Exhibit 99.1

                       COVENANT TRANSPORT, INC. ANNOUNCES
                        FILING OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

CHATTANOOGA,   TENNESSEE  -  October  28,  2003  -  Covenant   Transport,   Inc.
(Nasdaq/NMS:CVTI) announced today that it filed a registration statement on Form
S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The  registration  statement  covers the offer of up to 2,300,000  shares of the
Company's  Class  A  common  stock,  including  300,000  shares  subject  to  an
over-allotment option in favor of the underwriters. Of the shares covered by the
filing,  it is anticipated that 1,000,000 shares will be offered by David R. and
Jacqueline F. Parker and 1,000,000 shares will be offered by the Estate of Clyde
M. Fuller. It also is anticipated that the shares subject to the  over-allotment
option, if exercised by the  underwriters,  will be sold by Mr. and Mrs. Parker.
Mr. and Mrs.  Parker are the  principal  stockholders  of the  Company,  and Mr.
Parker is the Chairman,  President, and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Fuller, who
passed  away in  December  following  a long  and  distinguished  career  in the
transportation   industry,   was  Mr.  Parker's  stepfather  and  a  significant
stockholder of the Company. The selling stockholders will receive all of the net
proceeds from the offering.

A  registration  statement  relating to the  securities  has been filed with the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  but has not yet  become  effective.  The
securities  may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted  prior to the time
the  registration  statement  becomes  effective.  This press  release shall not
constitute  an offer to sell or the  solicitation  of an offer to buy, nor shall
there be any sale of the  securities  in any  jurisdiction  in which such offer,
solicitation,  or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or  qualification
under the securities laws of such  jurisdiction.  When available,  copies of the
preliminary prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from the offices
of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179.

Covenant Transport,  Inc. is a public truckload carrier that offers just-in-time
service and other premium  transportation  services for customers throughout the
United States.  Covenant operates one of the ten largest fleets in North America
and is committed to growing  revenue and earnings per share both  internally and
through  acquisitions.  The  Company's  common  stock is  traded  on the  Nasdaq
National Market under symbol "CVTI."

This press  release  contains  forward-looking  statements  that  involve  risk,
assumptions,  and uncertainties  that are difficult to predict.  Statements that
constitute  forward-looking  statements are usually  identified by words such as
"anticipates,"   "believes,"   "estimates,"   "projects,"   "expects,"  "plans,"
"intends," or similar  expressions.  These  statements  are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such  statements  are based upon the  current  beliefs and  expectations  of our
management  and are  subject  to  significant  risks and  uncertainties.  Actual
results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking  statements.  The
following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially
from those in forward-looking statements:  excess tractor or trailer capacity in
the trucking industry;  decreased demand for our services or loss of one or more
of our major customers;  surplus inventories;  recessionary  economic cycles and
downturns in  customers'  business  cycles;  strikes,  work slow downs,  or work
stoppages at Company facilities, or at customer, port,


or other shipping related  facilities;  increases or rapid  fluctuations in fuel
prices as well as fluctuations in hedging  activities and surcharge  collection,
the volume and terms of diesel purchase commitments, interest rates, fuel taxes,
tolls, and license and registration  fees;  increases in the prices paid for new
revenue  equipment;  the resale value of our used equipment and the price of new
equipment;  increases in  compensation  for and  difficulty  in  attracting  and
retaining qualified drivers and independent contractors;  elevated experience in
the  frequency  and severity of matters  relating to accident,  cargo,  workers'
compensation,  health, and other claims;  high insurance premiums and deductible
amounts;  seasonal  factors  such as  harsh  weather  conditions  that  increase
operating costs;  competition from trucking,  rail, and intermodal  competitors;
regulatory  requirements that increase costs or decrease  efficiency,  including
revised  hours-of-service  requirements for drivers; the ability to successfully
execute the Company's initiative of improving the profitability of medium length
of haul,  or  "in-between,"  movements;  and the ability to identify  acceptable
acquisition  candidates,   consummate   acquisitions,   and  integrate  acquired
operations.  Readers  should  review and consider  these  factors along with the
various disclosures by the Company in its press releases,  stockholder  reports,
and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


For further information contact:
Joey B. Hogan, Executive VP and Chief Financial Officer          (423) 825-3336
hogjoe@covenanttransport.com

For copies of Company information contact:
Kim Perry                                                        (423) 825-3357
perkim@covenanttransport.com