<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>                   OTHER                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-26-1997             DEC-27-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-28-1996             DEC-28-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-12-1997             DEC-27-1995
<CASH>                                               0                       0
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0                  39,200
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                     100
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                  42,600
<PP&E>                                               0                  93,900
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                  67,900
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       0                  71,400
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0                  68,700
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                           0                   (100)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         0                  71,400
<SALES>                                        498,400                 526,600
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               517,100                 548,000
<CGS>                                          415,400                 422,100
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  480,900                 486,700
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,000                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 36,800                  61,500
<INCOME-TAX>                                    13,900                  23,400
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             22,900                  38,100
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    22,900                  38,100
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0