As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 6, 1998
                                                     Registration No. 333-_____
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, DC 20549
                          ------------------------


                            FORM S-8 and FORM S-3
                        Registration Statement Under
                         The Securities Act of 1933
                          ------------------------


                     SIMON TRANSPORTATION SERVICES INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


                NEVADA                          87-0545608
     (State or other jurisdiction            (I.R.S. Employer
   of incorporation or organization)      Identification Number)
                       ------------------------


                         5175 West 2100 South
                     West Valley City, Utah 84120
                           (801) 268-9100
(Address,  including zip code,  and telephone  number,  including  area code, of
principal executive offices)
                        ------------------------


          Simon Transportation Services Inc. Incentive Stock Plan
                          (Full title of plan)
                        ------------------------


                            RICHARD D. SIMON
               Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer
                     Simon Transportation Services Inc.
                            5175 West 2100 South
                         West Valley City, Utah 84120
                               (801) 268-9100
(Name, address,  including zip code, and telephone number,  including area code,
of agent for service)
                        ------------------------



                              Copies to:
                         Mark A. Scudder, Esq.
                         Scudder Law Firm, P.C.
                   411 South 13th Street, Suite 200
                        Lincoln, Nebraska 68508
                             (402) 435-3223
                        ------------------------


     Approximate date of commencement of proposed sales pursuant to the plan: As
soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

                        ------------------------




                     CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


                                                     Proposed       Proposed Maximum   Amount of
Title of Securities to be Registered Amount to be  Maximum Offering Aggregate Offering Registration
                                     Registered(1) Price per Share  (2)Price (2)       Fee
- ------------------------------------ ------------  ---------------  ---------------    ------------
                                                                               

Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value   600,000        $23.75          $14,250,000        $4,319
==================================== ============  ===============  ===============    ============
<FN>
(1) The Registrant  previously registered 400,000 shares of Class A Common Stock
    for issuance under the Incentive Stock Plan and is registering an additional
    600,000 shares for issuance.
(2) Estimated  pursuant to Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
    (the  "Securities  Act") solely for purposes of calculating the registration
    fee. The price is based upon the average of the high and low prices of Simon
    Transportation  Services Inc.  Class A Common  Stock  on January 5, 1998, as
    reported on the Nasdaq National Market.
</FN>



 

                                                               Page 1 of 10



                      SIMON TRANSPORTATION SERVICES INC.
                            CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
                  Pursuant to Item 501(b) of Regulation S-K

         Form S-3 Item Number                Location in Re-Offer Prospectus

 1.      Forepart of Registration            
         Statement and Outside Front Cover 
         Page of Prospectus...............   Outside Front Cover

 2.      Inside Front and Outside Back 
         Cover Page of Prospectus.........   Table of Contents; Available
                                             Information Concerning Simon
                                             Transportation; Incorporation
                                             of Information by Reference

 3.      Summary Information, Risk Factors, 
         and Ratio of Earnings to Fixed 
         Charges...........................  Not Applicable

 4.      Use of Proceeds...................  Not Applicable

 5.      Determination of Offering Price...  Not Applicable

 6.      Dilution..........................  Not Applicable

 7.      Selling Security Holders..........  Selling Security Holders

 8.      Plan of Distribution..............  Plan of Distribution

 9.      Description of Securities to be
         Registered........................  Not Applicable

10.      Interests of Named Experts and
         Counsel...........................  Not Applicable

11.      Material Changes..................  Not Applicable

12.      Incorporation of Certain
         Information by Reference..........  Incorporation of Information
                                             by Reference

13.      Disclosure of Commission Position
         on Indemnification for Securities
         Act Liabilities...................  Indemnification of Officers
                                             and Directors




                                                               Page 2 of 10




          INCORPORATION OF PRIOR REGISTRATION STATEMENT BY REFERENCE

     Simon Transportation Services Inc. (the "Company"),  hereby incorporates by
reference in this  Registration  Statement the prior  registration  statement on
Form S-8 and S-3  (No.  33-80409),  excluding  Part  II,  Item 3 and the  entire
re-offer   prospectus,   previously  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission (the "Commission").  Under such registration  statement,  the Company
previously  registered 400,000 shares of Class A Common Stock for issuance under
the Simon Transportation Services Inc. Incentive Stock Plan.

