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):
                                 April 17, 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 April 17, 2003
with respect to the Company's  financial results for the quarter ended March 31,
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 April 17, 2003, Heartland Express,  Inc. announced its financial results
for the quarter  ended March 31, 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 its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                                      HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.

Date: April 17, 2003                                  BY: /s/ John P. Cosaert
                                                      -----------------------
                                                      JOHN P. COSAERT
                                                      Vice-President
                                                      Finance and Treasurer







                                Exhibit No. 99.1
Thursday, April 17, 2003, For Immediate Release
Press Release
Heartland  Express,  Inc. Reports Revenues and Earnings for the First Quarter of
2003.

CORALVILLE,  IOWA - April 17,  2003 - Heartland  Express,  Inc.  (Nasdaq:  HTLD)
announced  today  financial  results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003.
Gross  revenues  for the quarter  increased  29.4% to $94.8  million  from $73.3
million  in the first  quarter  of 2002.  Net  income  increased  15.9% to $11.0
million  from $9.5  million in the 2002  period.  Basic  earnings per share were
$0.22  compared to $0.19 for the first quarter of 2002.  Gross  revenues for the
first quarter of 2003 were increased by fuel surcharge revenues.

For the quarter,  Heartland  Express,  Inc. posted an operating ratio (operating
expenses as a  percentage  of gross  revenues) of 82.9% and an 11.7% net margin.
These  operating  results  were  achieved in spite of record  high fuel  prices,
adverse weather conditions in the East, and an uncertain economy.

The Company ended the first quarter with cash, cash equivalents, and investments
of $150.7 million,  a $3.2 million  decrease from the $153.9 million reported on
December 31, 2002. The Company's balance sheet continues to be debt-free.

During the quarter the Company acquired  facilities in Columbus,  Ohio and Olive
Branch,  Mississippi.  The  acquisition  of these  facilities  resulted from the
growth of our regional  operations.  The Columbus  facility  replaces our former
terminal  location  and  positions us for  continued  growth in the East Central
region of the United  States.  The  purchase of the Olive  Branch  location is a
result of our expansion into the Memphis,  Tennessee and Southern  United States
regional market.

The Company  renegotiated  its personal injury,  property  damage,  and workers'
compensation   insurance   policies  effective  April  1,  2003.  The  Company's
self-insurance  exposure  increased  to $2.0  million  from  $500,000  for  each
occurrence   involving   personal  injury  or  property  damage.  The  Company's
self-insurance for workers'  compensation  continues to be a maximum of $500,000
per occurrence.

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
                                                             March 31,
                                                        2003            2002
                                                   ------------    ------------
                                                             
OPERATING REVENUE ..............................   $ 94,839,735    $ 73,270,242
                                                   ------------    ------------

OPERATING EXPENSES:

  Salaries, wages, benefits ....................   $ 32,312,307    $ 23,274,625

  Rent and purchased transportation ............     13,953,071      14,924,660

  Operations and maintenance ...................     19,310,180      11,427,919

  Taxes and licenses ...........................      1,873,406       1,607,108

  Insurance and claims .........................      2,370,993       1,842,075

  Communications and utilities .................        893,845         669,994

  Depreciation .................................      5,367,543       3,900,129

  Other operating expenses .....................      2,554,772       1,923,805

  (Gain)/loss on disposal of fixed assets ......         (3,661)          6,616
                                                   ------------    ------------

                                                   $ 78,632,456    $ 59,576,931
                                                   ------------    ------------

       Operating income ........................   $ 16,207,279    $ 13,693,311

  Interest income ..............................        538,617         758,109
                                                   ------------    ------------

  Income before income taxes ...................   $ 16,745,896    $ 14,451,420

  Federal and state income taxes ...............      5,693,604       4,913,483
                                                   ------------    ------------

  Net income ...................................   $ 11,052,292    $  9,537,937
                                                   ============    ============

  Basic earnings per share .....................   $       0.22    $       0.19
                                                   ============    ============

  Basic weighted average shares
  Outstanding ..................................     50,000,000      50,000,000
                                                   ============    ============

                             HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.
                                AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS



                        ASSETS
                                                    March 31,      December 31,
                                                      2003             2002
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                  (unaudited)
                                                            
CURRENT ASSETS

  Cash and short term investments ............   $ 150,702,250    $ 153,861,422
  Trade receivables ..........................      36,747,277       33,012,394
  Prepaid tires ..............................       4,369,630        4,757,850
  Deferred income taxes ......................      23,096,000       21,134,000
  Other current assets .......................       5,316,104          620,344
                                                 -------------    -------------
     Total current assets ....................   $ 220,231,261    $ 213,386,010
                                                 -------------    -------------
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT .......................   $ 215,764,221    $ 191,116,893
  Less accumulated depreciation ..............      44,111,066       39,715,307
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 171,653,155    $ 151,401,586
                                                 -------------    -------------
     OTHER ASSETS ............................   $   8,244,731    $   8,320,593
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 400,129,147    $ 373,108,189
                                                 =============    =============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
   Accounts payable & accrued liabilities ....   $  11,399,482    $   8,632,810
   Accrued expenses ..........................      54,146,869       52,386,322
   Income taxes payable.......................      14,423,985        6,070,318
                                                 -------------    -------------
     Total current liabilities ...............   $  79,970,336    $  67,089,450
                                                 -------------    -------------
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES ........................   $  33,077,000    $  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 .........................     279,541,263      268,488,971
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 288,645,025    $ 277,592,733
   Less unearned compensation ................      (1,563,214)      (1,662,994)
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 287,081,811    $ 275,929,739
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 400,129,147    $ 373,108,189
                                                 =============    =============

                                 END OF REPORT