<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 SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1998
AND JUNE 30, 1997 (RESTATED FOR DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS) AND IS QUALIFIED IN 
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                               1,000            
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS             6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    Dec-31-1998       Dec-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                       Jan-01-1998       Jan-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                         Jun-30-1998       Jun-30-1997
<CASH>                                    73,731           117,798
<SECURITIES>                                   0                 0
<RECEIVABLES>                            587,164           593,033
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0                 0
<INVENTORY>                               67,591            62,356
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,089,267         1,103,905
<PP&E>                                 6,284,185         6,442,063
<DEPRECIATION>                         2,431,229         2,575,378
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                         5,673,517         5,643,182
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                  1,018,259         1,255,168
<BONDS>                                2,449,608         2,130,614
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0                 0
<PREFERRED>                                    0                 0
<COMMON>                                 309,189           471,498
<OTHER-SE>                               791,736           665,111
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>           5,673,517         5,643,182
<SALES>                                        0                 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                       2,527,194         2,421,118
<CGS>                                          0                 0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                          2,292,458         2,196,232
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0                 0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0                 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        97,511            96,664
<INCOME-PRETAX>                          137,225           128,222
<INCOME-TAX>                              54,684            52,443
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       82,541            75,779
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0             7,922
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0                 0
<CHANGES>                                      0                 0
<NET-INCOME>                              82,541            83,701
<EPS-PRIMARY>                               1.12              1.08<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                               1.10              1.07
<FN>
<F1>TAG (EPS - PRIMARY DENOTES BASIC EPS)
</FN>