                                    Part II

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference

     The Company hereby incorporates by reference in this Registration Statement
the following documents previously filed with the Commission:

   a. The Company's  latest annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission
      on December  8, 1997,  containing  audited  financial  statements  for the
      Company's latest fiscal year; and

   b. The  description of the Company's Class A Common Stock contained under the
      caption  "Description of Capital Stock" in the Company's  prospectus dated
      February 13, 1997 included in the Company's Registration Statement on Form
      S-1 (No. 333-21711), effective February 13, 1997).

     All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  prior
to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement which
indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters
all securities remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
in this  Registration  Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing
of such documents.





                                                               Page 3 of 10


                      SIMON TRANSPORTATION SERVICES INC.
                                600,000 SHARES
                             CLASS A COMMON STOCK
                                Par Value $.01


RE-OFFER PROSPECTUS

     This  Prospectus  relates to the offer and sale of shares of Class A Common
Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Shares"),  of Simon  Transportation
Services Inc. ("Simon  Transportation" or the "Company") issuable (upon exercise
of options or  otherwise)  pursuant to the Company's  Incentive  Stock Plan (the
"Incentive  Plan").  The Incentive Plan Common Shares may be offered hereby from
time to time by any or all of the selling  stockholders  named herein and in one
or more  supplements  hereto (the  "Selling  Stockholders").  The  Company  will
receive  none of the  proceeds  of  this  offering.  All  expenses  incurred  in
connection  with the  preparation  and filing of this Prospectus and the related
Registration Statement are being borne by the Company.

     All or a portion of the Common  Shares  offered  hereby may be offered  for
sale, from time to time, on the Nasdaq National Market, or otherwise,  at prices
and terms then obtainable.  All brokers'  commissions,  concessions or discounts
will be paid by the Selling Stockholders.

     The Common Shares are listed on the Nasdaq National Market.  On January  5,
1998, the average of the high and low prices on the Nasdaq  National  Market was
$23.75 per share.

                           ------------------------


   THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
    AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
         PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
            REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                           ------------------------


               The date of this Prospectus is January 6, 1998.


                                                               Page 4 of 10


                               TABLE OF CONTENTS


Available Information Concerning Simon Transportation........................6
Selling Security Holders.....................................................7
Plan of Distribution.........................................................8
Incorporation of Information by Reference....................................9
Indemnification of Officers and Directors....................................9



                                                               Page 5 of 10


     No  person  has  been  authorized  to give any  information  or to make any
representations,  other than those contained in this  Prospectus,  in connection
with the  offering  made  hereby,  and, if given or made,  such  information  or
representations must not be relied upon. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus
nor  any  offer,   solicitation  or  sale  made  hereunder   shall,   under  any
circumstances,  create  an  implication  that  there  has been no  change in the
affairs of the Company since the date hereof or that the  information  herein is
correct  as of any  time  subsequent  to its  date.  This  Prospectus  does  not
constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation  of an offer to buy any securities
in any  jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make any such offer
or solicitation.

             AVAILABLE INFORMATION CONCERNING SIMON TRANSPORTATION

     Simon  Transportation is subject to the  informational  requirements of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and, in
accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").  Such reports,  proxy
statements and other information may be inspected and copies may be obtained (at
prescribed  rates) at the  Commission's  Public  Reference  Section,  Room 1024,
Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  DC 20549, as well as the
regional  offices at 7 World Trade Center,  Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048
and Citicorp  Center,  500 West Madison Street,  Suite 1400,  Chicago,  Illinois
60661-2511   and  at  the   Web   site   maintained   by   the   Commission   at
http:\\www.sec.gov.  In addition, Simon Transportation's Class A Common Stock is
listed on the Nasdaq National Market,  and certain  reports,  proxy material and
other  information  may be inspected  at such offices at 1735 "K" Street,  N.W.,
Washington,  DC 20006-1500.  Additional updating information with respect to the
securities and the Incentive Plan may be provided to  participants in the future
by means of supplements to this Prospectus.

     This  Prospectus  does not contain all of the  information set forth in the
Registration  Statement of which this Prospectus is a part and which the Company
has filed with the  Commission.  For  further  information  with  respect to the
Company and the securities offered hereby, reference is made to the Registration
Statement,  including the exhibits filed as a part thereof,  copies of which can
be inspected  at, or obtained at  prescribed  rates from,  the Public  Reference
Section of the  Commission at the address set forth above.  Additional  updating
information  with  respect to the Company may be provided in the future by means
of appendices or supplements to this Prospectus.

