<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> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 3,880 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 107,339 <ALLOWANCES> 3,104 <INVENTORY> 122,647 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 243,320 <PP&E> 49,978 <DEPRECIATION> 10,405 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 411,015 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 201,297 <BONDS> 110,889 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 11,500 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 51 <OTHER-SE> 18,861 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 411,015 <SALES> 243,444 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 243,444 <CGS> 172,616 <TOTAL-COSTS> 241,250 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (28) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,497 <INCOME-PRETAX> (2,275) <INCOME-TAX> (837) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,438) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (2,198) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (3,636) <EPS-BASIC> (0.91) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.70)