Central Freight Lines, Inc. Provides Update on Status of Merger; Discusses Year-End Reporting

WACO, Texas, April 3  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Central Freight Lines, Inc. (NASDAQ:CENF) today provided an update on the status of its pending merger transaction with North American Truck Lines, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company ("NATL"), and Green Acquisition Company, a Nevada corporation ("Purchaser").  Central also announced it has filed a Form 12b-25 (Notification of Late Filing) with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") seeking a 15-day extension of the due date for its Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2005 due to its previously announced engagement of a new independent registered public accounting firm. Central expects to file its Annual Report by April 14, 2006.

Status of Merger with North American Truck Lines, LLC

On January 30, 2006, Central announced that it had entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), with NATL and Purchaser, pursuant to which Purchaser will merge with and into Central (the "Merger"), with Central continuing as the surviving corporation.  Both Purchaser and NATL are controlled by Mr. Jerry Moyes, with Purchaser being a wholly-owned subsidiary of NATL.

Central expects to file a preliminary proxy statement with the SEC during April 2006.  Once this preliminary filing is reviewed and completed, a definitive proxy statement will be mailed to stockholders to solicit proxies for stockholders to vote on the approval of the Merger.

Stockholders are urged to read the proxy statement carefully when it becomes available because it will contain important information about Central, the transaction and related matters.  Stockholders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC by Central through the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov/ .  In addition, stockholders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement from the company.

Central Freight Lines, Inc. is a non-union less-than-truckload carrier specializing in regional overnight and second day markets in the Midwest, Southwest, West Coast and Pacific Northwest.  Utilizing marketing alliances, Central also provides service to the Great Lakes, Northeast, Southeast, Mexico, and Canada.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risk, assumptions, and uncertainties that are difficult to predict.  Statements that constitute forward-looking statements are usually identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "expects," "plans," "intends," or similar expressions.  These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual events may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.

With respect to statements regarding the consummation of the Merger, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements:  the risk that our business will suffer due to uncertainties caused by the announcement of the transaction; the risk that we may not be able to obtain third party and stockholder approvals necessary to consummate the transaction; as well as the risk that the transaction will not close for other reasons.

   Corporate Contact:
   Jeff Hale, Chief Financial Officer
   [phone]
   

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DATASOURCE: Central Freight Lines, Inc.



CONTACT:  Jeff Hale, Chief Financial Officer of Central Freight Lines,

Inc., [phone], or  



Web site:  http://www.sec.gov/ 

Web site:  http://www.centralfreight.com/ 

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