<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FORWARD AIR CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED) AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 15,355 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 30,600 <ALLOWANCES> 990 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 50,537 <PP&E> 60,903 <DEPRECIATION> 17,872 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 103,253 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 18,766 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 212 <OTHER-SE> 75,352 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 103,253 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 157,168 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 130,273 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (498) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 107 <INCOME-PRETAX> 27,286 <INCOME-TAX> 10,434 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 16,852 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 16,852 <EPS-BASIC> .80 <EPS-DILUTED> .76