TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.
                                                         1715 YANKEE DOODLE ROAD
                                                                 EAGAN, MN 55121
                                                            Traded: Nasdaq: TCAM


COMPANY CONTACTS:
Michael Paxton                           Keith Klein
Chairman, President and CEO              Chief Financial Officer
(651) 686-2500                           (651) 686-2500


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2003

                        TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA
        REPORTS THE SALE OF ITS CLARKSVILLE, INDIANA MAINTENANCE FACILITY

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, JULY 17, 2003 -- TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.
(NASDAQ:TCAM) said today that it has completed the previously announced plan to
sell its maintenance facility located in Clarksville, Indiana for net cash
proceeds of approximately $2.0 million. The Company expects to record a gain on
the sale of the property of approximately $1.3 million.

ABOUT TRANSPORT AMERICA

Transport Corporation of America, Inc., based in the Minneapolis - St. Paul
metropolitan area, provides a wide range of truckload freight carriage and
logistics services to customers in the United States and Canada. Transport
America focuses on providing time-definite and other responsive services through
its team of dedicated and committed employees supported by state-of-the-art
technology and information systems.

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company. The
Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any
forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date made. The following
important factors, among other things, in some cases have affected and in the
future could affect the Company's actual results and could cause the Company's
actual financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in any
forward-looking statement: (1) the highly competitive conditions that currently
exist in the Company's market and the Company's ability to compete, (2) the
Company's ability to recruit, train, and retain qualified drivers, (3) increases
in fuel prices, and the Company's ability to recover these costs from its
customers, (4) the impact of environmental standards and regulations on new
revenue equipment, (5)changes in governmental regulations applicable to the
Company's operations, (6) adverse weather conditions, (7) accidents, (8) the
financing and resale market for used revenue equipment, (9) changes in interest
rates, (10) cost of liability insurance coverage, and (11) downturns in general
economic conditions affecting the Company and its customers. The foregoing list
should not be construed as exhaustive and the Company disclaims any obligation
subsequently to revise or update any previously made forward-looking statements.
Unanticipated events are likely to occur.

For more information about Transport Corporation of America, Inc., please visit
the company's Web site at www.transportamerica.com.
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