<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001082504-06-000067
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20061101
<FILING-DATE>20061103
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20061103
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Fox Keith R
<CIK>0001288731
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-28452
<FILM-NUMBER>061186061
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>(212) 872-1172
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>85 MERRIMAC STREET
<CITY>BOSTON
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>02114
</MAIL-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>0701
</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>Exeter IV Advisors, L.P.
<CIK>0001288646
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-28452
<FILM-NUMBER>061186063
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10 EAST 53RD STREET, 32ND STREET
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10022
<PHONE>(212) 872-1172
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10 EAST 53RD STREET, 32ND STREET
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10022
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Exeter IV Advisors, Inc.
<CIK>0001288647
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-28452
<FILM-NUMBER>061186062
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10 EAST 53RD STREET, 32ND STREET
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10022
<PHONE>(212) 872-1172
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10 EAST 53RD STREET, 32ND STREET
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10022
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Exeter Capital Partners IV, L.P.
<CIK>0001288589
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-28452
<FILM-NUMBER>061186064
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10 EAST 53RD STREET, 32ND FL.
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10022
<PHONE>(212) 872-1172
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10 EAST 53RD STREET, 32ND FL.
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10022
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-11-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001288589</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Exeter Capital Partners IV, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10 EAST 53RD STREET, 32ND FL.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001288646</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Exeter IV Advisors, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10 EAST 53RD STREET, 32ND STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001288647</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Exeter IV Advisors, Inc.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10 EAST 53RD STREET, 32ND STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001288731</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Fox Keith R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>85 MERRIMAC STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02114</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.45</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-11-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3205</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3237050</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-07-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-07-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1105725</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Units are composed of (i) a 12% Senior Secured Note of the Issuer due 2010 in the aggregate principal amount of $3,205,000, together with (ii) a Warrant to purchase 1,105,725 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The initial exercise price of the Warrant is $1.45, subject to adjustment from time to time as provided for therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each unit consists of $1,000 principal amount of Notes and a Warrant to purchase 345 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The Warrant may be exercised at the option of the holder commencing on the approval by the stockholders of the Issuer of the Issuance of the Warrant in accordance with the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market, and ending at 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time on July 3, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Exeter Capital Partners IV, L.P. directly owns the shares. Exeter IV Advisors, L.P. is the general partner of Exeter Capital Partners IV, L.P. Exeter IV Advisors, Inc. is the general partner of Exeter IV Advisors, L.P.  Keith R. Fox is the 100% shareholder of Exeter IV Advisors, Inc. Exeter IV Advisors, Inc. and Keith R. Fox indirectly own the shares.  Mr. Fox has executed this Form in his individual capacity and as authorized on behalf of each of the foregoing entities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Keith R. Fox (see footnote 5)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
