Exhibit 99.1

Transport Corporation of America, Inc.
1715 Yankee Doodle Road
Eagan, MN 55121
Traded: Nasdaq: TCAM

COMPANY CONTACTS:
Michael Paxton	Keith Klein
Chairman, President and CEO	Chief Financial Officer
(651) 686-2500	(651) 686-2500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 25, 2005

TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA
REPORTS THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, October 25, 2005 – Transport Corporation of America, Inc. (NASDAQ: TCAM) today announced revenues for the third quarter 2005 of $64.3 million, compared to revenues of $65.7 million for the third quarter 2004, a decrease of 2.1 percent. Excluding fuel surcharge revenues, revenues decreased 8.5 percent to $55.7 million in the third quarter 2004 from $60.9 million in the same period of 2003. Third quarter’s net earnings were $433,000 or $0.07 per diluted share, compared with a 2004 third quarter net earnings of $36,000, or $0.01 per diluted share.

Third quarter 2005 results include an after-tax gain on the sale of our Garland, Texas support center of $182,000, or $0.03 per diluted share. The third quarter 2004 results included additional expense related to several serious accidents that occurred during the period. Insurance, claims and damage expense was $3.9 million, or 6.0 percent of revenue, during the third quarter 2004 compared to $2.0 million, or 3.1 percent of revenue, for the same period 2005.

Michael Paxton, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “The challenging driver market continues to impede our ability to grow core truckload revenues. While we have seen an increase in the number of Company drivers during the quarter, we have continued to lose owner operators at a faster pace than we are able to recruit Company drivers. On the Company side, we believe we are seeing the results of our recruiting initiatives, including a renewed focus on recruiting students directly from schools, our commitment to get drivers home weekly in over 60 percent of our recruiting markets, and additional dedicated fleet opportunities. These items have allowed us to increase our hiring numbers and decrease our termination numbers in the third quarter, which reduced the rate of decline in capacity from recent quarter’s levels.”

Paxton continued, “Even though our overall seated capacity has decreased, we continue to benefit from programs to identify and achieve cost savings, improved accident frequency and claims development, and improved tractor utilization. Revenue per tractor per week increased to $3,096 in the third quarter 2005 compared to $3,018 during the same period 2004. Our deadhead percentage (empty miles) has decreased to 10.7 percent in the third quarter 2005 compared to 11.2 percent in the same period 2004. In addition to improving the fundamentals of our fleet, we continue to focus on growing new brokerage and intermodal business opportunities. During the third quarter 2005, logistics and intermodal revenues increased to $4.4 million compared to $1.1 million for the same period 2004.”

“Finally, even with increased capital expenditures over the previous year, we were able to reduce outstanding debt for the 22^nd straight quarter. At September 30, 2005, total debt and capital lease obligations were $47.3 million compared to $48.2 million at June 30, 2005.”

Transport America also announced that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) has just completed a follow-up review of the operations and safety management controls of the Company. Upon completion of the review process, the FMCSA confirmed Transport America’s safety fitness rating of “satisfactory”, the highest safety fitness rating given by the FMCSA.

Year-To-Date Results

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2005, Transport America announced revenues of $188.6 million, compared with 2004 year-to-date revenues of $193.1 million. Net earnings for the nine-month period were $1.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared with a 2004 net earnings of $902,000, or $0.13 per diluted share.

Included in the 2005 results is an after-tax gain on the sale of our Garland, Texas support center of $182,000, or $0.03 per share. Included in the 2004 results is an after-tax impairment charge of $114,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, related to the difference between the Company’s rent on a portion of its headquarters facility and the expected rental income from a multi-year sub-lease agreement entered into during the second quarter.

The Company will host a conference call and webcast today, October 25, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. The Internet broadcast can be accessed at the Company’s website, www.transportamerica.com, or at www.fulldisclosure.com.

About Transport America

Transport Corporation of America, Inc., based in the Minneapolis — St. Paul metropolitan area, provides a wide range of truckload freight carriage and logistics services to customers in the United States and Canada. Transport America focuses on providing time-definite and other responsive services through its team of dedicated and committed employees supported by state-of-the-art technology and information systems.

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company. The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date made. The following important factors, among other things, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect the Company’s actual results and could cause the Company’s actual financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in any forward-looking statement: (1) the highly competitive conditions that currently exist in the Company’s market and the Company’s ability to compete, (2) the Company’s ability to recruit, train, and retain qualified drivers, (3) increases in fuel prices, and the Company’s ability to recover these costs from its customers, (4) the impact of environmental standards and regulations on new revenue equipment, (5) changes in governmental regulations applicable to the Company’s operations, (6) adverse weather conditions, (7) accidents, (8) the financing and resale market for used revenue equipment, (9) changes in interest rates, (10) cost of liability insurance coverage, (11) changes in safety rating by Regulatory authorities, and (12) downturns in general economic conditions affecting the Company and its customers. The foregoing list should not be construed as exhaustive and the Company disclaims any obligation subsequently to revise or update any previously made forward-looking statements. Unanticipated events are likely to occur.

Financial Tables to Follow...

TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Three and Nine Months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

	Three Months (Unaudited)										Nine Months (Unaudited)
	2005						2004				2005						2004
	Amount			%			Amount		%		Amount			%			Amount			%
Operating revenues	$	64,357			100.0		$	65,730		100.0	$	188,621			100.0		$	193,105			100.0
Operating expenses:
Salaries, wages, and benefits		19,655			30.6			19,888		30.2		57,976			30.8			57,365			29.7
Fuel, maintenance, and other expense		13,092			20.3			11,354		17.3		36,425			19.3			31,005			16.1
Purchased transportation		18,436			28.7			19,496		29.7		54,390			28.9			60,321			31.2
Revenue equipment leases		403			0.6			347		0.5		16,805			0.6			892			0.5
Depreciation and amortization		5,599			8.7			5,988		9.1		1,195			8.9			17,693			9.2
Insurance, claims, and damage		2,003			3.1			3,931		6.0		6,233			3.3			9,824			5.1
Taxes and licenses		1,075			1.7			1,142		1.7		3,357			1.8			3,391			1.8
Communication		339			0.5			441		0.7		1,206			0.6			1,339			0.7
Other general and administrative expenses		2,819			4.4			2,343		3.6		7,780			4.1			7,226			3.7
Impairment of sublease office space		—			—			—		—		—			—			190			0.1
Gain on disposition of equipment		(314	)		(0.5	)		—		—		(332	)		(0.2	)		(22	)		(0.1	)
Total operating expenses		63,107			98.1			64,930		98.8		185,035			98.1			189,224			98.0
Operating income		1,250			1.9			800		1.2		3,586			1.9			3,881			2.0
Interest expense, net		602			0.9			756		1.1		1,928			1.0			2,406			1.2
Earnings before income taxes		648			1.0			44		0.1		1,658			0.9			1,475			0.8
Income tax provision		215			0.3			8		0.0		617			0.3			573			0.3
Net earnings		433			0.7			36		0.1		1,041			0.6			902			0.5
Earnings per common share – basic	$	0.07					$	0.01			$	0.16					$	0.13
Earnings per common share – diluted	$	0.07					$	0.01			$	0.16					$	0.13
Average common shares outstanding
Basic		6,563,440						6,523,417				6,554,142						6,788,123
Diluted		6,647,913						6,655,208				6,672,350						6,904,551

TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.
BALANCE SHEET
September 30, 2005 and 2004
(In thousands)
Unaudited

ASSETS
	2005			2004
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,215		$	5,415
Trade receivables, net of allowances		27,504			27,721
Other receivables		1,716			2,450
Operating supplies		986			853
Deferred income taxes		5,354			6,516
Prepaid expenses		2,281			2,655
Total Current Assets		40,056			45,610
Revenue Equipment, at Cost		175,663			183,751
Less: accumulated depreciation		(71,868	)		(82,664	)
Revenue Equipment, Net		103,795			101,087
Property and Other Equipment:
Land, buildings, and improvements		14,892			16,369
Other equipment and leasehold improvements		19,408			21,338
Less: accumulated depreciation		(17,747	)		(18,275	)
Property and Other Equipment, Net		16,553			19,432
Revenue, Property and Other Equipment, Net		120,348			120,519
Other Assets, Net		2,492			945
Total Assets	$	162,896		$	167,074
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
	2005			2004
Current Liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	$	8,836		$	8,544
Current maturities of capital lease obligations		4,962			8,984
Accounts payable		7,918			9,551
Checks issued in excess of cash balances		2,439			1,295
Due to independent contractors		1,366			1,386
Accrued expenses		21,816			22,759
Total Current Liabilities		47,337			52,519
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligations
Long-term debt, less current maturities		33,550			28,549
Capital lease obligations, less current maturities		—			4,947
Total Long-Term Debt
& Capital Lease Obligations		33,550			33,496
Deferred Income Taxes		24,444			25,949
Shareholders’ Equity:
Common stock		66			65
Additional paid-in capital		25,680			25,402
Retained earnings		31,819			29,643
Total Shareholders’ Equity		57,565			55,110
Total Liabilities and Equity	$	162,896		$	167,074

TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.
Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Data
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005 and 2004

	Three Months						Nine Months
	2005			2004			2005			2004
Operating Statistics
Company tractors, seated		851			918			851			918
Company tractors, other		207			116			207			116
Independent contractor		433			601			433			601
Total tractors (at end of period)		1,491			1,635			1,491			1,635
Trailers (at end of period)		4,376			4,992			4,376			4,992
Average tractors in service		1,294			1,548			1,333			1,547
Total loaded miles (000's)		33,073			39,945			101,191			120,621
Total miles (000's)		37,021			44,996			113,628			135,281
Freight revenue per tractor per week*	$	2,941		$	2,882		$	2,906		$	2,865
Fuel surcharge per tractor per week		497			231			413			188
Operating revenue per tractor per week	$	3,438		$	3,113		$	3,319		$	3,053
Freight revenue per loaded mile*	$	1.550		$	1.497		$	1.544		$	1.483
Fuel surcharge per loaded mile		0.262			0.120			0.220			0.097
Operating revenue per loaded mile	$	1.812		$	1.617		$	1.764		$	1.580
Freight revenue per mile*	$	1.385		$	1.329		$	1.375		$	1.322
Fuel surcharge per mile		0.234			0.106			0.196			0.087
Operating revenue per mile	$	1.619		$	1.435		$	1.571		$	1.409
Average empty mile percentage		10.7	%		11.2	%		10.9	%		10.8	%
Average length of haul, all miles		652			681			658			687
Average annual revenues per non-driver employee (000’s)	$	678		$	649		$	649		$	636
Financial Data (000’s)
Freight revenue (excluding fuel surcharge)	$	51,258		$	59,797		$	156,257		$	178,845
Fuel surcharge revenue		8,682			4,785			22,263			11,767
Operating revenue (including fuel surcharge)		59,940			64,582			178,520			190,612
Logistics and other revenue		4,417			1,148			10,101			2,493
Total revenue	$	64,357		$	65,730		$	188,621		$	193,105
Capital expenditures, net of proceeds	$	4,132		$	11,108		$	18,217		$	13,650
Total debt and capital lease obligations	$	47,348		$	51,024		$	47,348		$	51,024
* Excluding fuel surcharge