SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 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 report): July 27, 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 5.  Other Events.


     On July 21, 2004,  the Board of Directors of Heartland  Express,  Inc. (the
"Company") declared a 50% stock dividend,  in the amount of 25,000,000 shares of
common stock,  par value $0.01,  to be distributed to  stockholders of record on
August 9, 2004, prorated to stock ownership, with one share issued for every two
shares owned on the record date. Fractional shares will be settled by payment of
cash in lieu of issuance of shares.  The stock  dividend  will be paid on August
20, 2004.

     The stock  issued  pursuant to this  dividend is a new issue of  25,000,000
shares.  The Company's  retained  earnings will be reduced by $250,000.00 with a
corresponding increase of capital stock outstanding of $250,000.00. The dividend
issued will  increase the total number of the Company's  issued and  outstanding
shares from 50,000,000 to 75,000,000.

     The purpose of the stock dividend is to increase liquidity for stockholders
of the Company.


                                   SIGNATURES


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: July 27, 2004                                 BY: /s/ John P. Cosaert
                                                    JOHN P. COSAERT
                                                    Vice-President
                                                    Finance and Treasurer



                                 End of Report