<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
     RYDER SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED
     BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF EARNINGS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER
     30, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
     STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                         315,036
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  671,457
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    64,866
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,353,806
<PP&E>                                         6,124,614
<DEPRECIATION>                                 2,085,535
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 6,254,697
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          1,806,724
<BONDS>                                        1,874,822
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       589,648
<OTHER-SE>                                     812,579
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   6,254,697
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               3,630,420
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  3,379,002
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             144,141
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                107,277
<INCOME-TAX>                                   40,701
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            66,576
<DISCONTINUED>                                 347,181
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   413,757
<EPS-BASIC>                                  5.89<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  5.87
<FN>
<F1>TAG (EPS-PRIMARY DENOTES BASIC EPS)
</FN>