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):
                                  March 9, 2009


                             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)

901 N KANSAS AVE, NORTH LIBERTY, IA                           52317
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                    (Zip Code)


        Registrant's Telephone Number (including area code): 319-626-3600






ITEM 8.01. OTHER EVENTS

     On March 9, 2009,  Heartland  Express,  Inc. (the "Company")  announced the
declaration of a quarterly cash dividend.  A copy of the press release issued by
the Company is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)  Exhibits

     The Exhibit listed on the Exhibit Index  accompanying Form 8-K is furnished
herewith.

                                   SIGNATURES
     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: March 9, 2009                                 BY:/s/ JOHN P. COSAERT
                                                    ----------------------
                                                    JOHN P. COSAERT
                                                    Vice-President
                                                    Finance and Treasurer


















                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

     99.1 Press release  issued by the Company on March 9, 2009,  announcing the
declaration of a quarterly cash dividend.







































                                Exhibit No. 99.1





Monday, March 9, 2009, For Immediate Release

Press Release

Heartland Express, Inc. Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend


NORTH LIBERTY, IOWA - March 9, 2009 - Heartland Express, Inc. (Nasdaq: HTLD) The
Board of Directors of Heartland Express, Inc. announced today the declaration of
a regular quarterly cash dividend.  The $0.02 per share dividend will be paid on
April 2, 2009 to  shareholders  of record at the close of  business on March 20,
2009. A total of  approximately  $1.8 million will be paid on the Company's 91.2
million outstanding shares of common stock.

Heartland  Express,  Inc.  implemented a quarterly cash dividend  program in the
third quarter of 2003. This is the Company's twenty-third  consecutive quarterly
cash dividend.

The press  release may contain  forward-looking  statements,  which are based on
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.   The  Company   assumes  no  obligation  to  update  any
forward-looking  statement  to the extent it  becomes  aware that it will not be
achieved for any reason.

                         For further information contact
                          Michael J. Gerdin, President
                          John P. Cosaert, ExecVP; CFO
                             Heartland Express, Inc.
                                  319-626-3600