<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedules contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated balance sheets of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of 9/30/99, and the consolidated statements of income, cash
flows and stockholders' equity for the 9 months ended 9/30/99, and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                            5725
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    59309
<ALLOWANCES>                                      4754
<INVENTORY>                                      16028
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 89992
<PP&E>                                          170979
<DEPRECIATION>                                   47857
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  180994
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            31636
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         25921
<OTHER-SE>                                       70718
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    180994
<SALES>                                          50233
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                282246
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   278065
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  1154
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  2141
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 783
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   2244
<INCOME-TAX>                                       830
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               4181
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                      1414
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.09
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.09