<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
     FROM CHEMICAL LEAMAN CORPORATION'S AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED
     BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AS OF AND FOR YEAR
     ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
     REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                           2,681
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   22,871
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                34,744
<PP&E>                                         243,998
<DEPRECIATION>                                 134,127
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 177,514
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           33,539
<BONDS>                                        111,673
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            5,318
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         2,677
<OTHER-SE>                                         336
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   177,514
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               329,977
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  334,040
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              10,299
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (14,527)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    (5,310)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             (9,217)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                   (199)
<CHANGES>                                       (1,975)
<NET-INCOME>                                   (11,391)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0