<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE RYDER
SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
AND STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND MARCH
31, 1997 (RESTATED FOR DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS) AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                                  3-MOS                      
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1998                          DEC-31-1997 
<PERIOD-START>                               JAN-01-1998                          JAN-01-1997 
<PERIOD-END>                                 MAR-31-1998                          MAR-31-1997 
<CASH>                                            56,422                               96,485      
<SECURITIES>                                           0                                    0           
<RECEIVABLES>                                    612,100                              598,455     
<ALLOWANCES>                                           0                                    0           
<INVENTORY>                                       63,088                               63,848      
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,100,273                            1,095,302   
<PP&E>                                         6,158,923                            6,399,722   
<DEPRECIATION>                                 2,410,585                            2,524,024   
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 5,563,949                            5,605,928   
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          1,022,513                            1,222,323   
<BONDS>                                        2,365,100                            2,167,903   
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0                                    0           
<PREFERRED>                                            0                                    0           
<COMMON>                                         345,242                              470,420     
<OTHER-SE>                                       759,917                              627,195     
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   5,563,949                            5,605,928   
<SALES>                                                0                                    0           
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1,245,617                            1,187,119   
<CGS>                                                  0                                    0           
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1,135,287                            1,084,407   
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       0                                    0           
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0                                    0           
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                48,408                               47,318      
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   61,922                               55,394      
<INCOME-TAX>                                      24,648                               22,943      
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               37,274                               32,451      
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0                                1,215       
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0                                    0           
<CHANGES>                                              0                                    0           
<NET-INCOME>                                      37,274                               33,666      
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       0.50                                 0.43        
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       0.50                                 0.43