<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ROADWAY EXPRESS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1996 (UNAUDITED) ENDED JUNE 15, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-15-1996 <CASH> 22,657 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 232,839 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 279,646 <PP&E> 1,423,862 <DEPRECIATION> 1,019,750 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 702,491 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 292,354 <BONDS> 0 <COMMON> 206 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 211,089 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 702,491 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,049,712 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,037,447 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 510 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,755 <INCOME-TAX> 5,079 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,676 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,676 <EPS-PRIMARY> .33 <EPS-DILUTED> .33