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                                                                   Exhibit 23(a)

                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

The Board of Directors
Ablest Inc. (formerly C.H. Heist Corp.):

We consent to incorporation by reference in this registration statement on Form
S-8 of Ablest Inc. (formerly C.H. Heist Corp.) of our reports dated February 18,
2000, except as to notes 2 and 14 which are as of March 13, 2000, relating to
the consolidated balance sheets of Ablest Inc. (formerly C.H. Heist Corp.) and
subsidiaries as of December 26, 1999 and December 27, 1998 and the related
consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for
the years ended December 26, 1999, December 27, 1998 and December 29, 1996, and
related schedule, which reports appear in the December 26, 1999 annual report on
Form 10-K of Ablest Inc. (formerly C.H. Heist Corp.).


                                                        KPMG LLP

St. Petersburg, Florida
October 30, 2000