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

CORALVILLE, Iowa--Aug. 2, 20032, 2003--Heartland Express, Inc. announced today that a mediated agreement has been reached settling the one remaining wrongful death lawsuit (single fatality) filed in Knoxville, TN, arising from an accident of June 21, 2002. The lawsuit sought relief of approximately $10 million for compensatory damages and $100 million for punitive damages. The Company previously announced in a press release dated June 18, 2003 that a mediated agreement had been reached settling a multiple (4) fatality lawsuit arising from the same accident.

Though a Company spokesman could not disclose the terms of the settlement, the spokesman indicated this finalized settlement of the wrongful death lawsuits for the Knoxville accident and that the combined settlements remained well within the Company's insurance limits.

This 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.