-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001235802-06-000013.txt : 20060202
<SEC-HEADER>0001235802-06-000013.hdr.sgml : 20060202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060202172610
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001235802-06-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060131
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060202
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BAIER SUSAN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001253974

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15010
		FILM NUMBER:		06574678

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		129 MARTEN STREET
		CITY:			MONDOVI
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			54755
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7159264216

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARTEN TRANSPORT LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000799167
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TRUCKING (NO LOCAL) [4213]
		IRS NUMBER:				391140809
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		129 MARTEN ST
		CITY:			MONDOVI
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			54755
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7159264216

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3400 PLAZA VII
		STREET 2:		45 SOUTH SEVENTH ST
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55402
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000799167</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MARTEN TRANSPORT LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MRTN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001253974</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAIER SUSAN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>129 MARTEN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONDOVI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>54755</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP of Information Systems</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1419</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                </transactionShares>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.94</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-31</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25313</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.94</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-09-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8438</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.36</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-01-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8438</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>75938</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.48</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-11-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>75938</value>
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                    <value>0</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option becomes exercisable in as nearly equal as possible in five installments on each of the first five anniversaries of the date of grant, so long as Ms. Baier remains employed with the Company.  To the extent not already exercisable, this option becomes exercisable in full upon certain changes in control of the Company and remains exercisable for the remainder of its term.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Susan M. Baier</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
