<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 OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
     1998 (RESTATED FOR DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS) AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
     ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                         138,353
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  559,141
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    67,605
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,109,699
<PP&E>                                         6,315,763
<DEPRECIATION>                                 2,505,843
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 5,708,601
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          1,362,664
<BONDS>                                        2,099,697
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       610,543
<OTHER-SE>                                     485,071
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   5,708,601
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               4,606,978
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  4,214,626
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             187,786
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                204,564
<INCOME-TAX>                                   76,752
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            127,812
<DISCONTINUED>                                 31,259
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   159,071
<EPS-BASIC>                                  2.18<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  2.16
<FN>
<F1>TAG (EPS-PRIMARY DENOTES BASIC EPS)
</FN>