-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NBTQzSdkcGCL/8gMYZ7WCdn8gN5OiHKlS5M2cZMgZLPpTGvUwrUTUJmmbwfJO2Ng
 rsKQutem5Lg9/qcF/pdREA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000793074-04-000018.txt : 20040213
<SEC-HEADER>0000793074-04-000018.hdr.sgml : 20040213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040213133441
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000793074-04-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040213

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SYNOWICKI ROBERT E JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001233274

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14690
		FILM NUMBER:		04596977

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 45308
		CITY:			OMAHA
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68145-0308
</SEC-HEADER>
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<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
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<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>

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    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

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        <issuerCik>0000793074</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WERNER ENTERPRISES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WERN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233274</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SYNOWICKI ROBERT E JR</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>Exec VP-Chief Info Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-01-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.8546</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-07-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>19.192</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.7502</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-12-20</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-12-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.66</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-06-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-12-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert E. Synowicki, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----