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Allied Holdings names Hugh Sawyer President of Allied Automotive Group

22 December 1999

Allied Holdings names Hugh Sawyer President of Allied Automotive Group

    DECATUR, Ga., Dec. 21 -- Allied Holdings, Inc. ,
parent company of the world's largest automotive distribution and logistics
network, named Hugh E. Sawyer president of its Allied Automotive Group, Inc.
unit, effective Jan. 1, 2000.
    Sawyer, 45, is president and chief executive officer of the National Linen
Service subsidiary of National Services Industries Inc., Atlanta.  He succeeds
Joseph Collier, who was appointed to the newly created position of executive
vice president for planning and development at Allied Holdings.
    "The naming of Hugh Sawyer further strengthens and broadens our management
team," said A. Mitchell Poole Jr., vice-chairman and CEO of Allied Holdings.
"This is the next step in the strategic reorganization of Allied Holdings
announced Nov. 29, which will position the Company to fulfill its mission to
be the leading supplier of value-added automotive distribution and logistic
services in North America and worldwide."
    Randall E. West, recently appointed president and chief operating officer
of Allied Holdings, said: "Our first priority is to address unsatisfactory
financial results.  Hugh brings the management skills and direct experience in
transportation and distribution that will be required to respond to the
changing automotive marketplace by cutting costs, increasing efficiencies and
adding value for our customers and shareholders."
    Before joining National Linen Service as president in 1996, Sawyer held
senior management and executive positions at a number of corporations,
including McLean Trucking Co. and the Wells Fargo Armored Service Corp.
subsidiary of Borg-Warner Corp.
    Sawyer said, "I see tremendous opportunity for Allied Automotive Group and
look forward to working with everyone there to ensure its continued leadership
in the car-hauling business and to strengthen its position as a provider of
value-added services to its customers."
    Allied Holdings is the parent of several subsidiaries that comprise the
world's largest automotive distribution and logistics network.  Allied
Automotive Group Inc. is the largest motor carrier in North America
specializing in the delivery of automobiles and light trucks.  Allied
Automotive transports for all major domestic and foreign manufacturers
primarily from manufacturing plants, rail ramps, ports and auctions to
automobile dealers throughout the United States and Canada.  In 1998, Allied
Automotive delivered 11.7 million vehicles.  Axis Group Inc. provides
distribution and logistics services to automobile manufacturers in the United
States and overseas.  Axis employs innovative distribution methods to help its
customers solve complex transportation, inventory and logistics problems.
    Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are
"forward-looking" statements.  Investors are cautioned that such statements
are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially.  Without limitation, these risks and uncertainties
include economic recessions or downturns in new vehicle production or sales,
the highly competitive nature of the automotive distribution industry,
dependence on the automotive industry, labor disputes involving the Company or
its significant customers, the dependence on key personnel who have been hired
or retained by the Company, the availability of strategic acquisitions or
joint-venture partners, changes in regulatory requirements which are
applicable to the Company's business, risks associated with conducting
business in foreign countries, changes in vehicle sizes and weights which may
impact vehicle deliveries per load, the ability to increase rates charged to
customers, and problems related to information technology systems and
computations that must be made by the Company or its customers and vendors in
1999, 2000 or beyond.  Investors are urged to carefully review and consider
various disclosures made by the Company in this press release and the
Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.