<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE J.H. HEAFNER COMPANY, INC. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 6,249 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 114,713 <ALLOWANCES> 3,115 <INVENTORY> 146,268 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 277,491 <PP&E> 60,005 <DEPRECIATION> 15,042 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 450,792 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 206,034 <BONDS> 162,891 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 11,353 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 51 <OTHER-SE> 16,851 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 450,792 <SALES> 239,804 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 239,804 <CGS> 181,580 <TOTAL-COSTS> 237,143 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (398) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,112 <INCOME-PRETAX> (2,053) <INCOME-TAX> (860) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,193) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (1,193) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.23) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.19)