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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,
 PmEtR4De30GvKRnYfuyHtG8RFhnicVu9r4K1fv2aZP6XsH2KCHEozJ6XnO3lDMNh
 NSq9mbbQUvnLcxr3QyQqwQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-04-004811.txt : 20040817
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-04-004811.hdr.sgml : 20040817
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040817181131
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-04-004811
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040816
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040817

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCUDDER MARK A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181048

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24946
		FILM NUMBER:		04982829

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		411 S. 13TH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			LINCOLN
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68508

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		411 S. 13TH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			LINCOLN
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68508

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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181048</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCUDDER MARK A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5601 WEST BUCKEYE ROAD</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>2004-08-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>252</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.63</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4120</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></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 directors on February 15 and August 15 of each year as payment of accrued director's fees for the preceding six month periods ending December 31 and June 30, respectively, at the closing market price for such shares as of the trading day prior to issuance.  The 252 shares of Knight stock received by Mr. Scudder were shares received in lieu of cash for director's fees.  The number of shares beneficially owned by Mr. Scudder reflected in this Form 4 represents his direct Knight share ownership as of August 16, 2004, and includes shares acquired via a 3-for-2 stock split, payable as a 50% stock dividend, on July 20, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mark A. Scudder</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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