<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
                              THIS   SCHEDULE    CONTAINS   SUMMARY    FINANCIAL
                              INFORMATION    EXTRACTED    FROM   THE   FINANCIAL
                              STATEMENTS   AS  OF  DECEMBER   31,  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>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                  JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                    DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                           1
<CASH>                                                5,726
<SECURITIES>                                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        92,587
<ALLOWANCES>                                              0
<INVENTORY>                                           4,509
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    121,944
<PP&E>                                              450,452
<DEPRECIATION>                                      111,917
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      471,134
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                57,776
<BONDS>                                                   0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                               0
<COMMON>                                                 43
<OTHER-SE>                                          274,132
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        471,134
<SALES>                                             713,638
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    713,638
<CGS>                                                     0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       639,599
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                      (602)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    4,647
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      69,994
<INCOME-TAX>                                         28,350
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  41,644
<DISCONTINUED>                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                         41,644
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           .99
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           .96
        
<FN>
EPS-PRIMARY and EPS-DILUTED includes the effect of a 3-for-2 stock split payable
on March 12, 1998.
</FN>