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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EyXipLJ20HFZX8D2JA8HjzaMvUKyeHaLZJQSFSK/q+fwSF/g6U842Jffui8fmOvh
 vX4hL2+yXeclJx+oeyFrfA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-04-001292.txt : 20040217
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-04-001292.hdr.sgml : 20040216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040217110429
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-04-001292
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040217

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BLISS DONALD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001187343

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24946
		FILM NUMBER:		04604927

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5601 WEST BUCKEYE ROAD
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85043

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000929452
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TRUCKING (NO LOCAL) [4213]
		IRS NUMBER:				860649974
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			AZ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5601 W BUCKEYE RD
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85043
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6022692000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5601 W BUCKEYE RD
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85043
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000929452</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KNGT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187343</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLISS DONALD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5601 WEST BUCKEYE RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHOENIX</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85043</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>154</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.31</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12316</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each independent director of Knight Transportation, Inc. (&quot;Knight&quot;) may elect to receive shares of Knight common stock in lieu of cash for director's fees. If an independent director elects to receive Knight stock as his director compensation, Knight issues stock to the independent director on February 15 and August 15 of each year in payment of accrued director's fees for the preceding six month periods ending June 30 and December 31, respectively, at the closing market price for such shares as of the trading day prior to issuance. The 154 shares of Knight stock received were shares received in lieu of cash for director's fees.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The number of shares beneficially owned by Mr. Bliss reflected in this Form 4 represents his share ownership as of February 15, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Donald A. Bliss</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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