder  such  amount  or  amounts  as shall be
sufficient to compensate for any losses (including  without  limitations loss of
anticipated  profit),  costs or expenses which Holder may reasonably  incur as a
result of payment or  Conversion of any LIBOR Rate RLC Advance or of any CD Rate
RLC Advance other than on the last Business Day of the Interest  Period for such
RLC Advance.

         Failure of Holder to exercise any option hereunder shall not constitute
a waiver  of the  right to  exercise  the  same in the  event of any  subsequent
default or in the event of continuance of any existing  default after demand for
strict performance hereof.

         Maker (a) waives any and all  formalities in connection  with this Note
to the maximum  extent  allowed by law,  including  (but not limited to) demand,
diligence, presentment for payment, protest and demand, and notice of extension,
dishonor, protest, demand and nonpayment of this Note; and
                                       -2-

(b) consents that Holder may extend the time of payment or other-wise modify the
terms of payment of any part or the whole of the debt evidenced by this Note, at
the request of any other person liable hereon,  and such consent shall not alter
nor diminish the liability of any person hereon.

         In addition,  Maker  waives and agrees not to assert:  (a) any right to
require  Holder to  proceed  against  Maker to proceed  against  or exhaust  any
security  for the Note,  to pursue any other remedy  available to Holder,  or to
pursue any remedy in any  particular  order or  manner;  (b) the  benefit of any
statute of  limitations  affecting  its liability  hereunder or the  enforcement
hereof;  (c) the  benefits of any legal or  equitable  doctrine or  principle of
marshalling;  (d)  notice of the  existence,  creation  or  incurring  of new or
additional  indebtedness  of Maker to Holder;  (e) the benefits of any statutory
provision  limiting the liability of a surety,  including without limitation the
provisions of Sections 12- 1641, et seq., of the Arizona Revised  Statutes;  and
(f) any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of Maker or
by reason of the  cessation  from any cause  whatsoever  (other than  payment in
full) of the liability of Maker for payment of the Note.

         Maker  agrees  that to the extent  Maker makes any payment to Holder in
connection with the indebtedness  evidenced by this Note, and all or any part of
such  payment  is  subsequently  invalidated,   declared  to  be  fraudulent  or
preferential,  set  aside or  required  to be repaid by Holder or paid over to a
trustee,  receiver or any other  entity,  whether  under any  bankruptcy  act or
otherwise  (any such  payment  is  hereinafter  referred  to as a  "Preferential
Payment"),  then the  indebtedness  of Maker  under this Note shall  continue or
shall be  reinstated,  as the case may be and, to the extent of such  payment or
repayment  by Holder,  the  indebtedness  evidenced by this Note or part thereof
intended  to be  satisfied  by such  Preferential  Payment  shall be revived and
continued in full force and effect as if said Preferential  Payment had not been
made.

         Without  limiting the right of Holder to bring any action or proceeding
against Maker or against any property of Maker (an  "Action")  arising out of or
relating  to this Note or any  indebtedness  evidenced  hereby in the  courts of
other  jurisdictions,  Maker  hereby  irrevocably  submits to the  jurisdiction,
process  and venue of any  Arizona  State or Federal  court  sitting in Phoenix,
Arizona,  and  hereby  irrevocably  agrees  that any  Action  may be  heard  and
determined  in such Arizona State court or in such Federal  court.  Maker hereby
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, the defenses
of lack of jurisdiction over any person,  inconvenient  forum or improper venue,
to the maintenance of any Action in any jurisdiction.

         This Note shall be binding  upon Maker and its  successors  and assigns
and shall  inure to the  benefit of Payee,  and any  subsequent  holders of this
Note, and their successors and assigns.

         All notices required or permitted in connection with this Note shall be
given at the place and in the  manner  provided  in the Loan  Agreement  for the
giving of notices.

         This  Note  shall be  construed  according  to the laws of the State of
Arizona.
                                       -3-

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Revolving Promissory Note has been executed as
of the date first written above.

                                        KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION, INC., an
                                        Arizona corporation



                                        By
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Its
                                             -----------------------------------


                                        QUAD K LEASING, INC., a
                                        corporation



                                        By
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Its
                                             -----------------------------------

                                                                           MAKER
                                       -4-