<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 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>                U.S. DOLLAR
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           6,530
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  118,555
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                      4,866
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               159,919
<PP&E>                                         597,822
<DEPRECIATION>                                 131,045
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 636,283
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           78,871
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            43
<OTHER-SE>                                     327,310
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   636,283
<SALES>                                        873,433
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               873,433
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  774,741
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 (891)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,277
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 93,306
<INCOME-TAX>                                    37,795
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             55,511
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    55,511
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .87<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .85
<FN>
EPS-PRIMARY and EPS-DILUTED  include the effect of a 3-for-2 stock split payable
on April 10, 1999.
</FN>