Heartland Express (HTLD) executive compensation, 2026 proxy

Mr. Michael J. Gerdin, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, President and Director, was paid $1.1M in 2025, flat from $1.1M the year before. The CEO-to-median-employee pay ratio was 19:1, on median employee pay of $57,151.

Filed
April 2, 2026
Annual meeting
May 14, 2026
Pay year
2025
Named executives
5
CEO total pay
$1.1Mflat vs prior year
CEO to median employee
19:1median $57,151
Prior say-on-pay support
97%of votes cast
CEO Salary
$1,050,000Base salary for fiscal 2025
Pay Ratio
19:1CEO to median employee pay
Median Employee Pay
$57,151Annual total compensation
Say-on-Pay Support
97.4%Prior year approval rate

How Gerdin was paid

$1.1M in total for 2025, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table. Equity awards are valued at grant, not at what they turned out to be worth.

Salary98%All other compensation2%

Named executive officers

ExecutiveTotal
Mr. Michael J. GerdinChief Executive Officer, Chairman, President and Director$1,070,362
Mr. Christopher A. StrainVice President of Finance, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer$392,393
Mr. Kent D. RigdonChief Operating Officer$345,112
Mr. David P. MillisDirector and Millis Transfer President$294,840
Mr. Joshua S. HelmichChief Administrative Officer and Secretary$311,376

What changed and why

  • $1.1MCEO total compensation was $1,070,362 for fiscal year 2025.
  • 97.4%Stockholders approved the 2025 say-on-pay proposal by 97.4% of votes cast.
  • The CEO to median employee pay ratio was approximately 19 to 1.
  • $100Total shareholder return was (52.5) based on an initial $100 investment.

About this page

Figures are automated and can be wrong; check the filing for the exact numbers. Totals follow SEC rules, which value stock and option awards at grant. Read the DEF 14A proxy statement for footnotes and the compensation committee's full reasoning.