<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000928658 <NAME> COVENANT TRANSPORT, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. Dollars <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-1-1999 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.0 <CASH> 1046 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 79827 <ALLOWANCES> 1040 <INVENTORY> 3046 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 99302 <PP&E> 349672 <DEPRECIATION> 80638 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 383974 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 32211 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 126 <OTHER-SE> 24 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 383974 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 472741 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 430051 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5513 <INCOME-PRETAX> 37177 <INCOME-TAX> 14900 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 22277 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 22277 <EPS-BASIC> 1.49 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.48