FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * GERDIN MICHAEL J   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol HEARTLAND EXPRESS INC [HTLD] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director __X__ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) CEO and President (Last) (First) (Middle) 901 NORTH KANSAS AVENUE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 11/30/2011 (Street) NORTH LIBERTY, IA 52317 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 11/30/2011   G(1) V 7,363,347 A $ 0 15,363,347 I Trustee of GRATs Common Stock 11/30/2011   G(1) V 7,519,178 A $ 0 22,882,525 I Trustee of GRATs Common Stock 11/30/2011   G(1) V 5,195,036 A $ 0 28,077,561 I Trustee of GRATs Common Stock               1,910,372 I Beneficiary of Trust (2) Common Stock               14,898 I Trustee of Trusts (3) Common Stock               6,500,000 I Beneficiary of Trust (4) Common Stock               562,669 I Beneficiary of Trust (5)

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
GERDIN MICHAEL J 901 NORTH KANSAS AVENUE NORTH LIBERTY, IA 52317	X	X	CEO and President

Signatures

/S/Michael J. Gerdin		12/02/2011
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	The reporting person was appointed successor trustee of the three grantor retained annuity trusts created for the benefit of Ann S. Gerdin. Russell A. Gerdin, deceased spouse of Ann S. Gerdin, previously served as trustee for the three GRATs. The reporting person serves as trustee over these three GRATs and has no pecuniary interest other than an indirect remainder interest, if any. As trustee, Mr. Gerdin has voting and dispositive powers with respect to the three GRATs. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
(2)	The reporting person is one of the beneficiaries of the 2005 Gerdin Children's Trust. Mr. Gerdin does not have voting and dispositive powers with respect to this trust. Lawrence D. Crouse serves as trustee. Beneficial ownership is disclaimed.
(3)	The reporting person is trustee over shares held by trusts created for the benefit of his children. As trustee, Mr. Gerdin has shared voting and dispositive powers with respect to each trust. Beneficial ownership is disclaimed.
(4)	The reporting person is one of the beneficiaries of the 2009 Gerdin Heartland Trust. Mr. Gerdin does not have voting and dispositive powers with respect to this trust. Lawrence D. Crouse serves as trustee. Beneficial ownership is disclaimed.
(5)	The reporting person is one of the beneficiaries of the 2007 Gerdin Heartland Trust. Mr. Gerdin does not have voting and dispositive powers with respect to this trust. Lawrence D. Crouse serves as trustee. Beneficial ownership is disclaimed.

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