<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001256401-03-000022
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031219
<FILING-DATE>20031224
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>LAPP WILLIAM S
<CIK>0001184424
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-28452
<FILM-NUMBER>031072975
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>12840 11TH AVE NORTH
<CITY>PLYMOUTH
<STATE>MN
<ZIP>55441
<PHONE>6123434965
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>VELOCITY EXPRESS CORP
<CIK>0001002902
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4513
<IRS-NUMBER>870355929
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0629
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>7803 GLENROY ROAD
<STREET2>FOUR PARAMOUNT PLAZA STE 200
<CITY>MINNEAPOLIS
<STATE>MN
<ZIP>55439
<PHONE>612-492-2400
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>7803 GLENROY ROAD
<STREET2>SUITE 200
<CITY>MINNEAPOLIS
<STATE>MN
<ZIP>55439
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>UNITED SHIPPING & TECHNOLOGY INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19990512
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>U SHIP INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19960313
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-19</periodOfReport>


    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001002902</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VELOCITY EXPRESS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VEXP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184424</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAPP WILLIAM S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series I Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>850000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series I Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>150000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trustee</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Issuance and conversion of the Series I Convertible Preferred Stock into common stock requires shareholder approval.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">None</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Price subject to adjustment as provided in the Certificate of Designation of Preferences and Rights of Series I Convertible Preferred Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Shares held for the benefit of Mr. Lapp by Marshall &amp; Iisley Trust Company N.A. as Trustee of the Lapp, Libra, Thomson, Stobner &amp; Pusch Chartered Money Purchase Pension Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William S. Lapp</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
