<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>