-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 H3jB3VYabYRaAENvQHaHyVLQaUYr5SJcBW3AbpivYAJXTNu7SzJzF8sNjLfDBmpB
 Iumjj2eL2bjIhNVWEvwP9Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000863557-06-000008.txt : 20060512
<SEC-HEADER>0000863557-06-000008.hdr.sgml : 20060512
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060512172344
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000863557-06-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060509
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060512
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060512

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SWIFT TRANSPORTATION CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000863557
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TRUCKING (NO LOCAL) [4213]
		IRS NUMBER:				860666860
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2200 SOUTH 75TH AVENUE
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85043
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6022699700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2200 SOUTH 75TH AVENUE
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85043

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Schumaker Bryan Robert
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001362345

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18605
		FILM NUMBER:		06836167

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		623-907-7480

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2200 S. 75TH AVE.
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85043
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-05-09</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000863557</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SWIFT TRANSPORTATION CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>swft</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001362345</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Schumaker Bryan Robert</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2200 S. 75TH AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHOENIX</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85043</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Vice President and Controller</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.65</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-04-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-04-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.65</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-09-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.02</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-09-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-04-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock option award, which vests 20% a year over 5 years.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Fully vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bryan R. Schumaker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----