Marten Transport (MRTN) 8-K Net Income Improves 15.5% in Sixth Straight Quarter of Year-Over-Year Profit Growth

Exhibit 99.1

Marten Transport Announces Third Quarter Results;

Net Income Improves 15.5% in Sixth Straight Quarter of Year-Over-Year Profit Growth

MONDOVI, Wis., Oct. 18, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marten Transport, Ltd. (Nasdaq:MRTN) today reported a 15.5% increase in net income to $6.3 million, or 29 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011, from $5.5 million, or 25 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2010. The third-quarter earnings also improved sequentially from the second-quarter net income of $6.2 million, or 28 cents per diluted share. For the nine-month period of 2011, net income increased to $16.6 million, or 75 cents per diluted share, from $14.5 million, or 66 cents per diluted share, for the same nine-month period of 2010.

Operating revenue, consisting of revenue from truckload and logistics operations, increased 21.5% to $156.3 million in the third quarter of 2011 from $128.7 million in the 2010 quarter, reflecting a continuing combination of higher shipping volume and increased fuel surcharges. For the first nine months of 2011, operating revenue increased 17.1% to $445.3 million from $380.3 million for the first nine months of 2010.

Operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 16.1% to $127.5 million in the 2011 quarter from $109.8 million in the 2010 quarter and increased 11.3% to $361.8 million in the 2011 nine-month period from $325.2 million in the 2010 nine-month period. Reflecting substantially higher fuel prices, fuel surcharges increased to $28.8 million for the third quarter of 2011 from $18.8 million in the 2010 quarter and increased to $83.5 million for the 2011 nine-month period from $55.1 million for the 2010 nine-month period.

Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharge revenue, increased to 91.3% for the third quarter of 2011 from 90.9% for the third quarter of 2010 and improved to 91.7% for the 2011 nine-month period from 91.9% for the 2010 nine-month period.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Randolph L. Marten said, "We are pleased to mark our sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year increased profitability.

"We are encouraged by our continued profitability growth which reflects the success of our long-term strategy to develop a diverse customer base that gains value from and expands all of our operating units. Our logistics revenue, net of intermodal fuel surcharges, grew by $7.0 million, or 24.7%, in this year's third quarter over the 2010 quarter. Our expanding regional operations contributed to a 2.7% increase over last year's third quarter in our average truckload revenue per tractor per week, net of fuel surcharges – our main measure of asset productivity. We have increased our regional operations to 64.8% of our truckload fleet as of September 30, 2011, from 48.2% as of a year earlier.

"We have been successful in increasing profits while continuing to invest in the future and avoiding long-term debt. This quarter marks the fifth consecutive quarter where we have increased our total number of tractors in service."

Marten Transport, with headquarters in Mondovi, Wis., is one of the leading temperature-sensitive truckload carriers in the United States. Marten specializes in transporting and distributing food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment. Marten offers service in the United States, Canada and Mexico, concentrating on expedited movements for high-volume customers. Marten's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol MRTN.

This press release contains certain statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Important factors known to the Company that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. The Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACTS: Tim Kohl, President, and Jim Hinnendael, Chief Financial Officer, of Marten Transport, Ltd., 715-926-4216.

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
	September 30,			December 31,
(In thousands, except share information)	2011			2010
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	20,514		$	5,306
Marketable securities		--			138
Receivables:
Trade, net		62,663			51,094
Other		4,872			12,968
Prepaid expenses and other		12,694			13,406
Deferred income taxes		4,473			4,794
Total current assets		105,216			87,706
Property and equipment:
Revenue equipment, buildings and land, office equipment and other		513,951			515,622
Accumulated depreciation		(151,925	)		(143,563	)
Net property and equipment		362,026			372,059
Other assets		570			543
TOTAL ASSETS	$	467,812		$	460,308
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Checks issued in excess of cash balances	$	--		$	1,066
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		36,212			30,524
Insurance and claims accruals		14,929			17,653
Current maturities of long-term debt		--			19,346
Total current liabilities		51,141			68,589
Deferred income taxes		103,537			95,815
Total liabilities		154,678			164,404
Stockholders' equity:
Marten Transport, Ltd. stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share; 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding		--			--
Common stock, $.01 par value per share; 48,000,000 shares authorized; 21,984,597 shares at September 30, 2011, and 21,950,252 shares at December 31, 2010, issued and outstanding		220			220
Additional paid-in capital		79,659			78,428
Retained earnings		230,649			215,345
Total Marten Transport, Ltd. stockholders' equity		310,528			293,993
Noncontrolling interest		2,606			1,911
Total stockholders' equity		313,134			295,904
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	$	467,812		$	460,308

