Heartland Express, Inc. Announces Settlement of Multiple Fatality Accident in Knoxville, TN

    CORALVILLE, Iowa--June 18, 2003--Heartland Express, Inc. announced today that a mediated agreement has been reached settling a multiple (4) fatality lawsuit filed in Knoxville, TN, arising from an accident of June 21, 2002. This lawsuit sought relief of approximately $55 million for compensatory damages and $100 million for punitive damages. One lawsuit remains of the three lawsuits originally filed in July 2002. The one remaining wrongful death lawsuit (single fatality) filed in 2002 seeks relief of approximately $10 million for compensatory damages and $100 million for punitive damages.
    The settlement agreement forbids disclosure of the terms of the settlement however a spokesman for the company indicated the settlement was well within the Company's insurance limits. The remaining litigation is not expected to have an adverse effect on the Company's financial condition.
    This press release contains 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.