Sign in

    Michael J. Gerdin

    Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and President at Heartland Express Inc
    Board
    Since 2011
    Age
    54 years
    Tenure
    Joined HTLD in 1983 and served in multiple roles including Vice President of Regional Operations, President of A&M Express, Inc. from 1998 to 2001, President from 2006, and has been the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board since 2011.

    Also at Heartland Express Inc

    DPM
    David P. Millis
    Director and President of Millis Transfer, LLC
    CAS
    Christopher A. Strain
    Vice President of Finance, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
    KDR
    Kent D. Rigdon
    Chief Operating Officer (COO)

    About

    Michael J. Gerdin, 54 years old , has dedicated over four decades to the transportation industry. His professional journey began in 1983 when he joined HTLD, where he undertook various roles in operations, sales, safety, maintenance, and driver recruiting. Over time, his contributions led him to hold key positions including serving as President of A & M Express, Inc. from 1998 to 2001 and as Vice President of Regional Operations from 2001 to 2006.

    During his tenure at HTLD, he was appointed President in 2006, and later elevated to the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board in 2011. Under his leadership, the company experienced substantial growth, increasing its annual revenue from $529 million to $1.2 billion, a testament to his strategic vision and operational expertise.

    Beyond his roles at HTLD, he has contributed to the trucking industry by serving on the Board of Directors of the Iowa Motor Truck Association and by holding directorships at West Bancorporation and West Bank from 2013 to 2023. His longstanding commitment and industry experience have also seen him participate in advisory roles, underlining his influence both within the company and the broader transportation sector.

    $HTLD Performance Under Michael J. Gerdin

    Past Roles

    OrganizationRoleDate RangeDetails
    Heartland Express President 2006 Held before promotion to current role as Chairman, CEO, and President
    Heartland Express Vice President of Regional Operations 2001 to 2006 Held until promotion to President
    A & M Express, Inc. President 1998 to 2001 Wholly-owned subsidiary of Heartland Express
    Heartland Express Various Positions 1983 to 1998 Roles included operations, sales, safety, maintenance, and driver recruiting

    External Roles

    OrganizationRoleDate RangeDetails
    West Bancorporation and West Bank Member of the Compensation Committee N/A [N/A]Wholly owned subsidiary of West Bancorporation, Inc.
    Iowa State University College of Business Dean's Advisory Council Member N/A [N/A]Provides guidance to the College of Business at Iowa State University

    Fixed Compensation

    Data from  FY 2023
    Component NameAmountPayment ScheduleAdditional Details
    Base Salary$980,577AnnualReflects annualized increase to $1,050,000 effective May 2023.
    All Other Compensation$31,906One-Time PaymentReceived under the Tuition Plan.

    Performance Compensation

    Data from  FY 2023

    No information available on performance compensation for 2023.