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
	Three Months						Nine Months
	Ended September 30,						Ended September 30,
(In thousands, except per share information)	2011			2010			2011			2010
OPERATING REVENUE	$	156,348		$	128,674		$	445,339		$	380,348
OPERATING EXPENSES (INCOME):
Salaries, wages and benefits		37,775			32,767			108,287			97,153
Purchased transportation		31,354			26,275			89,362			80,380
Fuel and fuel taxes		40,590			28,558			115,845			84,318
Supplies and maintenance		11,030			8,276			30,466			25,883
Depreciation		14,758			12,884			42,358			38,533
Operating taxes and licenses		1,644			1,505			4,577			4,584
Insurance and claims		4,617			4,413			13,330			12,249
Communications and utilities		1,168			1,143			3,396			3,010
Gain on disposition of revenue equipment		(1,084	)		(184	)		(2,819	)		(812	)
Other		3,385			3,051			10,458			8,837
Total operating expenses		145,237			118,688			415,260			354,135
OPERATING INCOME		11,111			9,986			30,079			26,213
NET INTEREST (INCOME) EXPENSE		(18	)		44			(6	)		(36	)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		11,129			9,942			30,085			26,249
Less: Income before income taxes attributable to noncontrolling interest		318			308			708			365
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
ATTRIBUTABLE TO MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.		10,811			9,634			29,377			25,884
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES		4,478			4,152			12,755			11,352
NET INCOME	$	6,333		$	5,482		$	16,622		$	14,532
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE	$	0.29		$	0.25		$	0.76		$	0.66
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE	$	0.29		$	0.25		$	0.75		$	0.66
DIVIDENDS PAID PER COMMON SHARE	$	0.02		$	0.02		$	0.06		$	0.02

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.
SEGMENT INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
							Dollar		Percentage
							Change		Change
	Three Months						Three Months		Three Months
	Ended						Ended		Ended
	September 30,						September 30,		September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2011			2010			2011 vs. 2010		2011 vs. 2010
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue	$	92,003		$	81,370		$	10,633		13.1	%
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue		24,849			16,550			8,299		50.1
Total Truckload revenue		116,852			97,920			18,932		19.3
Logistics revenue, net of intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		35,500			28,457			7,043		24.7
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		3,996			2,297			1,699		74.0
Total Logistics revenue		39,496			30,754			8,742		28.4
Total operating revenue	$	156,348		$	128,674		$	27,674		21.5	%
Operating income:
Truckload	$	9,174		$	8,326		$	848		10.2	%
Logistics		1,937			1,660			277		16.7
Total operating income	$	11,111		$	9,986		$	1,125		11.3	%
Operating ratio:
Truckload		92.1	%		91.5	%				0.7	%
Logistics		95.1			94.6					0.5
Consolidated operating ratio		92.9	%		92.2	%				0.8	%

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.
SEGMENT INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
							Dollar		Percentage
							Change		Change
	Nine Months						Nine Months		Nine Months
	Ended						Ended		Ended
	September 30,						September 30,		September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2011			2010			2011 vs. 2010		2011 vs. 2010
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue	$	263,613		$	242,856		$	20,757		8.5	%
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue		72,463			48,681			23,782		48.9
Total Truckload revenue		336,076			291,537			44,539		15.3
Logistics revenue, net of intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		98,221			82,364			15,857		19.3
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		11,042			6,447			4,595		71.3
Total Logistics revenue		109,263			88,811			20,452		23.0
Total operating revenue	$	445,339		$	380,348		$	64,991		17.1	%
Operating income:
Truckload	$	24,097		$	21,759		$	2,338		10.7	%
Logistics		5,982			4,454			1,528		34.3
Total operating income	$	30,079		$	26,213		$	3,866		14.7	%
Operating ratio:
Truckload		92.8	%		92.5	%				0.3	%
Logistics		94.5			95.0					(0.5	)
Consolidated operating ratio		93.2	%		93.1	%				0.1	%

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.
OPERATING STATISTICS
(Unaudited)
	Three Months						Nine Months
	Ended September 30,						Ended September 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Truckload Segment:
Total Truckload revenue (in thousands)	$	116,852		$	97,920		$	336,076		$	291,537
Average truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week(1)	$	3,168		$	3,084		$	3,143		$	2,953
Average tractors(1)		2,210			2,007			2,151			2,108
Average miles per trip		617			645			629			664
Non-revenue miles percentage(2)		11.4	%		10.1	%		10.8	%		9.5	%
Total miles – company-employed drivers (in thousands)		51,433			47,881			150,083			144,588
Total miles – independent contractors (in thousands)		1,513			3,007			5,588			11,354
Logistics Segment:
Total Logistics revenue (in thousands)	$	39,496		$	30,754		$	109,263		$	88,811
Brokerage:
Marten Transport
Revenue (in thousands)	$	12,116		$	9,031		$	35,795		$	28,695
Loads		6,336			5,059			18,485			15,854
MWL
Revenue (in thousands)	$	9,215		$	9,185		$	25,454		$	25,321
Loads		4,672			5,380			13,179			14,349
Intermodal:
Revenue (in thousands)	$	18,165		$	12,538		$	48,014		$	34,795
Loads		6,508			5,332			18,064			14,755
Average tractors		80			74			74			67
At September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010:
Total tractors(1)		2,302			2,141
Average age of company tractors (in years)		2.5			2.3
Total trailers		4,018			3,896
Average age of company trailers (in years)		2.5			3.0
Ratio of trailers to tractors(1)		1.7			1.8
	Three Months						Nine Months
	Ended September 30,						Ended September 30,
(In thousands)		2011			2010			2011			2010
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	18,288		$	21,945		$	60,744		$	45,913
Net cash used for investing activities		12,193			33,822			24,072			71,309
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		21,985			21,934			21,978			21,920
Diluted		22,074			22,041			22,078			22,023

(1) Includes tractors driven by both company-employed drivers and independent contractors. Independent contractors provided 52 and 96 tractors as of September 30, 2011, and 2010, respectively.

(2) Represents the percentage of miles for which the company is not compensated.