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<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>UNITED SHIPPING & TECHNOLOGY INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19990512
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<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>U SHIP INC
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<STATE>MA
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<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10 EAST 53RD STREET, 32ND FL.
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<STREET1>10 EAST 53RD STREET, 32ND FL.
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<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-12-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001002902</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VELOCITY EXPRESS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VEXP</issuerTradingSymbol>
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    <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>
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    <reportingOwner>
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            <rptOwnerCik>0001288646</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Exeter IV Advisors, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
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        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10 EAST 53RD STREET, 32ND STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
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    <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>
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    <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>
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            <isOther>0</isOther>
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    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-12-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>104300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.4857</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2361118</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Note</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-12-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>246836</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.3513</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Note</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Exeter Capital Partners IV, L.P. directly owns the shares of common stock of Velocity Express Corporation.  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. indirectly own the shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Exeter Capital Partners IV, LP by Exeter IV Advisors, L.P., its general partner, by /s/ Keith R. Fox, Principal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-12-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Exeter IV Advisors, L.P. by Exeter IV Advisors, Inc, its general partner, by /s/ Keith R. Fox, Principal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-12-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Exeter IV Advisors, Inc. by /s/ Keith R. Fox</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-12-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Keith R. Fox</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-12-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
