Exhibit 99.1

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

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

# FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 25, 2005

# TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA
REPORTS THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, October 25, 2005  Transport Corporation of
America, Inc. (NASDAQ: TCAM) today announced revenues for the third quarter 2005 of $64.3 million, compared to revenues of
$65.7 million for the third quarter 2004, a decrease of 2.1 percent. Excluding fuel surcharge revenues, revenues decreased 8.5
percent to $55.7 million in the third quarter 2004 from $60.9 million in the same period of 2003. Third quarters net
earnings were $433,000 or $0.07 per diluted share, compared with a 2004 third quarter net earnings of $36,000, or $0.01 per
diluted share.

Third quarter 2005 results include an after-tax gain on the sale of our
Garland, Texas support center of $182,000, or $0.03 per diluted share. The third quarter 2004 results included additional expense
related to several serious accidents that occurred during the period. Insurance, claims and damage expense was $3.9 million, or
6.0 percent of revenue, during the third quarter 2004 compared to $2.0 million, or 3.1 percent of revenue, for the same period
2005.

Michael Paxton, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented,
The challenging driver market continues to impede our ability to grow core truckload revenues. While we have seen an
increase in the number of Company drivers during the quarter, we have continued to lose owner operators at a faster pace than we
are able to recruit Company drivers. On the Company side, we believe we are seeing the results of our recruiting initiatives,
including a renewed focus on recruiting students directly from schools, our commitment to get drivers home weekly in over 60
percent of our recruiting markets, and additional dedicated fleet opportunities. These items have allowed us to increase our
hiring numbers and decrease our termination numbers in the third quarter, which reduced the rate of decline in capacity from
recent quarters levels.

Paxton continued, Even though our overall seated capacity has
decreased, we continue to benefit from programs to identify and achieve cost savings, improved accident frequency and claims
development, and improved tractor utilization. Revenue per tractor per week increased to $3,096 in the third quarter 2005 compared
to $3,018 during the same period 2004. Our deadhead percentage (empty miles) has decreased to 10.7 percent in the third quarter
2005 compared to 11.2 percent in the same period 2004. In addition to improving the fundamentals of our fleet, we continue to
focus on growing new brokerage and intermodal business opportunities. During the third quarter 2005, logistics and intermodal
revenues increased to $4.4 million compared to $1.1 million for the same period 2004.

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Finally, even with increased capital expenditures over the previous
year, we were able to reduce outstanding debt for the 22nd straight quarter. At September 30, 2005, total debt and
capital lease obligations were $47.3 million compared to $48.2 million at June 30, 2005.

Transport America also announced that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA) has just completed a follow-up review of the operations and safety management controls of the
Company. Upon completion of the review process, the FMCSA confirmed Transport Americas safety fitness rating of
satisfactory, the highest safety fitness rating given by the FMCSA.

# Year-To-Date Results

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2005, Transport America
announced revenues of $188.6 million, compared with 2004 year-to-date revenues of $193.1 million. Net earnings for the nine-month
period were $1.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared with a 2004 net earnings of $902,000, or $0.13 per diluted share.

Included in the 2005 results is an after-tax gain on the sale of our Garland,
Texas support center of $182,000, or $0.03 per share. Included in the 2004 results is an after-tax impairment charge of $114,000,
or $0.02 per diluted share, related to the difference between the Companys rent on a portion of its headquarters facility
and the expected rental income from a multi-year sub-lease agreement entered into during the second quarter.

The Company will host a conference call and webcast today, October 25, 2005
at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. The Internet broadcast can be accessed at the Companys website, www.transportamerica.com, or at
www.fulldisclosure.com.

# 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 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) the highly competitive conditions that currently exist in the Companys
market and the Companys ability to compete, (2) the Companys ability to recruit, train, and retain qualified drivers,
(3) increases in fuel prices, and the Companys ability to recover these costs from its customers, (4) the impact of
environmental standards and regulations on new revenue equipment, (5) changes in governmental regulations applicable to the
Companys operations, (6) adverse weather conditions, (7) accidents, (8) the financing and resale market for used revenue
equipment, (9) changes in interest rates, (10) cost of liability insurance coverage, (11) changes in safety rating by Regulatory
authorities, 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...

