Stock-Based Compensation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]

Stock-Based Compensation

The Heartland Express, Inc. 2011 Restricted Stock Award Plan (the "Plan") made available up to 0.9 million shares for the purpose of making restricted stock grants to eligible officers and employees of the Company. During December 2011, 0.4 million shares were granted to employees. These shares are service based awards beginning December 14, 2011 and 20% of the awards vest each June 1 through 2016. Once vested, there are no other restrictions on the awards. Compensation expense associated with these awards is based on the market value of the Company's stock on the grant date. The Company's market closing price on December 14, 2011, grant date, was $13.57. There were no significant assumptions made in determining the fair value. Compensation expense associated with restricted stock awards is included in salaries, wages and benefits in the consolidated statements of income. Compensation expense associated with restricted stock awards was $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and unrecognized compensation expense was $3.7 million at March 31, 2012. Unrecognized compensation expense will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.8 years from the grant date of December 14, 2011 and total period of 4.5 years.

The following table summarizes the Company's restricted stock award activity for the three months ended March 31, 2012. There were no restricted stock awards granted or outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2011.

	2012
	Number of Shares of Restricted Stock Awards (in thousands)	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested at beginning of year	351	$	13.57
Granted	—	$	—
Vested	—	$	—
Forfeited	—	$	—
Outstanding (unvested) at end of period	351	$	13.57