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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PU2gRWZNuNewNgm+n5QupKhiWOaa5c877zvDsAbfLmxSTupZcUZxrjRQWa7QiGbU
 6JVb68Tze0sj+b2fpd2nWA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000897101-04-001441.txt : 20040729
<SEC-HEADER>0000897101-04-001441.hdr.sgml : 20040729
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040729152731
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000897101-04-001441
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040728
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040729

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PAXTON MICHAEL J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208514

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24908
		FILM NUMBER:		04938989

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1715 YANKEE DOODLE RD.
		CITY:			EAGAN
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55121

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000809246
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TRUCKING (NO LOCAL) [4213]
		IRS NUMBER:				411386925
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1715 YANKEE DOODLE ROAD
		CITY:			EAGAN
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55121
		BUSINESS PHONE:		651-686-2500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1715 YANKEE DOODLE RD
		CITY:			EAGAN
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55121
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>tcam043600paxton_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000809246</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TCAM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208514</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PAXTON MICHAEL J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1715 YANKEE DOODLE RD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EAGAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.80</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.80</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-07-28</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Right to buy stock - Employee stock option granted on 7/28/2004 pursuant to stock plan qualified under Rule 16b-3. The option
 vests in four equal installments on each of July 28, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael J Paxton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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