5

THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF FORWARD AIR CORPORATION FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

1,000 9-MOS DEC-31-1998 JAN-01-1998 SEP-30-1998 96 0 20,172 925 0 21,680 38,906 9,219 54,854 14,221 0 0 0 63 15,782 54,854 0 92,943 0 82,237 (13) 0 661 10,058 3,858 6,200 965 0 0 7,165 1.16 1.12