<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS OF FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF MARCH 31, 1999, AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1999, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 3,346 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 49,400 <ALLOWANCES> 3,775 <INVENTORY> 16,571 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 76,704 <PP&E> 112,248 <DEPRECIATION> 45,677 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 157,748 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 26,302 <BONDS> 13,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 25,921 <OTHER-SE> 71,976 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 157,748 <SALES> 14,433 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 88,257 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 85,822 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 431 <LOSS-PROVISION> 503 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,004 <INCOME-TAX> 741 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,263 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,263 <EPS-PRIMARY> .08 <EPS-DILUTED> .08