<ARTICLE>                     5

<CIK>                         0000878927
<NAME>                        OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
       
                                                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 3-MOS          6-MOS          9-MOS          12-MOS         YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             DEC-31-1997    DEC-31-1997    DEC-31-1997    DEC-31-1997    DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                JAN-01-1997    APR-01-1997    JUL-01-1997    OCT-01-1997    JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                  MAR-31-1997    JUN-30-1997    SEP-30-1997    DEC-31-1997    DEC-31-1997
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<CGS>                                0              0              0              0              0
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