<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM AMERITRUCK DISTRIBUTION CORP.'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 4,070 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 22,608 <ALLOWANCES> (482) <INVENTORY> 1,108 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 37,592 <PP&E> 124,481 <DEPRECIATION> (27,165) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 176,244 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 20,747 <BONDS> 154,324 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 33 <OTHER-SE> (2,434) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 176,244 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 98,322 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 91,375 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,643 <INCOME-PRETAX> (641) <INCOME-TAX> (287) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (354) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (230) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (584) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0