Exhibit 23






                  CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report
(Form 10-K) of American Freightways Corporation and Subsidiaries of
our report dated January 20, 1999, included in the 1998 Annual
Report to Shareholders of American Freightways Corporation.

Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of
American Freightways Corporation and Subsidiaries listed in
Item 14(a). This schedule is the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on
our audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule
referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic
financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all
material respects the information set forth therein.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the
Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-63674) pertaining to the
American Freightways Corporation Stock Option Plan and in the
Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-76788) pertaining to the
American Freightways Corporation Stock Purchase Plan of our report
dated January 20, 1999, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements incorporated herein by reference, and our report
included in the preceding paragraph with respect to the financial
statement schedule included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of
American Freightways Corporation and Subsidiaries.



/s/Ernst & Young LLP
Little Rock, Arkansas
March 10, 1999