UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
         --------------------------------------------------------------


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                                  July 16, 2003


                             HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                        Commission File Number - 0-15087


            NEVADA                                               93-0926999
(State of other Jurisdiction                               (IRS Employer ID No.)
        of Incorporation)

2777 HEARTLAND DRIVE, CORALVILLE, IOWA                             52241
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                         (Zip Code)


        Registrant's Telephone Number (including area code): 319-545-2728












Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)      Exhibits

     Exhibit 99.1 - Heartland  Express,  Inc.  press release dated July 16, 2003
with respect to the Company's  financial  results for the quarter ended June 30,
2003.

Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure  (Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial
         Condition)

     The  following  information  is being  furnished  under Item 12 of Form 8-K
"Results of Operations and Financial  Condition" and is included under this Item
9 in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8216 (March 27, 2003).

     On July 16, 2003,  Heartland Express,  Inc. announced its financial results
for the quarter  ended June 30, 2003.  The press  release is attached as Exhibit
99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on behalf by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.

                                                      HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.

Date: July 16, 2003                                   BY: /s/ John P. Cosaert
                                                      -----------------------
                                                      JOHN P. COSAERT
                                                      Vice-President
                                                      Finance and Treasurer













                                Exhibit No. 99.1

Wednesday, July 16, 2003, For Immediate Release

Press Release

Heartland Express,  Inc. Reports Revenues and Earnings for the Second Quarter of
2003.

CORALVILLE,  IOWA - July 16,  2003 -  Heartland  Express,  Inc.  (Nasdaq:  HTLD)
announced  today  financial  results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2003.
Gross  revenues  for the quarter  increased  21.9% to $102.8  million from $84.4
million in the  second  quarter of 2002.  Net  income  increased  14.6% to $12.6
million  from $11.0  million in the 2002 period.  Basic  earnings per share were
$0.25 compared to $0.22 for the second  quarter of 2002.  Gross revenues for the
second quarter of 2003 were increased by fuel surcharge revenues.

For the six months,  revenue  increased  25.4% to $197.6 from $157.6  during the
same period in 2002.  Net income  increased  15.2% to $23.7  million  from $20.6
million in the 2002 period.  Basic  earnings per share were $0.47  compared with
$0.41 for the 2002 period.

For the quarter,  Heartland  Express,  Inc. posted an operating ratio (operating
expenses as a percentage of gross revenues) of 81.9% and a 12.3% net margin. The
Company  ended the six months  ended June 30,  2003 with an  operating  ratio of
82.4% and a 12.0% net margin.

The  Company  ended  the  second  quarter  with  cash,  cash  equivalents,   and
investments of $163.5 million,  a $9.6 million  increase from the $153.9 million
reported on December 31,  2002.  The  Company's  balance  sheet  continues to be
debt-free.

This  press  release  may  contain   statements  that  might  be  considered  as
forward-looking statements or predictions of future operations.  Such statements
are based on  management's  belief or  interpretation  of information  currently
available.   These   statements  and  assumptions   involve  certain  risks  and
uncertainties.  Actual  events may differ from these  expectations  as specified
from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                        Contact: Heartland Express, Inc.
                                  John Cosaert
                                  319-545-2728







                             HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.
                                AND SUBSIDIARIES
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                   (UNAUDITED)



                                                      Three months ended               Six months ended
                                                           June 30,                         June 30,

                                                     2003             2002            2003             2002

                                                                                      
OPERATING REVENUE ...........................   $ 102,799,789    $  84,359,840   $ 197,639,524    $ 157,630,082
                                                -------------    -------------   -------------    -------------

OPERATING EXPENSES:

   Salaries, wages, benefits ................   $  35,190,604    $  26,315,038   $  67,502,911    $  49,589,663

   Rent and purchased transportation ........      13,151,043       16,738,604      27,104,114       31,663,264

   Operations and maintenance ...............      18,141,646       13,651,365      37,451,826       25,079,284

   Taxes and licenses .......................       2,125,293        1,689,400       3,998,699        3,296,508

   Insurance and claims .....................       4,164,378        2,895,068       6,535,371        4,737,143

   Communications and utilities .............         923,038          659,332       1,816,883        1,329,326

   Depreciation .............................       6,926,441        4,461,581      12,293,984        8,361,710

   Other operating expenses .................       3,551,159        1,866,942       6,105,931        3,790,747

   (Gain) loss on disposal of fixed assets ..         (27,110)          99,390         (30,771)         106,006
                                                -------------    -------------   -------------    -------------

                                                $  84,146,492    $  68,376,720   $ 162,778,948    $ 127,953,651
                                                -------------    -------------   -------------    -------------

       Operating income .....................   $  18,653,297    $  15,983,120   $  34,860,576    $  29,676,431

   Interest income ..........................         492,404          722,163       1,031,021        1,480,272
                                                -------------    -------------   -------------    -------------

   Income before income taxes ...............   $  19,145,701    $  16,705,283   $  35,891,597    $  31,156,703

   Federal and state income taxes                   6,509,537        5,679,795      12,203,141       10,593,278
                                                -------------    -------------   -------------    -------------

   Net income ...............................   $  12,636,164    $  11,025,488   $  23,688,456    $  20,563,425
                                                =============    =============   =============    =============
   Earnings per common share:

       Basic earnings per share .............   $        0.25    $        0.22   $        0.47    $        0.41
                                                =============    =============   =============    =============
   Basic weighted average shares
   outstanding ..............................      50,000,000       50,000,000      50,000,000       50,000,000
                                                =============    =============   =============    =============




                             HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC
                                AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                        ASSETS


                                                    June 30,       December 31,
                                                      2003             2002
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                  (unaudited)
CURRENT ASSETS

                                                            
  Cash and short term investments ............   $ 163,465,665    $ 153,861,422
  Trade receivables ..........................      37,477,718       33,012,394
  Prepaid tires ..............................       3,820,940        4,757,850
  Deferred income taxes ......................      23,028,000       21,134,000
  Other current assets .......................       3,510,420          620,344
                                                 -------------    -------------
    Total current assets .....................   $ 231,302,743    $ 213,386,010
                                                 -------------    -------------

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT .......................   $ 223,223,601    $ 191,116,893
    Less accumulated depreciation ............      48,896,595       39,715,307
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 174,327,006    $ 151,401,586
                                                 -------------    -------------
    OTHER ASSETS .............................   $   8,621,190    $   8,320,593
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 414,250,939    $ 373,108,189
                                                 =============    =============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES
  Accounts payable & accrued liabilities .....   $   9,759,451    $   8,632,810
  Accrued expenses ...........................      57,409,527       52,386,322
  Income taxes payable........................      12,464,206        6,070,318
                                                 -------------    -------------
    Total current liabilities ................   $  79,633,184    $  67,089,450
                                                 -------------    -------------
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES ........................   $  34,800,000    $  30,089,000
                                                 -------------    -------------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Capital stock: Common, $.01 par value;
  authorized 395,000,000 shares; issued and
  outstanding 50,000,000 .....................   $     500,000    $     500,000
     Additional paid-in capital...............       8,603,762        8,603,762
     Retained earnings .......................     292,177,427      268,488,971
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 301,281,189    $ 277,592,733
     Less unearned compensation ..............      (1,463,434)      (1,662,994)
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 299,817,755    $ 275,929,739
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 414,250,939    $ 373,108,189
                                                 =============    =============



                                 END OF FILING