<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000799233-13-000075.txt : 20131113
<SEC-HEADER>0000799233-13-000075.hdr.sgml : 20131113
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20131113163903
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000799233-13-000075
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20131111
FILED AS OF DATE:		20131113
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20131113

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEARTLAND EXPRESS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000799233
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TRUCKING (NO LOCAL) [4213]
		IRS NUMBER:				930926999
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 NORTH KANSAS AVENUE
		CITY:			NORTH LIBERTY
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			52317
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3196263600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 NORTH KANSAS AVENUE
		CITY:			NORTH LIBERTY
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			52317

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Gordon Steven M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001591580

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15087
		FILM NUMBER:		131215123

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 NORTH KANSAS AVENUE
		CITY:			NORTH LIBERTY
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			52317
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_138437873294243.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-11-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000799233</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEARTLAND EXPRESS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HTLD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001591580</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Gordon Steven M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>901 N. KANSAS AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH LIBERTY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>52317</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>COO of Subsidiary</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-11-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>606717</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>606717</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trustee and by Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reported securities and cash were received as consideration for 100% of the reporting person's stock in Gordon Trucking, Inc. (&quot;GTI&quot;) in connection with the purchase of 100% of GTI's outstanding stock by Heartland Express, Inc., of Iowa (&quot;HEIA&quot;), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the registrant. The number of shares of the registrant's common stock that the reporting person was entitled to acquire was determined with reference to a $14.37 per share value, which represents the average closing price of the registrant's common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for the ten trading days ending on November 8, 2013. Based on the amount of cash and stock of the registrant paid or to be paid in connection with the purchase of 100% of GTI's outstanding stock, the GTI stock sold by the reporting person, including GTI stock held by the SMG GST Trust, has a value of approximately $71,250,000.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Pursuant to the terms of the definitive purchase agreement, the reporting person may receive additional shares ( the &quot;Escrow Shares&quot;) of the registrant's common stock upon the release of such shares from an escrow account established in connection with such purchase agreement. The Escrow Shares are held in the name of an escrow agent for the benefit of HEIA, and the reporting person's receipt of the Escrow Shares is subject to certain conditions provided in the definitive purchase agreement. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the Escrow Shares and the mention of Escrow Shares in this report shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of such shares for Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares are held directly by the SMG GST Trust, of which the reporting person is the trustee and a beneficiary.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Steven M. Gordon, by Chris Strain, attorney-in-fact, pursuant to a POA previously filed</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-11-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
