DRIVER PAY RAISES – THREE DOWN ONE TO GO!

CORAL VILLE, IA. –June 22^nd, 2006– Heartland Express, Inc. of Iowa (www.heartlandexpress.com), known industry wide as the leader for driver pay, is set to implement the third of four pay raises to all of their “system” company drivers and owner operators on July 1^st 2006. Heartland is raising the top pay for company drivers to $.50 per mile and owner operator pay to $.95 per mile before any fuel stabilization pay per mile.

John Cosaert, Executive Vice President and CFO states, “three down, one to go! We were told by our Chairman and CEO Russell Gerdin to drive pay higher and we are doing just that, $.50 for company drivers and $.95 for contractors when we’re done.”

Heartland recently increased driver pay for those drivers who hold the hazardous endorsement on their license by a penny per mile for all dispatch miles hazardous or not. This was believed to be an industry first. They are increasing their OTR driver pay by 4 cents in 2006 making the top driver pay $.50 per mile and the owner operator pay to $.95 per mile before additional fuel stabilization pay. Heartland Express was the first to develop a pay program called GREEN MILE$ which pays even more for those miles run in the northeast area of the country. Drivers running there can earn as much as $.54 per mile (company drivers) and $.99 per mile for independent contractors.

Heartland Express is an irregular route truckload carrier based in Coralville, Iowa serving customers with primary shipping lane east of the Rocky Mountains and the southwest United States. They offer long-haul and regional opportunities for solos and teams. Any professional driver interested in getting more information about Heartland Express can call them at 1-800-441-4953 or access the company website at www.heartlandexpress.com.