     Copies of all  information  incorporated  by reference in the  Registration
Statement  of which  this  Prospectus  is a part  (other  than  exhibits  to the
information   that  is  incorporated  by  reference  unless  such  exhibits  are
specifically  incorporated  into the  incorporated  information)  which  are not
included or delivered with this  Prospectus  will be provided  without charge to
each person to whom a  Prospectus  is  delivered  upon  written or oral  request
therefor  to Alban  B.  Lang,  Treasurer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer,  Simon
Transportation  Services  Inc.,  5175 West 2100 South,  West Valley  City,  Utah
84120, 801/268-9100.


                                                               Page 6 of 10


                           SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS


     Common  Shares  may be  offered  pursuant  to this  Prospectus  by  certain
officers and  employees of the Company,  including  those  current  officers and
employees  listed below;  others to be named in one or more  supplements to this
Prospectus who acquire shares (pursuant to the exercise of options or otherwise)
after the date hereof pursuant to the Incentive Plan.


                Name                 Number of Shares
Kelle A. Simon                                125,000
Lyn Simon                                     125,000
Richard D. Simon, Jr.                         125,000
Sherry L. Simon Bokovoy                       125,000
Alban B. Lang                                 125,000
                                     ----------------
TOTAL OPTION SHARES                           625,000

The officers and  employees  listed above have been granted  options to purchase
the number of Common  Shares  listed  opposite  their  names.  The first of such
options became exercisable on June 1, 1996. Of such individuals, Kelle A. Simon,
Lyn Simon,  Sherry L. Simon  Bokovoy,  Richard D. Simon,  Jr., and Alban B. Lang
each  presently  own  approximately  one  percent of the  Company's  outstanding
capital stock (excluding the options listed above),  and would own approximately
three  percent of the Company's  outstanding  capital stock upon exercise of all
options   granted.   At  the  date  of  this  Prospectus   options  to  purchase
approximately  100,834 Common Shares have been granted to  non-affiliates  under
the Incentive Plan.


                                                               Page 7 of 10


                             PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION


     The Selling  Stockholders  may sell Common  Shares in any of the  following
ways: (i) through dealers; (ii) through agents; or (iii) directly to one or more
purchasers.  The  distribution of the Common Shares may be effected from time to
time in one or more transactions on the Nasdaq National Market (or on such other
national stock  exchanges or interdealer  quotation  systems on which the Common
Shares  may be traded  from  time to time) in  transactions  which  may  include
special  offerings,   exchange  distributions  and/or  secondary   distributions
pursuant to and in accordance with the rules of such exchanges, otherwise in the
over-the-counter  market,  or in transactions  other than on such markets,  or a
combination  of such  transactions.  Any such  transactions  may be  effected at
market  prices  prevailing  at the  time of  sale,  at  prices  related  to such
prevailing market prices,  at negotiated prices or at fixed prices.  The Selling
Stockholders may effect such transactions by selling Common Shares to or through
broker-dealers,  and such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of
discounts,  concessions  or  commissions  from the Selling  Stockholders  and/or
commissions from purchasers of Common Shares for whom they may act as agent. The
Selling  Stockholders and any  broker-dealers  or agents that participate in the
distribution  of Common Shares by them might be deemed to be  underwriters,  and
any discounts, commissions or concessions received by any such broker-dealers or
agents might be deemed to be underwriting  discountsand  commissions,  under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").


                                                               Page 8 of 10


                   INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

     The following  documents  previously filed with the Commission on behalf of
the Company are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

            The  description  of the  Company's  Class A Common Stock  contained
      under  the  caption  "Description  of  Capital  Stock"  in  the  Company's
      prospectus dated February 13, 1997 included in the Company's  Registration
      Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-21711, effective February 13, 1997).

            All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
      13(a),  13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
      post-effective  amendment to this  registration  statement which indicates
      that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all
      securities  remaining  unsold,  shall  be  deemed  to be  incorporated  by
      reference in this registration  statement and to be a part hereof from the
      date of filing of such documents.

                   INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

     The Nevada  General  Corporation  Law provides for the  indemnification  of
officers and directors (and others) under certain circumstances against expenses
incurred  in  successfully  defending  against  a claim  and  authorizes  Nevada
corporations   to  indemnify   their   officers  and  directors   under  certain
circumstances  against  expenses and liabilities  incurred in legal  proceedings
involving  such  persons  because  of their  being or having  been an officer or
director.

