<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FORWARD
AIR CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED) FOR MARCH 31,
2000 AND CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) FOR THE THREE
MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          10,117
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   29,138
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,018
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                41,382
<PP&E>                                          48,564
<DEPRECIATION>                                  15,399
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  33,165
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           16,984
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           209
<OTHER-SE>                                      59,962
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    84,630
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                49,407
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   42,036
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  (141)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  83
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  7,429
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,840
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              4,589
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,589
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .21