<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF September 30,1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         863557
<NAME>                        SWIFT TRANSPORTATION CO., INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
<CURRENCY>                    US DOLLARS
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                      JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                        SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                               1
<CASH>                                                                   10,087
<SECURITIES>                                                                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                            99,897
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                  0
<INVENTORY>                                                               3,580
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                        132,343
<PP&E>                                                                  429,757
<DEPRECIATION>                                                          105,202
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          467,743
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                    70,068
<BONDS>                                                                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                                     28
<OTHER-SE>                                                              258,017
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                            467,743
<SALES>                                                                 524,999
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                        524,999
<CGS>                                                                         0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                           472,093
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                           (409)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        3,470
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          49,845
<INCOME-TAX>                                                             20,200
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                      29,645
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             29,645
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                              1.03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              1.03