Exhibit 99.1

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

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 7, 2006

TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA
REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, February 7, 2006 – Transport Corporation of America, Inc. (NASDAQ: TCAM), today announced revenues for the fourth quarter 2005 of $65.8 million, compared with 2004 fourth quarter revenues of $65.3 million. Excluding fuel surcharges, revenues decreased to $56.1 million from $58.6 million.

Fourth quarter 2005‘s net loss was $445,000, or $0.07 per share, compared with fourth quarter 2004 net income of $1.1 million, or $0.17 per diluted share. Results in the fourth quarter 2005 include one-time expenses related to the previously announced proposed merger with Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison Incorporated of $800,000 after taxes, or $0.12 per share.

Full Year Results

For the year ended December 31, 2005, Transport America announced revenues of $254.4 million, compared with 2004 revenues of $258.4 million. Excluding fuel surcharges, revenues decreased to $222.4 million from $239.9 million.

Net income for the year was $596,000, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared with a 2004 net income of $2.0 million, or $0.30 per diluted share. Results in 2005 include one-time expenses related to the pending merger of $979,000 after taxes, or $0.15 per diluted share, and a gain of $182,000 after taxes, or $0.03 per diluted share, relating to the sale of its Garland, Texas maintenance facility.

Proposed Merger

On October 27, 2005, the Company announced that it had signed a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Minneapolis-based private equity investment firm, Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison Incorporated. On January 27, 2006, the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Transport America issued notice of a special meeting of shareholders to be held on Tuesday, February 28, 2006; the purpose of which is to vote upon a proposal to approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger providing for the acquisition of Transport America by Patriot Holding Corp., a Minnesota Corporation controlled by Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison Incorporated. In light of these developments, the Company has determined to forego its normal quarterly conference call.

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, Mexico, 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) Transport America may not be able to complete the proposed merger on the terms described above or other acceptable terms or at all because of a number of factors, including the failure to obtain shareholder approval, the failure of financing or the failure to satisfy the other closing conditions, (2) the highly competitive conditions that currently exist in the Company’s market and the Company’s ability to compete, (3) the Company’s ability to recruit, train, and retain qualified drivers, (4) increases in fuel prices, and the Company’s ability to recover these costs from its customers, (5) the impact of environmental standards and regulations on new revenue equipment, (6) changes in governmental regulations applicable to the Company’s operations, (7) adverse weather conditions, (8) accidents, (9) the financing and resale market for used revenue equipment, (10) changes in interest rates, (11) cost of liability insurance coverage, 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 Twelve Months ended December 31, 2005 and 2004
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

	Three Months (Unaudited)										Year To Date (Unaudited)
	2005						2004				2005						2004
	Amount			%			Amount		%		Amount			%			Amount		%
Operating revenues	$	65,774			100.0		$	65,303		100.0	$	254,395			100.0		$	258,408		100.0
Operating expenses:
Salaries, wages, and benefits		19,948			30.3			18,764		28.7		77,924			30.6			76,129		29.5
Fuel, maintenance, and other expense		14,584			22.2			11,904		18.2		51,009			20.1			42,909		16.6
Purchased transportation		17,617			26.8			18,822		28.8		72,007			28.3			79,144		30.6
Revenue equipment leases		373			0.6			374		0.6		1,568			0.6			1,266		0.5
Depreciation and amortization		5,743			8.7			6,064		9.3		22,548			8.9			23,757		9.2
Insurance, claims, and damage		2,352			3.6			2,672		4.1		8,585			3.4			12,496		4.8
Taxes and licenses		1,074			1.6			1,213		1.9		4,431			1.7			4,604		1.8
Communication		307			0.5			449		0.7		1,513			0.6			1,788		0.7
Other general and administrative expenses		2,424			3.7			2,409		3.7		9,913			3.9			9,634		3.7
Merger / Acquisition Expenses		813			1.2			0		0.0		1,104			0.4			0		0.0
Impairment of sublease office space		0			0.0			0		0.0		0			0.0			190		0.1
Loss (Gain) on disposition of property and equipment		(33	)		(0.1	)		47		0.1		(365	)		(0.1	)		25		0.0
Total operating expenses		65,202			99.1			62,718		96.0		250,237			98.4			251,942		97.5
Operating income		572			0.9			2,585		4.0		4,158			1.6			6,466		2.5
Interest expense, net		669			1.0			708		1.1		2,597			1.0			3,115		1.2
Earnings before income taxes		(97	)		(0.1	)		1,877		2.9		1,561			0.6			3,351		1.3
Income tax provision		348			0.5			741		1.1		965			0.4			1,314		0.5
Net earnings (loss)	$	(445	)		(0.7	)	$	1,136		1.7	$	596			0.2		$	2,037		0.8
Earnings (loss) per common share - basic	$	(0.07	)				$	0.17			$	0.09					$	0.30
Earnings (loss) per common share - diluted	$	(0.07	)				$	0.17			$	0.09					$	0.30
Average common shares outstanding
Basic		6,567,826						6,525,692				6,557,591						6,722,157
Diluted		6,567,826						6,665,496				6,694,228						6,841,195

TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.
BALANCE SHEET
December 31, 2005 and 2004
(In Thousands)
Unaudited

ASSETS

	2005			2004
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,461		$	3,714
Trade receivables, net of allowances		24,607			24,610
Other receivables		2,473			1,170
Operating supplies		864			800
Deferred income taxes		4,684			6,316
Prepaid expenses		4,523			2,626
Total Current Assets		44,612			39,236
Revenue Equipment, At Cost		172,488			180,827
Less: accumulated depreciation		(68,080	)		(80,077	)
Revenue Equipment, Net		104,408			100,750
Property and Other Equipment:
Land, buildings, and improvements		15,195			16,516
Other equipment and leasehold improvements		19,177			21,219
Less: accumulated depreciation		(18,168	)		(18,699	)
Property and Other Equipment, Net		16,204			19,036
Revenue, Property and Other Equipment, Net		120,612			119,786
Other Assets, Net		1,573			2,056
Total Assets	$	166,797		$	161,078

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

	2005		2004
Current Liabilities:
Current maturities of Long Term Debt	$	11,171	$	7,965
Current maturities of Capital Lease Obligations		2,823		9,990
Accounts payable		3,974		5,026
Checks issued in excess of cash balances		2,398		1,871
Due to independent contractors		912		1,157
Accrued expenses		21,130		21,132
Total Current Liabilities		42,408		47,141
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligations
Long-term debt less current maturities		41,892		28,336
Capital lease obligations less current maturities		—		2,826
Total Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligations		41,892		31,162
Deferred Income Taxes		25,331		26,504
Shareholders’ Equity:
Common stock		66		65
Additional paid-in capital		25,726		25,428
Retained earnings		31,374		30,778
Total Shareholders’ Equity		57,166		56,271
Total Liabilities and Equity	$	166,797	$	161,078

TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.
Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Data
Three and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2005 and 2004

	Three Months						Twelve Months
	2005			2004			2005			2004
Operating Statistics
Company tractors, seated		903			860			903			860
Company tractors, other		130			159			130			159
Independent contractor		388			551			388			551
Total tractors (at end of period)		1,421			1,570			1,421			1,570
Trailers (at end of period)		4,316			4,897			4,316			4,897
Average company tractors in service		1,353			1,551			1,394			1,607
Total loaded miles (000's)		32,079			36,721			133,270			157,342
Total miles (000's)		35,931			41,441			149,560			176,722
Freight revenue per tractor per week*	$	3,034		$	2,924		$	2,937		$	2,880
Fuel surcharge per tractor per week	$	577		$	350		$	453		$	226
Operating revenue per tractor per week	$	3,611		$	3,274		$	3,390		$	3,106
Freight revenues per loaded mile*	$	1.586		$	1.532		$	1.554		$	1.494
Fuel surcharge per loaded mile	$	0.303		$	0.183		$	0.240		$	0.118
Operating revenues per loaded mile	$	1.889		$	1.715		$	1.794		$	1.612
Freight revenues per mile*	$	1.416		$	1.357		$	1.385		$	1.330
Fuel surcharge per mile	$	0.270		$	0.162		$	0.214		$	0.105
Operating revenues per mile	$	1.686		$	1.519		$	1.599		$	1.435
Average empty mile percentage		10.7	%		11.4	%		10.9	%		11.0	%
Average length of haul, all miles		657			664			658			682
Average annual revenues per non-driver employee (000's)	$	693		$	659		$	660		$	642
Financial Data (000's)
Freight revenue (excluding fuel surcharge)	$	50,880		$	56,251		$	207,137		$	235,095
Fuel surcharge revenue		9,710			6,718			31,973			18,485
Operating revenue (including fuel surcharge)	$	60,590		$	62,969		$	239,110		$	253,580
Logistics and other revenue		5,185			2,334			15,285			4,828
Total revenue	$	65,775		$	65,303		$	254,395		$	258,408
Capital expenditures, net of proceeds	$	6,091		$	5,377		$	24,308		$	19,027
Total debt and capital lease obligations	$	55,886		$	49,117		$	55,886		$	49,117
* Excluding fuel surcharge