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 18, 2005


                             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 9.01.   Financial Statements and Exhibits

     Exhibit 99.1 - Heartland  Express,  Inc.  press release dated July 18, 2005
with respect to the Company's  financial  results for the quarter ended June 30,
2005.

Item 2.02.   Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

     On July 18, 2005,  Heartland Express,  Inc. announced its financial results
for the quarter  ended June 30, 2005.  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 18, 2005                                BY: /s/ John P. Cosaert
                                                   -----------------------
                                                   JOHN P. COSAERT
                                                   Vice-President
                                                   Finance and Treasurer





























                                Exhibit No. 99.1


Monday, July 18, 2005, For Immediate Release

Press Release

Heartland Express,  Inc. Reports Revenues and Earnings for the Second Quarter of
2005.

CORALVILLE,  IOWA - July 18,  2005 -  Heartland  Express,  Inc.  (Nasdaq:  HTLD)
announced  today  financial  results for the quarter ended June 30, 2005.  Gross
revenues for the quarter  increased  13.5% to $128.9 million from $113.5 million
in the second quarter of 2004. Net income  increased 12.3% to $17.6 million from
$15.7 million in the 2004 period.  Basic  earnings per share were $0.24 compared
to $0.21 for the second quarter of 2004.

For the six months,  revenue  increased  12.3% to $247.5 from $220.3  during the
same period in 2004.  Net income  increased  13.5% to $32.7  million  from $28.8
million in the 2004 period.  Basic  earnings per share were $0.44  compared with
$0.38 for the 2004 period.

For the quarter,  Heartland  Express,  Inc. posted an operating ratio (operating
expenses as a percentage of gross revenues) of 80.4% and a 13.7% net margin. The
Company  reported an operating ratio of 80.9% and a 13.2% net margin for the six
months ended June 30, 2005.

The Company ended the second quarter with cash and  short-investments  of $265.3
million,  a $7.0 million  increase from the $258.3 million  reported on December
31, 2004. The Company's balance sheet continues to be debt-free.

The Company has purchased  approximately  1.2 million shares of its  outstanding
common stock this year under a 5.0 million share repurchase  program approved in
September  2001 by its Board of Directors.  Our strong cash position has allowed
us to improve  shareholder  return  with share  repurchases  and cash  dividends
without effecting growth  opportunities.  This repurchase of shares demonstrates
the Board of  Director's  confidence  in the  Company's  performance  and future
prospects.

The Company is continuing  the  replacement  of its entire  tractor  fleet.  The
Company has taken delivery of 400 new Internationals  this year. 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 500 new Wabash trailers
during the second quarter of 2005.

During  the  quarter,  Heartland  Express  declared  a  regular  quarterly  cash
dividend.  The quarterly  dividend of approximately  $1.5 million at the rate of
$0.02 per share was paid on July 1, 2005 to  shareholders of record at the close
of  business  on June 20,  2005.  The  Company  has now paid  eight  consecutive
quarterly  cash  dividends.  In addition,  the Company  declared a 3-for-2 stock
split,  paid as a 50% stock  dividend in the third  quarter of 2004.  This stock
split increased the Company's outstanding common stock from 50.0 million to 75.0
million shares. As a result, the Company's annual cash dividend has increased to
approximately  $5.9 million from $4.0 million  because of the additional  shares
outstanding.   All  earnings  per  share  data   presented  have  been  adjusted
retroactively to reflect the effect of the stock split.






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,

                                                  2005           2004           2005           2004
                                              ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------

                                                                                        
OPERATING REVENUE .........................   $128,851,347   $113,511,541   $247,528,819   $220,348,453
                                              ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------

   Salaries, wages, benefits ..............   $ 43,447,096   $ 39,091,825   $ 86,163,937   $ 78,857,921

   Rent and purchased transportation ......      7,829,721      9,522,915     15,541,933     20,041,540

   Operations and maintenance .............     32,276,024     22,710,926     60,409,972     43,656,478

   Taxes and licenses .....................      2,180,645      2,204,958      4,255,935      4,495,240

   Insurance and claims ...................      3,969,431      5,395,577      6,801,696      7,892,218

   Communications and utilities ...........        928,039        980,349      1,626,916      1,942,532

   Depreciation ...........................      8,932,713      6,692,119     17,140,055     13,269,572

   Other operating expenses ...............      4,006,623      3,411,410      8,241,017      6,915,444
                                              ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------

                                               103,570,292     90,010,079    200,181,461    177,070,945
                                              ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------

        Operating income ..................     25,281,055     23,501,462     47,347,358     43,277,508

   Interest income ........................      2,052,068        651,871      3,387,293      1,219,387
                                              ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------

   Income before income taxes .............     27,333,123     24,153,333     50,734,651     44,496,895

   Federal and state income taxes .........      9,703,258      8,453,664     18,010,801     15,675,629
                                              ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------

   Net income .............................   $ 17,629,865   $ 15,699,669   $ 32,723,850   $ 28,821,266
                                              ============   ============   ============   ============

   Earnings per common share:

       Basic earnings per share ...........   $       0.24   $       0.21   $       0.44   $       0.38
                                              ============   ============   ============   ============

   Basic weighted average shares
   outstanding ............................     74,751,459     75,000,000     74,875,043     75,000,000
                                              ============   ============   ============   ============

   Dividends declared per share ...........   $      0.020   $      0.013   $      0.040   $      0.027
                                              ============   ============   ============   ============








                             HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.
                                AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                        ASSETS


                                                    June 30,       December 31,
                                                      2005             2004
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                  (unaudited)
CURRENT ASSETS

                                                                      
  Cash .......................................   $   5,450,670    $   1,610,543
  Short-term investments .....................     259,897,769      256,727,782
  Trade receivable ...........................      39,324,840       37,102,813
  Prepaid tires ..............................       3,334,620        2,692,090
  Deferred income taxes ......................      25,897,000       24,964,000
  Other prepaid expenses .....................       3,970,018          158,267
                                                 -------------    -------------
    Total current assets .....................     337,874,917      323,255,495
                                                 -------------    -------------

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT .......................     260,617,429      253,648,785
    Less accumulated depreciation ............      74,950,010       68,973,751
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                   185,667,419      184,675,034
                                                 -------------    -------------
    OTHER ASSETS .............................       8,947,547        9,081,322
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 532,489,883    $ 517,011,851
                                                 =============    =============

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY


CURRENT LIABILITIES
  Accounts payable & accrued liabilities .....   $  11,907,394    $   9,722,099
  Accrued expenses ...........................      70,343,067       63,142,908
  Income taxes payable .......................       7,780,478        7,918,914
                                                 -------------    -------------
    Total current liabilities ................      90,030,939       80,783,921
                                                 -------------    -------------

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES ........................      44,753,000       46,885,000
                                                 -------------    -------------

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Capital stock: Common, $.01 par value;
  authorized 395,000,000 shares; issued and
  outstanding 73,866,000 and 75,000,000 ......         738,660          750,000
  Additional paid-in capital .................            --          8,510,305
  Retained earnings ..........................     397,595,465      380,906,884
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                   398,334,125      390,167,189
  Less unearned compensation .................        (628,181)        (824,259)
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                   397,705,944      389,342,930
                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                 $ 532,489,883    $ 517,011,851
                                                 =============    =============




                                 End of Report