<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ROADWAY EXPRESS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 28, 1998 (UNAUDITED) </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-28-1998 <CASH> 73,853 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 278,718 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 371,902 <PP&E> 1,360,761 <DEPRECIATION> 1,004,532 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 751,878 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 326,453 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 206 <OTHER-SE> 254,998 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 751,878 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 621,663 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 610,839 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (702) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,526 <INCOME-TAX> 4,917 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,609 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,609 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.33 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.32