<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
                              THIS   SCHEDULE    CONTAINS   SUMMARY    FINANCIAL
                              INFORMATION    EXTRACTED    FROM   THE   FINANCIAL
                              STATEMENTS AS OF March 31,1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
                              ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000863557
<NAME>                        SWIFT TRANSPORTATION CO., INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                  JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                    MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                           1
<CASH>                                                5,042
<SECURITIES>                                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        87,075
<ALLOWANCES>                                              0
<INVENTORY>                                           3,575
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    117,011
<PP&E>                                              382,073
<DEPRECIATION>                                       99,661
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      409,742
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                62,046
<BONDS>                                                   0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                               0
<COMMON>                                                 28
<OTHER-SE>                                          233,620
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        409,742
<SALES>                                             156,074
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    156,074
<CGS>                                                     0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       144,951
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       (171)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      813
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      10,481
<INCOME-TAX>                                          4,250
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                   6,231
<DISCONTINUED>                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                          6,231
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           .22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           .22