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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VXW908H+qiQWoh84ZNktb9xMHSFug3uUJuMh+/bK5vT17hWrCdMzVOQcvXIs8JFu
 jUfBewcnvFwfvzCiWJeSIg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001008886-03-000164.txt : 20030811
<SEC-HEADER>0001008886-03-000164.hdr.sgml : 20030811
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030811182439
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001008886-03-000164
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030808
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030811

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:			RILEY WILLIAM F III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001227569
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TRUCKING (NO LOCAL) [4213]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18605
		FILM NUMBER:		03835555

	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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rileyform4_ex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 WILLIAM RILEY
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-08-08</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000863557</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SWIFT TRANSPORTATION CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SWFT</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001227569</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RILEY WILLIAM F III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2200 SOUTH 75TH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHOENIX</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85043</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>Sr Exec Vice President</officerTitle>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-08-08</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>125000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>293854</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>2700</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>By Spouse</value>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> The reporting person entered into a specialized term appreciation retention sale contract with an unaffiliated third party pursuant to which 125,000 shares of the issuer's common stock were pledged. The initial share price under the contract was $20.87. The contract has a term of five years. At the expiration of the contract, the reporting person must deliver an agreed settlement amount, which may be paid in cash, shares, or a combination of the two. The reporting person does not admit the transaction was a sale for purposes of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ William F. Riley III</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-08-11</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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