-----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,
 JJknPhOpBlKZfnrSJ5ZrX5UVXQORMywbwBiBFxCwyoXDuK1pRjtcBmmYQ+EkPqwF
 9uXioJJlRJBIL5CiWdYzvw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-007102.txt : 20040401
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-007102.hdr.sgml : 20040401
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040401104627
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-007102
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040331
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040401

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEWART & STEVENSON SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000094328
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ENGINES & TURBINES [3510]
		IRS NUMBER:				741051605
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2707 N LOOP W
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77008
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7138687700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 1637
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77251-1637

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BIAR L SCOTT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214051

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11443
		FILM NUMBER:		04708082

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 1637
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77251-1637
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000094328</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STEWART &amp; STEVENSON SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SVC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214051</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BIAR L SCOTT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 1637</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77251-1637</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Controller &amp; CAO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.62</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-03-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-03-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The stock option becomes exercisable in four equal annual installments commencing 3/31/05.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Rita Schaulat, attorney-in-fact for Louis Scott Biar</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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