<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
    THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF March 31,1998 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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                  JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                    MAR-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                           1
<CASH>                                                9,165
<SECURITIES>                                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        96,530
<ALLOWANCES>                                              0
<INVENTORY>                                           4,478
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    139,070
<PP&E>                                              485,227
<DEPRECIATION>                                      119,837
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      514,989
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                70,266
<BONDS>                                                   0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                               0
<COMMON>                                                 43
<OTHER-SE>                                          283,972
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        514,989
<SALES>                                             191,608
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    191,608
<CGS>                                                     0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       174,672
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       (219)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    1,338
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      15,817
<INCOME-TAX>                                          6,405
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                   9,412
<DISCONTINUED>                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                          9,412
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           .22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           .22