Exhibit 5.1

Pepper Hamilton LLP
- -----------------------------
Attorneys at Law


3000 Two Logan Square
Eighteenth and Arch Streets
Philadelphia, PA  19103-2799
215.981.4000
Fax 215.981.4750

                                                     January 13, 1998



Jevic Transportation, Inc.
600 Creek Road
P.O. Box 5157
Delanco, New Jersey 08075

                  Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as special counsel to Jevic Transportation, Inc., a New
Jersey corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and
filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on or
about the date hereof of a registration statement (the "Registration Statement")
of the Company on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"), relating to shares of common stock, no par value per share, of the
Company (the "Common Stock") which may be issued pursuant to the Company's
Employee Stock Option Plan, 1997 Incentive Plan and 1994 Stock Option Plan
(collectively, the "Plans"), all as more fully described in the Registration
Statement.

                  In this connection, we have examined the Registration
Statement, including the exhibits thereto, the originals or copies, certified or
otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation and the By-Laws of the Company, each as amended to date, and such 
other documents and corporate records relating to the Company as we have deemed
appropriate for the purpose of rendering the opinion expressed herein. We
express no opinion concerning the laws of any jurisdiction other than the
federal law of the United States and the New Jersey Business Corporation Law.

                  In all examinations of documents, instruments and other
papers, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on original and
certified documents and the conformity with original and certified documents of
all copies submitted to us as conformed, photostatic or other copies. As to
matters of fact which have not been independently established, we have relied
upon representations of officers of the Company.









                  On the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
Common Stock, when issued pursuant to and in accordance with each of the Plans,
will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

                  We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to the references to our firm
therein. Such consent does not constitute a consent under Section 7 of the
Securities Act, since we have not certified any part of the Registration
Statement and do not otherwise come within the categories of persons whose
consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of
the Commission promulgated thereunder.

                                                     Very truly yours,



                                                     PEPPER HAMILTON LLP