<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0001068152
<NAME> THE J H HEAFNER COMPANY INC
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998             JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                           3,879                       0<F1>
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0<F1>
<RECEIVABLES>                                  107,339                       0<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,104                       0<F1>
<INVENTORY>                                    122,647                       0<F1>
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               243,320                       0<F1>
<PP&E>                                          49,978                       0<F1>
<DEPRECIATION>                                  10,406                       0<F1>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 411,368                       0<F1>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          201,297                       0<F1>
<BONDS>                                        110,889                       0<F1>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           11,500                       0<F1>
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0<F1>
<COMMON>                                            51                       0<F1>
<OTHER-SE>                                      19,023                       0<F1>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   411,368                       0<F1>
<SALES>                                        243,179                 127,377
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               243,179                 127,377
<CGS>                                          172,616                  96,458
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  182,131                  99,677
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                58,671                  26,128
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,287                   1,672
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (2,113)                   (115)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     (837)                    (49)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (1,276)                    (66)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  2,198                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (3,474)                    (66)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.91)                  (0.02)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.69)                  (0.02)
<FN>
<F1>Balance Sheet information as of June 30, 1997 is not required in the
registration document.
</FN>