<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION
     EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31,
     1996 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
     SUCH STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                             0000863557
<NAME>                         SWIFT TRANSPORTAION CO., INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                          1,000
<CURRENCY>                                       US DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1996  
<PERIOD-START>                                  JAN-01-1996  
<PERIOD-END>                                    MAR-31-1996  
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                           1  
<CASH>                                                1,266  
<SECURITIES>                                              0  
<RECEIVABLES>                                        63,497  
<ALLOWANCES>                                              0  
<INVENTORY>                                           3,582  
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     81,046  
<PP&E>                                              344,956  
<DEPRECIATION>                                       89,226  
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      346,311  
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                74,231  
<BONDS>                                                   0  
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0  
<PREFERRED>                                               0  
<COMMON>                                                 25  
<OTHER-SE>                                          137,409  
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        346,311  
<SALES>                                             124,524  
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    124,524  
<CGS>                                                     0  
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       118,808  
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       (231) 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                          0  
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    1,486  
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                       4,461  
<INCOME-TAX>                                          1,890  
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                   2,571  
<DISCONTINUED>                                            0  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0  
<CHANGES>                                                 0  
<NET-INCOME>                                          2,571  
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           .10  
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           .10