<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001591580-15-000004.txt : 20150610
<SEC-HEADER>0001591580-15-000004.hdr.sgml : 20150610
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20150610102140
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001591580-15-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20150515
FILED AS OF DATE:		20150610
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20150610

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:		15922571

	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_143394608740248.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-05-15</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>2015-05-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>607372</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1214089</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 were received in an exempt transaction as the remaining 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, along with cash received. The number of shares 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 ended on November 8, 2013. Based on the total amount of cash and stock of the registrant 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, had a value of approximately $71,250,000.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Pursuant to the terms of the definitive purchase agreement, the reporting person received the reported securities (the &quot;Escrow Shares&quot;) upon the release of such shares from an escrow account established in connection with such purchase agreement. Prior to their release, the Escrow Shares were held in the name of an escrow agent for the benefit of HEIA, and the reporting person's receipt of the Escrow Shares was subject to certain conditions provided in the definitive purchase agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares are held directly by the SMG GST Trust, of which the reporting person  is the trustee and 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>2015-06-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
