AmeriTruck signs 2,000 unit deal with HighwayMaster; After two-month test, the Fort Worth company chooses most-advanced technology.

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 21, 1996--HighwayMaster Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of HighwayMaster Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:HWYM), has signed an agreement with AmeriTruck Distribution Corp., one of the industry's rapidly expanding transportation and logistics companies, to install 2,000 HighwayMaster mobile communications systems in the company's fleets nationwide beginning immediately.

The contract was announced today after a two-month test in which AmeriTruck evaluated the HighwayMaster system against competing systems.

In less than one year, AmeriTruck has become one of the fastest growing companies in the trucking industry. Under the direction of Chairman and CEO Michael R. Lawrence, the Fort Worth-based company has acquired six previously independent specialty lines that include medical supply, just-in-time, temperature control and dedicated fleets.

Each is considered a market leader within its niche and includes, Thompson Bros. Inc. of Sioux Falls, S.D., W&L Motor Lines Inc. of Conover, N.C., Scales Transport Corp. of Homer, Ga., AmeriTruck Refrigerated Transport Inc. (formerly CMS Transportation Services Inc.) with divisions in Atlanta and Oklahoma City, J.C. Bangerter & Sons Inc. of Layton, Utah, and KTL Inc. of Largo, Fla.

"We did not make this decision lightly," said Lawrence. "One of our fleets had satellite technology already installed and we looked at other options as well. But we believe that HighwayMaster's technology is clearly the best option now and especially for the future. One of the frequent messages sent on our satellite system was 'Call me.' So we started adding up what it cost us to actually stop the truck to make those calls and the personal calls drivers make every day. The conclusion -- I frankly don't see how you can afford to have a mobile communications system without voice.

"You cannot handle exceptions in our business without talking to the driver, so having voice in our system was essential. But maybe an even-more-important aspect of HighwayMaster's voice technology is the personal calling feature. Drivers can call home and their families can call directly into the truck. Nobody has to stop moving to make the call. It also gets us out of the message business, as well as giving the family a feeling of being closer to the driver. Happy drivers and families mean less driver turnover for the company. And, it costs real money to stop a truck!

"Besides voice, the intelligence in the HighwayMaster mobile unit coupled with the intelligent network complex gives new meaning to the term 'manage by exception.' We will be able to download routes and dispatches into the mobile unit and it will automatically tell us when it's late or out of route. That cuts communications expense, stops needless messaging that our computer has to process and lets us deal with the important loads so we can prevent service failures.

"We were sure that HighwayMaster had the best technology but it wasn't until SBC Communications (parent company of Southwestern Bell) came on board that we made the final decision. HighwayMaster and SBC make a powerful team," Lawrence went on to say. "If I seem like I'm doing a HighwayMaster commercial, I am. But they didn't pay me anything."

"Obviously we are thrilled with the signing of AmeriTruck," said Bill Saunders, president and CEO of HighwayMaster. "Mike and his team are building one of the biggest, best and most successful operations around. They have a clear vision and we are proud to support them in the quest to achieve their goal."

HighwayMaster will be installed in the entire AmeriTruck fleet including the replacement of existing satellite systems over the next several months. AmeriTruck will also serve as a premier beta-test site, offering HighwayMaster valuable insights into customer needs and future product development.

Dallas-based HighwayMaster Corp. manufactures the only nationwide mobile communication system that offers the trucking industry both voice and data communications, combined with Global Positioning System (satellite) vehicle location technology, as well as patented dispatch software.

The company's award-winning model 5000 Series mobile communication and fleet management system is one of the most advanced products available to the transportation industry. Recent product enhancements to the system include the Rolling ETA(R) feature and Fax Interface.

HighwayMaster created the world's largest seamless instant-call- delivery enhanced-cellular network, designed specifically to meet the needs of the transportation industry. Through strategic alliances with SBC Communications (parent company of Southwestern Bell), GTE, EDS and the leading cellular carriers across the country, HighwayMaster provides advanced wireless services throughout the United States and Canada.

CONTACT: HighwayMaster Corp., Dallas

Barb Catlin, 972/732-2516