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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QC7E+pPzbloobaqYswq8QOcXjNw7xginaNMXNSGbOmwYYbKTS0Uztr/BZEjSQ6CD
 DJqZMZiBGcDdXVcTj4JAHA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000793074-03-000071.txt : 20030909
<SEC-HEADER>0000793074-03-000071.hdr.sgml : 20030909
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030909155637
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000793074-03-000071
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030909
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030909

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHNSON JAMES LYNN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236427

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14690
		FILM NUMBER:		03888118

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 45308
		CITY:			OMAHA
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68145-0308

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WERNER ENTERPRISES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000793074
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TRUCKING (NO LOCAL) [4213]
		IRS NUMBER:				470648386
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14507 FRONTIER ROAD
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 45308
		CITY:			OMAHA
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68145
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4028956640
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001236427d20030909f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-09</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000793074</issuerCik><issuerName>WERNER ENTERPRISES INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>WERN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001236427</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>JOHNSON JAMES LYNN</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 45308</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>OMAHA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>NE</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>68145</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President - Controller</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-09</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>X</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>12.075</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7162.2253</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDeriva
tiveTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-09</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>26.1042</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2162.2253</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><
derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.1875</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-12-20</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-12-21</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>16667</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16667</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>11.5781</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-10-08</value></exerciseDate><expiration
Date><value>2009-04-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.075</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-09</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>X</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactio
nShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>12.075</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1999-06-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-12-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6667</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.2175</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerc
iseDate><value>2003-09-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-09-29</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>13334</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>13334</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>James L Johnson</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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