FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * GERDIN RUSSELL A   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol HEARTLAND EXPRESS INC [HTLD] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director __X__ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Chief Executive Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) 901 NORTH KANSAS AVENUE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 08/19/2011 (Street) NORTH LIBERTY, IA 52317 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) ___ Form filed by One Reporting Person _X_ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 08/19/2011   G(1) V 2,000,000 D $ 0 2,773,194 I By Trust Common Stock 08/19/2011   G(1) V 2,000,000 D $ 0 773,194 I By Trust (2) Common Stock               20,077,561 I By Grats (3) Common Stock               1,936,276 I By GFI, LP (4)

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
GERDIN RUSSELL A 901 NORTH KANSAS AVENUE NORTH LIBERTY, IA 52317	X	X	Chief Executive Officer
Gerdin Ann S 901 NORTH KANSAS AVENUE NORTH LIBERTY, IA 52317				spouse

Signatures

/s/Russell A. Gerdin		08/22/2011
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date
/s/Ann S. Gerdin		08/22/2011
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Ann S. Gerdin transferred 2,000,000 shares each to two grantor retained annuity trusts for her benefit. Michael J. Gerdin serves as trustee over these two GRATS and has no pecuniary interest other than an indirect remainder interest, if any.
(2)	Shares owned by the revocable trusts of the reporting person and his spouse over which the reporting person and his spouse serve as trustees for their respective trusts.
(3)	Shares held by three grantor retained annuity trusts for the benefit of the spouse of the reporting person. Mr. Russell A. Gerdin serves as trustee with respect to each GRAT.
(4)	Gerdin Family Investments, LP (the "GFI") owns a voting trust certificate representing 1,936,276 shares of Heartland Express, Inc. common stock. Mr. and Mrs. Gerdin are general partners of GFI. Although the entire number of shares controlled by GFI is disclosed herein (as permitted by SEC rules), Mr. and Mrs. Gerdin disclaim beneficial ownership of shares in excess of the number attributable to their ownership interest. Mr. and Mrs. Gerdin are not voting trustees and have no power to vote the shares in which GFI has an interest.

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