SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                         PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event report): January 10, 2002


                             HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                         Commission File Number -0-15087


            NEVADA                                             93-0926999
(State of other Jurisdiction                               (IRS Employer ID No.)
       of Incorporation)


2777 HEARTLAND DRIVE, CORALVILLE, IOWA                            52241
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                       (Zip Code)



        Registrant's Telephone Number (including area code): 319-545-2728





ITEM 5. Other Events.

     1.   On January 7, 2002, the Owner Operators Independent Driver
          Association, Inc., served a lawsuit against us, Case No. 3-01 CV80179
          in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
          The lawsuit seeks class action status on behalf of our owner-operators
          since 1996. Among other things, the lawsuit alleges that we failed to
          adequately inform the owner-operators of certain deductions from their
          settlement statements in violation of Department of Transportation
          regulations and that our standard contract with owner-operators
          violates those regulations. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and
          an injunction to prevent owner-operators from hauling for us until
          alleged contractual deficiencies are corrected. We believe the lawsuit
          has no merit and intend to defend it vigorously.

                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                                     HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.

Date: January 10, 2002                               BY:/s/ John P. Cosaert
                                                        -------------------
                                                        JOHN P. COSAERT
                                                        Executive Vice-President
                                                        Finance and Treasurer