FORM 5 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b). Form 3 Holdings Reported Form 4 Transactions Reported

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ANNUAL 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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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. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year) 12/31/2009 (Street) NORTH LIBERTY, IA 52317 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting (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 at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 12/14/2009   G 14,994 D $ 0 11,989,264 D (1)   Common Stock 12/29/2009   G 1,666 D $ 0 11,987,598 D (1)   Common Stock             1,936,276 I (2) By Trust Common Stock     3         D (3) (4) Â

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SEC 2270 (9-02)

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 at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year (Instr. 4)

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

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

(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	Â
Gerdin Ann S 901 NORTH KANSAS AVENUE NORTH LIBERTY, IA 52317	Â	Â	Â	Joint-Filer/Spouse

Signatures

Russell A. Gerdin		02/04/2010
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date
Ann S. Gerdin		02/04/2010
**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)	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.
(2)	Gerdin Family Investments, LP (the "Limited Partnership") owns a voting trust certificate representing 1,936,276 shares of Heartland Express, Inc. common stock. Mr. Gerdin is the general partner of the Limited Partnership. Although the entire number of shares controlled by the Limited partnership is disclosed herin (as permitted by SEC rules), Mr. Gerdin disclaims beneficial ownership of shares in excess of the number attributable to his ownership interest. Mr. Gerdin is not the voting trustee and has no power to vote the shares in which the Limited Partnership has an interest.
(3)	Shares held by grantor retained annuity trusts for the benefit of the spouse of the reporting person. Mr. Gerdin serves as trustee with respect to each trust.
(4)	The reporting persons hold different interests in the GRAT's as described in more detail in their Schedule 13D and amendments thereto.

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