Ownership Submission
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 MICHAEL J
   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)
05/21/2012
(Street)

NORTH LIBERTY, IA 52317		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ 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               17,418 I Beneficiary of Trust (1)
Common Stock 05/21/2012   G(2) V 1,600,000 A $ 0 27,940,659 I Trustee of GRATs
Common Stock               7,015,000 I Beneficiary of Trust (3)
Common Stock               2,043,372 I Trustee of Trusts (4)
Common Stock               562,669 I Beneficiary of Trust (5)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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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 MICHAEL J
901 NORTH KANSAS AVENUE
NORTH LIBERTY, IA 52317		   X   X   Chief Executive Officer  

Signatures

 /S/Michael J. Gerdin   05/22/2012
**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) The reporting person is trustee over shares held by trusts created for the benefit of his children. As trustee, Mr. Gerdin has shared voting and dispositive powers with respect to each trust. Beneficial ownership is disclaimed.
(2) Ann S. Gerdin transferred 1,600,000 shares to a grantor retained annuity trust for her benefit. The reporting person serves as trustee over this GRAT and has no pecuniary interest other than an indireect remainder interest, if any. As trustee, Mr. Gerdin has voting and dispositive powers with respect to the GRAT. This transaction does not constitute a gift to the reporting person. Beneficial ownership is disclaimed.
(3) The reporting person is one of the beneficiaries of the 2009 Gerdin Children's Trust. Mr. Gerdin does not have voting and dispositive powers with respect to this trust. Lawrence D. Crouse serves as trustee. Beneficial ownership is disclaimed.
(4) The reporting person is one of the beneficiaries of the 2005 Gerdin Children's Trust. Mr. Gerdin does not have voting and dispositive powers with respect to this trust. Lawrence D. Crouse serves as trustee. Beneficial ownership is disclaimed.
(5) The reporting person is one of the beneficiaries of the 2007 Gerdin Children's Trust. Mr. Gerdin does not have voting and dispositive powers with respect to this trust. Lawrence D. Crouse serves as trustee. Beneficial ownership is disclaimed.

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