Exhibit 5


                      [LANDAIR SERVICES INC. LETTERHEAD]


May 16, 1996

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC  20549

RE:      Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I serve as General Counsel to Landair Services, Inc., a Tennessee corporation
(the "Registrant"), and am acting in such capacity in connection with the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 180,000 shares of
the Registrant's $.01 par value Common Stock (the "Shares"). The Shares are
being registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") for issuance
pursuant to a non-employee director stock option award and the Landair Services,
Inc. Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the "Plans"), which are exhibits
to the Registration Statement. I am familiar with the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus that forms a part of the Registration Statement.

Based on my review of the relevant documents and materials, it is my opinion
that when the Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by order
of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Shares shall have been issued
and sold upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Registration Statement
and the Plans, the Shares will then be legally issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.

I hereby consent to the inclusion of my opinion as Exhibit 5 to the Registration
Statement and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement. In giving this consent, I do not admit that I am within the category
of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,


/s/ Richard H. Roberts
Richard H. Roberts
General Counsel