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                                                                   EXHIBIT 24(a)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

         Ablest Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), which proposes to
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the provisions of the
Securities Act of 1933, a registration statement on Form S-8 or other form
registering under the Securities Act of 1933 (and Rule 415 of such Act, if
appropriate) shares of the Company's common stock in connection with the grant
and exercise of options under the Company's Independent Directors' Stock Option
Plan and the grant of restricted stock under the Company's Key Employees'
Option-to-Ownership Stock Plan hereby constitutes and appoints William Appleton
as the attorney of the Company, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the Company, to sign and
file the proposed registration statement and any and all amendments and exhibits
thereto, and any and all applications and other documents to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pertaining to such interests and securities
or such registration, with full power and authority to do and perform any and
all acts and things whatsoever requisite to be done in the premises, hereby
ratifying and approving the acts of such attorney or any such substitute.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Ablest Inc. has caused this power of attorney to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned in Clearwater, Florida on October 30,
2000.

                                        ABLEST INC.



                                        By: /s/ Charles H. Heist III
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                Charles H. Heist III