-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001235802-08-000073.txt : 20080508
<SEC-HEADER>0001235802-08-000073.hdr.sgml : 20080508
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080508173203
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001235802-08-000073
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080506
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080508
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080508

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TURNER JOHN H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001253983

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15010
		FILM NUMBER:		08815268

	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>2008-05-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001253983</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TURNER JOHN H</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 Sales</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.52</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-05-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8800</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option becomes exercisable with respect to 1,760 shares on each of the first five anniversaries of the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James J. Hinnendael, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>poa-turner.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POA
<TEXT>
POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints
James J. Hinnendael and Kathy A. Degenhardt and
each of signing singly, and with full power of
substitution, to be the undersigned's true and
lawful attorney-in-fact to:

(1) 	execute for and on behalf of the
undersigned, in the undersigned's capacity as an
officer and/or director of Marten Transport, Ltd.
(the "Company"), Forms 3, 4 and 5 in accordance
with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules promulgated
thereunder from time to time (collectively,
the "Act");

(2) 	do and perform any and all acts for and
on behalf of the undersigned which may be
necessary or desirable to complete and execute
any such Form 3, 4 or 5, complete and execute
any amendment or amendments thereto, and
timely file such form with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock
exchange or similar authority; and

(3) 	take any other action of any type
whatsoever in connection with the foregoing
which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact,
may be of benefit to, in the best interest of,
or legally required by, the undersigned, it
being understood that the documents executed by
such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned
pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in
such form and shall contain such terms and
conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in
such attorney-in-fact's discretion.

The undersigned hereby grants to each such
attorney-in-fact full power and authority to
do and perform any and every act and thing
whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper to
be done in the exercise of any of the rights
and powers herein granted, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned
might or could do if personally present, with
full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's
substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue of this power
of attorney and the rights and powers herein
granted. The undersigned acknowledges that the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such
capacity at the request of the undersigned,
are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming,
any of the undersigned's responsibilities to
comply with the Act.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force
and effect until the undersigned is no longer
required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect
to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions
in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier
revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing
delivered to the foregoing
attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused
this Power of Attorney to be executed as of this
8th day of May, 2008.

/s/ John H. Turner
Signature
John H. Turner
Print Name


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