NEWS RELEASE

Contact:           Steven Feldmann

                        2777 Heartland Dr.                                    

                        Coralville, IA 52240                                          For Immediate Release

                        Ph:  (319) 545-2478

HEARTLAND EXPRESS NAMED “PARTNER IN PROGRESS” BY SEARS

CORALVILLE, IA. – April 29^th, 2004 – Heartland Express, Inc. of Iowa (www.heartlandexpress.com) is pleased to receive a “Partner in Progress” from Sears Roebuck and Company for 2003.  This prestigious award is presented annually to a select group of vendor companies that supply Sears, Roebuck and Co. with quality products and services, from apparel, appliances and tools to marketing, transportation services and technology.  More than 10,000 sources competed for these awards in 2003. 

Heartland Express of Iowa, Inc. was honored on April 13th at an event hosted by Sears Chairman and CEO Alan J. Lacy at Sears’ headquarters in Hoffman Estates, IL.  Begun more than 20 years ago, the Partners in Progress program recognizes sources that make significant contributions to the growth of Sears businesses and the creation of new ways to better serve Sears customers.  The winners were selected from nominations submitted by Sears’ employees who purchase goods and services for the company.

On hand to receive this award was Heartland President and CEO Russell Gerdin.  Mr. Gerdin had this to say about receiving this award from one of Heartland oldest and most respected customers, “The people of Heartland Express won this award, and I get to receive it for them.  The drivers, the operators, office, and shop employees are the ones responsible for this award.  Together they give the service to Sears as well as all our customers and they make Heartland Express the exceptional company it is!  I thank them as much as I thank Sears for this.”

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, Ill., is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. With revenues in 2003 of $41.1 billion, the company offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,300 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the U.S. and Canada, which includes approximately 870 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S.  Sears also offers a variety of merchandise and services through www.sears.com, www.landsend.com, and specialty catalogs.

Heartland Express is a truckload carrier based in Coralville, Iowa serving customers with shipping lanes east of the Rocky Mountains.  Heartland leads the industry in pay per mile for company drivers, and owner operators, according to the National Survey of Driver Wages, published quarterly.  They offer long-haul, regional, and dedicated opportunities.  Any professional driver interested in getting more information about Heartland Express can call one of their recruiters at 1-800-441-4953 or access the company website at www.heartlandexpress.com.