<ARTICLE>                              5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF CELADON GROUP, INC. AS OF MARCH
31,  1996 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                           1,000
       
                                    
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      JUN-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                         JUL-1-1995
<PERIOD-END>                           MAR-31-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                          3-MOS
<CASH>                                  3,954
<SECURITIES>                                0
<RECEIVABLES>                          44,756
<ALLOWANCES>                            5,388
<INVENTORY>                                 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                       66,220
<PP&E>                                 95,839
<DEPRECIATION>                         21,163
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                        151,978
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                  51,321
<BONDS>                                62,457
<COMMON>                                  256
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       0
<PREFERRED>                                 0
<OTHER-SE>                             52,127
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>          151,978
<SALES>                                     0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                       48,448
<CGS>                                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                          46,111
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          960
<LOSS-PROVISION>                           39
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        926
<INCOME-PRETAX>                         1,377
<INCOME-TAX>                              545
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       832
<DISCONTINUED>                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                             0
<CHANGES>                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                              832
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          .11
<EPS-DILUTED>                          .11