     Article VII of the Company's Articles and Article X of the Company's Bylaws
provide that the Company's  directors and officers shall be indemnified  against
liabilities  they may incur  while  serving in such  capacities  to the  fullest
extent   allowed  by  the  Nevada   General   Corporation   Law.   Under   these
indemnification  provisions,  the Company is required to indemnify its directors
and  officers  against  any  reasonable  expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees)
incurred  by them in the  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding,  whether
civil,  criminal,  administrative  or  investigative,  to which they were made a
party,  or in defense of any claim,  issue or matter  therein,  by reason of the
fact that they are or were a  director  or  officer  of the  Company  or while a
director or officer of the Company are or were serving at the Company's  request
as  a  director,  officer,  partner,  trustee,  employee  of  agent  or  another
corporation,  partnership,  joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise  unless  it  is  ultimately   determined  by  a  court  of  competent
jurisdiction  that they failed to act in a manner they believed in good faith to
be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and with respect to
any criminal  proceeding,  had  reasonable  cause to believe  their  conduct was
lawful.  The Company will advance expenses  incurred by directors or officers in
defending  any  such  action,   suit  or  proceeding  upon  receipt  of  written
confirmation  from  such  officers  or  directors  that  they  have met  certain
standards  of conduct  and an  undertaking  by or on behalf of such  officers or
directors to repay such  advances if it is ultimately  determined  that they are
not  entitled  to  indemnification  by the  Company.  The Company  may,  through
indemnification   agreements,   insurance,  or  otherwise,   provide  additional
indemnification.

     Article VI of the  Company's  Articles  eliminates,  to the fullest  extent
permitted by law, the  liability of directors and officers for monetary or other
damages for breach of fiduciary  duties to the Company and its stockholders as a
director or officer.

     The Company has obtained  insurance to protect itself and its directors and
officers  against  expense or loss arising from any action,  suit, or proceeding
brought by reason of the fact that any  person is a  director  or officer of the
Company. In addition,  the Company has entered into  indemnification  agreements
with its  officers  and  directors  pursuant to which it has agreed to indemnify
such  individuals to the maximum  extent  permitted by law and not to reduce any
rights of such individuals retrospectively.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted  to officers,  directors,  or persons  controlling  the Company
pursuant to the foregoing provisions,  the Company has been informed that in the
opinion of the  Commission  such  indemnification  is against  public  policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.


                                                               Page 9 of 10


                                  SIGNATURES

     The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the  requirements  for  filing on Form  S-8,  which  includes  a Form S-3
re-offer  prospectus,  and has duly caused  this  registration  statement  to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunder duly authorized, in the City
of West Valley City, State of Utah on December 19, 1997.

                                          SIMON TRANSPORTATION SERVICES INC.


                                          By:   /s/ Alban B. Lang
                                                Alban B. Lang, Treasurer & Chief
                                                Financial Officer

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Each person whose signature appears below hereby appoints Richard D. Simon,
Alban B. Lang, and Irene Warr, and each of them, as attorneys-in-fact  with full
power of substitution, to execute in their respective names, individually and in
each capacity stated below,  any and all amendments  (including  post- effective
amendments) to this Registration  Statement as the  attorney-in-fact and to file
any such amendment to the Registration Statement, exhibits thereto and documents
required in connection  therewith with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission,
granting  unto said  attorneys-in-fact  and their  substitutes,  full  power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in connection therewith,  as fully as he might or could do in person,
hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and their
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     Pursuant  to  the   requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


Signatures                      Title                       Date
/s/ Richard D. Simon    Chairman of the Board, President,
Richard D. Simon        and Chief Executive Officer; 
                        Director (principal executive
                        officer)                            December 19, 1997
/s/ Alban B. Lang       Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer,
Alban B. Lang           and Secretary; Director (principal 
                        financial and accounting officer)   December 19, 1997
/s/ Irene Warr
Irene Warr              Director                            December 19, 1997
/s/ H. J. Frazier
H. J. Frazier           Director                            December 19, 1997
/s/ Kelle A. Simon
Kelle A. Simon.         Director                            December 19, 1997
/s/ Lyn Simon
Lyn Simon               Director                            December 19, 1997
/s/ Richard D. Simon, Jr.
Richard D. Simon, Jr.   Director                            December 19, 1997
/s/ Sherry L. Simon
    Bokovoy
Sherry L. Simon Bokovoy Director                            December 19, 1997


                                   EXHIBITS


Exhibit No.                               Exhibit
5.1         Opinion of Scudder Law Firm,  P.C. as to the  validity of the shares
            of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
23.1        Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
23.3        Consent of Scudder Law Firm, P.C. (contained in Exhibit 5.1 hereto)
24          Power  of  Attorney  (contained  in  the  signature  pages  to  this
            Registration Statement)

                                                            Page 10 of 10