<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001140361-09-025017
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20091105
<FILING-DATE>20091106
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20091106
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BUNN PAUL
<CIK>0001467658
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-24960
<FILM-NUMBER>091163515
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>COVENANT TRANSPORTATION GROUP, INC.
<STREET2>400 BIRMINGHAM HIGHWAY
<CITY>CHATTANOOGA
<STATE>TN
<ZIP>37419
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>COVENANT TRANSPORTATION GROUP INC
<CIK>0000928658
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4213
<IRS-NUMBER>880320154
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>NV
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>400 BIRMINGHAM HIGHWAY
<CITY>CHATTANOOGA
<STATE>TN
<ZIP>37419
<PHONE>4238211212
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>400 BIRMINGHAM HIGHWAY
<CITY>CHATTANOOGA
<STATE>TN
<ZIP>37419
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>COVENANT TRANSPORT INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19940818
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-11-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000928658</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COVENANT TRANSPORTATION GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CVTI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001467658</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BUNN PAUL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>400 BIRMINGHAM  HIGHWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHATTANOOGA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37419</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Corporate Controller</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents a restricted stock award under the 2006 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as such plan may be amended from time to time.  The shares vest on certain vesting dates subject to continuous employment and the specific terms of the award notice.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Paul Bunn, by Heidi Hornung-Scherr, attorney-in-fact, pursuant to a POA previously filed with the SEC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