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TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Three and Nine Months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

|                                          | Three Months(Unaudited) |  | Nine Months(Unaudited)
|----------------------------------------- | ----------------------- |  | ----------------------
|
|
|Operating revenues                        |                         |  | $                     
|                                         
|Operating expenses:                       |                         | 
|Salaries, wages, and benefits             |                         |  |                       
|Fuel, maintenance, and other expense      |                         |  |                       
|Purchased transportation                  |                         |  |                       
|Revenue equipment leases                  |                         |  |                       
|Depreciation and amortization             |                         |  |                       
|Insurance, claims, and damage             |                         |  |                       
|Taxes and licenses                        |                         |  |                       
|Communication                             |                         |  |                       
|Other general and administrative expenses |                         |  |                       
|Impairment of sublease office space       |                         |  |                       
|Gain on disposition of equipment          |                         |  |                       
|                                          |                         |  |                       
|Total operating expenses                  |                         |  |                       
|                                          |                         |  |                       
|                                         
|Operating income                          |                         |  |                       
|                                         
|Interest expense, net                     |                         |  |                       
|                                          |                         |  |                       
|                                         
|Earnings before income taxes              |                         |  |                       
|                                         
|Income tax provision                      |                         |  |                       
|                                          |                         |  |                       
|Net earnings                              |                         |  |                       
|                                          |                         |  |                       
|                                         
|                                         
|Earnings per common share  basic         |                         |  | $                     
|                                          |                         |  |                       
|Earnings per common share  diluted       |                         |  | $                     
|                                          |                         |  |                       
|Average common shares outstanding         |                         | 
|Basic                                     |                         |  |                       
|Diluted                                   |                         |  |                       

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# TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.
BALANCE SHEET
September 30, 2005 and 2004
(In thousands)
Unaudited

|ASSETS                                            
|--------------------------------------------------
|                                                  
|
|Current Assets:                                   
|Cash and cash equivalents                         
|Trade receivables, net of allowances              
|Other receivables                                 
|Operating supplies                                
|Deferred income taxes                             
|Prepaid expenses                                  
|                                                  
|Total Current Assets                              
|                                                  
|Revenue Equipment, at Cost                        
|Less: accumulated depreciation                    
|                                                  
|Revenue Equipment, Net                            
|                                                  
|Property and Other Equipment:                     
|Land, buildings, and improvements                 
|Other equipment and leasehold improvements        
|Less: accumulated depreciation                    
|                                                  
|Property and Other Equipment, Net                 
|                                                  
|Revenue, Property and Other Equipment, Net        
|Other Assets, Net                                 
|                                                  
|Total Assets                                      
|                                                  
|                                                  
|LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY              
|
|Current Liabilities:                              
|Current maturities of long-term debt              
|Current maturities of capital lease obligations   
|Accounts payable                                  
|Checks issued in excess of cash balances          
|Due to independent contractors                    
|Accrued expenses                                  
|                                                  
|Total Current Liabilities                         
|                                                  
|Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligations        
|Long-term debt, less current maturities           
|Capital lease obligations, less current maturities
|                                                  
|Total Long-Term Debt                              
|& Capital Lease Obligations                       
|                                                  
|Deferred Income Taxes                             
|                                                  
|Shareholders Equity:                             
|Common stock                                      
|Additional paid-in capital                        
|Retained earnings                                 
|                                                  
|Total Shareholders Equity                        
|                                                  
|                                                  
|Total Liabilities and Equity                      
|                                                  

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# TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.
Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Data
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005 and 2004

|                                                        | Three Months |  | Nine Months
|------------------------------------------------------- | ------------ |  | -----------
|
|Operating Statistics                                    |              |  |            
|Company tractors, seated                                |              |  |            
|Company tractors, other                                 |              |  |            
|Independent contractor                                  |              |  |            
|                                                        |              |  |            
|Total tractors (at end of period)                       |              |  |            
|Trailers (at end of period)                             |              |  |            
|                                                       
|Average tractors in service                             |              |  |            
|Total loaded miles (000's)                              |              |  |            
|Total miles (000's)                                     |              |  |            
|                                                       
|Freight revenue per tractor per week*                   |              |  | $          
|Fuel surcharge per tractor per week                     |              |  |            
|                                                        |              |  |            
|Operating revenue per tractor per week                  |              |  | $          
|                                                        |              |  |            
|                                                       
|Freight revenue per loaded mile*                        |              |  | $          
|Fuel surcharge per loaded mile                          |              |  |            
|                                                        |              |  |            
|Operating revenue per loaded mile                       |              |  | $          
|                                                        |              |  |            
|                                                       
|Freight revenue per mile*                               |              |  | $          
|Fuel surcharge per mile                                 |              |  |            
|                                                        |              |  |            
|Operating revenue per mile                              |              |  | $          
|                                                        |              |  |            
|                                                       
|Average empty mile percentage                           |              |  |            
|Average length of haul, all miles                       |              |  |            
|Average annual revenues per non-driver employee (000s) |              |  | $          
|                                                       
|Financial Data(000s)                                   |              | 
|Freight revenue (excluding fuel surcharge)              |              |  | $          
|Fuel surcharge revenue                                  |              |  |            
|                                                        |              |  |            
|Operating revenue (including fuel surcharge)            |              |  |            
|Logistics and other revenue                             |              |  |            
|                                                        |              |  |            
|Total revenue                                           |              |  | $          
|                                                        |              |  |            
|                                                       
|Capital expenditures, net of proceeds                   |              |  | $          
|Total debt and capital lease obligations                |              |  | $          
|                                                       
|* Excluding fuel surcharge                              |              | 

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