<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PACER
INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>   0001091735
<NAME>  PACER
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-25-1998             DEC-26-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-27-1997             NOV-14-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-25-1998             DEC-26-1997
<CASH>                                               0                       0
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   43,900                  33,400
<ALLOWANCES>                                       100                     100
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                47,400                  35,900
<PP&E>                                          95,400                  56,500
<DEPRECIATION>                                   6,600                     600
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 156,000                 111,900
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           84,600                  68,400
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                      55,600                  29,600
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   156,100                 111,900
<SALES>                                        566,100                  57,700
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               590,800                  60,000
<CGS>                                          471,500                  48,500
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  558,300                  58,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                     300
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 33,200                  11,700
<INCOME-TAX>                                    12,600                     700
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             20,600                   1,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    20,600                   1,000
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0