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 22, 2004


                             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

     Exhibit 99.1 - Heartland  Express,  Inc.  press release dated July 22, 2004
with respect to the Company's  financial  results for the quarter ended June 30,
2004.

Item 12.   Results of Operations and Financial Condition.


     On July 22, 2004,  Heartland Express,  Inc. announced its financial results
for the quarter  ended June 30, 2004.  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 22, 2004                                 BY: /s/ John P. Cosaert
                                                    -----------------------
                                                    JOHN P. COSAERT
                                                    Vice-President
                                                    Finance and Treasurer











                                Exhibit No. 99.1

Thursday, July 22, 2004, For Immediate Release

Press Release

Heartland Express,  Inc. Reports Revenues and Earnings for the Second Quarter of
2004.

CORALVILLE,  IOWA - July 22,  2004 -  Heartland  Express,  Inc.  (Nasdaq:  HTLD)
announced  today  financial  results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2004.
Gross  revenues for the quarter  increased  10.4% to $113.5  million from $102.8
million in the  second  quarter of 2003.  Net  income  increased  24.2% to $15.7
million  from $12.6  million in the 2003 period.  Basic  earnings per share were
$0.31 compared to $0.25 for the second quarter of 2003.

For the six months,  revenue  increased  11.5% to $220.3 from $197.6  during the
same period in 2003.  Net income  increased  21.7% to $28.8  million  from $23.7
million in the 2003 period.  Basic  earnings per share were $0.58  compared with
$0.47 for the 2003 period.

For the quarter,  Heartland  Express,  Inc. posted an operating ratio (operating
expenses as a percentage of gross revenues) of 79.3% and a 13.8% net margin. The
Company  ended the six months  ended June 30,  2004 with an  operating  ratio of
80.4% and a 13.1% net margin.

The  Company  ended  the  second  quarter  with  cash,  cash  equivalents,   and
investments of $229.1 million,  a $26.7 million increase from the $202.4 million
reported on December 31,  2003.  The  Company's  balance  sheet  continues to be
debt-free.  The Company opened its newly  acquired  (December,  2003)  Carlisle,
Pennsylvania  facility  in June,  2004.  This  location  is much larger than the
previously  leased  facility and will provide a solid base of  operations in the
Northeast.

In June,  2004 the Company began the  replacement of their entire tractor fleet.
The current fleet will be replaced with the International  9400i.  Currently the
Company has taken delivery of 315 new Internationals. The delivery of new trucks
and the trade-in of the current  fleet are scheduled to be completed by December
31, 2006. In addition,  the Company purchased 400 new Wabash trailers during the
second quarter of 2004.

During  the  quarter,  Heartland  Express  declared  a  regular  quarterly  cash
dividend.  The  quarterly  dividend of $1,000,000 at the rate of $0.02 per share
was paid on July 2, 2004 to  shareholders  of record at the close of business on
June 21, 2004.

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,

                                             2004             2003             2004            2003

                                                                               
OPERATING REVENUE ...................   $ 113,511,541    $ 102,799,789    $ 220,348,453    $ 197,639,524
                                        -------------    -------------    -------------    -------------

OPERATING EXPENSES:

   Salaries, wages, benefits ........   $  39,091,825    $  35,190,604    $  78,857,921    $  67,502,911

   Rent and purchased transportation        9,522,915       13,151,043       20,041,540       27,104,114

   Operations and maintenance .......      22,710,926       18,141,646       43,656,478       37,451,826

   Taxes and licenses ...............       2,204,958        2,125,293        4,495,240        3,998,699

   Insurance and claims .............       5,395,577        4,164,378        7,892,218        6,535,371

   Communications and utilities .....         980,349          923,038        1,942,532        1,816,883

   Depreciation .....................       6,757,757        6,926,441       13,371,461       12,293,984

   Other operating expenses .........       3,411,410        3,551,159        6,915,444        6,105,931

   (Gain) on disposal of fixed assets         (65,638)         (27,110)        (101,889)         (30,771)
                                        -------------    -------------    -------------    -------------

                                        $  90,010,079    $  84,146,492    $ 177,070,945    $ 162,778,948
                                        -------------    -------------    -------------    -------------

              Operating income ......   $  23,501,462    $  18,653,297    $  43,277,508    $  34,860,576

   Interest income ..................         651,871          492,404        1,219,387        1,031,021
                                        -------------    -------------    -------------    -------------

   Income before income taxes .......   $  24,153,333    $  19,145,701    $  44,496,895    $  35,891,597

   Federal and state income taxes ...       8,453,664        6,509,537       15,675,629       12,203,141
                                        -------------    -------------    -------------    -------------

   Net income .......................   $  15,699,669    $  12,636,164    $  28,821,266    $  23,688,456
                                        =============    =============    =============    =============

   Earnings per common share:

       Basic earnings per share .....   $        0.31    $        0.25    $        0.58    $        0.47
                                        =============    =============    =============    =============

   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,
                                                     2004             2003
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                  (unaudited)
CURRENT ASSETS

                                                            
     Cash and short term investments .........   $ 229,089,575    $ 202,431,155
     Trade receivables .......................      38,065,754       36,836,728
     Prepaid tires ...........................       2,113,480        2,529,580
     Deferred income taxes ...................      24,467,000       21,308,000
     Other current assets ....................       3,611,629          673,101
                                                 -------------    -------------
                  Total current assets........   $ 297,347,438    $ 263,778,564
                                                 -------------    -------------

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT .......................   $ 241,470,443    $ 232,650,992
     Less accumulated depreciation ...........      65,500,979       56,951,186
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 175,969,464    $ 175,699,806
                                                 -------------    -------------
      OTHER ASSETS ...........................   $   8,796,373    $   8,928,186
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 482,113,275    $ 448,406,556
                                                 =============    =============

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY


CURRENT LIABILITIES
     Accounts payable & accrued liabilities ..   $  13,612,430    $  15,684,826
     Accrued expenses ........................      61,597,080       53,724,940
     Income taxes payable ....................       8,514,370        7,720,875
                                                 -------------    -------------
             Total current liabilities .......   $  83,723,880    $  77,130,641
                                                 -------------    -------------

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES ........................   $  39,862,000    $  39,760,000
                                                 -------------    -------------

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................      8,510,305        8,510,305
     Retained earnings ........................    350,531,562      323,710,296
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 359,541,867    $ 332,720,601
     Less unearned compensation ...............     (1,014,472)      (1,204,686)
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 358,527,395    $ 331,515,915
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 482,113,275    $ 448,406,556
                                                 =============    =============




                                 End of Report