FORWARD AIR THIRD QUARTER NET INCOME DROPS 34%

FORWARD AIR THIRD QUARTER NET INCOME DROPS 34%    Forward Air Corp. reported a third-quarter net income of $4.1 million, 34 percent lower than the prior-year quarter.
   Operating revenue for the quarter was $53.4 million compared with $53.7 million for the same quarter in 2000. Operating income was $6.5 million 34 percent lower than the prior-year quarter.
   Net income through the first nine months of 2001 was $15.3 million compared with $16.9 million in the prior-year period.
   Operating revenue for the nine months was $171.0 million a 9-percent increase from the same period in 2000. Operating income for the period dropped 9 percent to $24.4 million
      Forward Air Corp. provides time-definite service in the United States and Canada.