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                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

 
                                    
 
                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
 
     We consent to the use in this Registration Statement of The J.H. Heafner
Company, Inc. on Form S-4 of our report dated January 15, 1997, appearing in the
Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
 
     We also consent to the reference to us under the headings "Selected
Historical Financial Data" and "Experts" in such Prospectus.
 
                                               /s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Los Angeles, California
August 18, 1998