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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001008886-05-000052.txt : 20050218
<SEC-HEADER>0001008886-05-000052.hdr.sgml : 20050218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050218174233
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001008886-05-000052
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050218
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050218

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COVENANT TRANSPORT INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000928658
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TRUCKING (NO LOCAL) [4213]
		IRS NUMBER:				880320154
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 BIRMINGHAM HIGHWAY
		CITY:			CHATTANOOGA
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37419
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4238211212

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 BIRMINGHAM HIGHWAY
		CITY:			CHATTANOOGA
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37419

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TOWE RICHARD L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001229383

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24960
		FILM NUMBER:		05628669

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8005320341

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 BIRMINGHAM HIGHWAY
		CITY:			CHATTANOOGA
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37419
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>toweform4_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000928658</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COVENANT TRANSPORT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CVTI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229383</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TOWE RICHARD L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>400 BIRMINGHAM HIGHWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHATTANOOGA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37419</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr VP - Driver Services</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>275</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k) Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right-to-Buy) Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.43</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1255</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-02-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1255</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1255</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The number of shares reported beneficially owned following the reported transaction is equal to the reporting person's
February 16, 2005, account balance, the latest balance available under the plan, in the employer stock fund under the
issuer's 401(k) Plan divided by the closing price on February 16, 2005. The fund is unitized and as such does not itself
allocate a specific number of shares to each participant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option to purchase is subject to earlier termination in the event of termination of the reporting person's employment
with the issuer. Termination provisions are set forth in the stock option agreement between the reporting person and the
issuer and in the issuer's 2003 Incentive Stock Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Upon exercise, the derivative security converts on a one-for-one basis into Class A Common Stock. The reporting person does
not have to pay for the derivative security upon grant. The exercise price of the derivative security is set forth in Column
2 of Table II of this report.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard L. Towe, by Heidi Hornung-Scherr, attorney-in-fact, pursuant to a POA previously filed with the SEC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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