EXHIBIT 5



                       WRIGHT, TOLLIVER AND GUTHALS, P.C.
                                  Windsor Court
                              10 North 27th Street
                          Billings, Montana 59103-1977

                            Telephone: (406) 245-3071
                            Facsimile: (406) 245-3074


                                February 12, 1997




Big Sky Transportation Co.
1601 Aviation Place
Billings, Montana  59105

         Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies/Gentlemen:

     We are acting as  corporate  counsel  to Big Sky  Transportation  Co.  (the
"Company") in connection  with the original  registration by the Company on Form
S-8 (the "Registration  Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act") of options and 20,000  shares (the  "Shares") of 1996 Series  Common
Stock  issuable  pursuant to the  Company's  Director  Composition,  Meeting and
Compensation Plan (the "Plan").

     In acting as such counsel and for the purpose of rendering this opinion, we
have reviewed copies of the following, as presented to us by the Company:

         1.       The Company's Articles of Incorporation, as amended.

         2.       The Company's Bylaws, as amended.

         3.       Certain corporate resolutions adopted by the Board of
                  Directors of the Company pertaining to the adoption of the
                  Plan.

         4.       The Plan.

         5.       The Registration Statement.

     Based on,  and  subject  to, the  foregoing  and upon  representations  and
information  provided by the Company or its  officers  or  directors,  it is our
opinion as of this date that:







         1.       The Shares are validly authorized by the Company's Articles 
                  of Incorporation, as amended.

         2.       Upon  issuance and delivery of the Shares  against  receipt by
                  the Company of the  consideration  for the Shares  pursuant to
                  the terms of the Plan,  the  Shares  will be  validly  issued,
                  fully paid and nonassessable.

     We hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration Statement.

                                      Very truly yours,

                                      WRIGHT, TOLLIVER AND GUTHALS, P.C.



                                      By  /s/ Joel E. Guthals
                                          Joel E. Guthals