<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXRACTED FROM ROADWAY EXPRESS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE QUARTERS ENDED SEPTEMBER 13, 1997 (UNAUDITED) AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-13-1997 <CASH> 45,638 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 308,347 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 375,447 <PP&E> 1,376,642 <DEPRECIATION> 1,013,956 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 752,798 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 332,292 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 206 <OTHER-SE> 241,538 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 752,798 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,842,244 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,798,867 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 361 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 43,016 <INCOME-TAX> 19,321 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 23,695 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 23,695 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.15 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.15