<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-06-014887
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20060629
<FILING-DATE>20060707
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20060707
<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>ONE MORNINGSIDE DRIVE NORTH
<STREET2>BUILDING B SUITE 300
<CITY>WESTPORT
<STATE>X1
<ZIP>06880
<PHONE>203-349-4160
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ONE MORNINGSIDE DRIVE NORTH
<STREET2>BUILDING B SUITE 300
<CITY>WESTPORT
<STATE>X1
<ZIP>06880
</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>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Stone Edward W
<CIK>0001368429
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-28452
<FILM-NUMBER>06951744
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>203-349-4160
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ONE MORNINGSIDE DRIVE NORTH
<STREET2>BUILDING B, SUITE 300
<CITY>WESTPORT
<STATE>CT
<ZIP>06880
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-06-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001368429</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Stone Edward W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MORNINGSIDE DRIVE NORTH</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>BUILDING B, SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06880</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.363</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-06-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This stock option was granted pursuant to Velocity's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, which meets the requirements of Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This option vests to the extent of 50% per year, commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Edward W. Stone</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
