NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa, March 12, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Heartland Express, Inc. (Nasdaq:HTLD) announced today the declaration of a regular quarterly cash dividend. The $0.02 per share dividend will be paid on April 3, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 23, 2012. A total of approximately $1.7 million will be paid on the Company's 86.5 million outstanding shares of common stock.

Heartland Express, Inc. implemented a quarterly cash dividend program in the third quarter of 2003. This is the Company's thirty-fifth consecutive quarterly cash dividend. With the payment of this dividend, the Company will have paid a total of $346.4 million in cash dividends, including two special dividends.

The press release may contain forward-looking statements, which are based on information currently available. These statements and assumptions involve certain risks and uncertainties. Actual events may differ from these expectations as specified from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to the extent it becomes aware that it will not be achieved for any reason.

CONTACT: Michael J. Gerdin, President and CEO
         John P. Cosaert, Exec VP; CFO
         Heartland Express, Inc.
         319-626-3600