POWER OF ATTORNEY
For Executing Forms 3, 4 and 5
Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints each of Jerry D. Orler, Cliff
Beckham, and Craig Shelly signing singly, his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact to:
(1)	execute for and on behalf of the undersigned,
in the undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or
director of USA Truck, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms 3,
4 and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules thereunder;
(2)	do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of
the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete
and execute any such Form 3, 4 and 5 and timely file such form
with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and
any stock exchange or similar authority; and
(3)	take any other action of any type whatsoever in
connection with foregoing which, in the opinion of such
attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest
of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it being
understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in
- -fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power
of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such
terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve
in his direction.
The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-
fact full power and authority to do and perform any and
every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or
proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights
and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally
present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-
fact, or his substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and
the rights and powers herein granted.  The undersigned
acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in
serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned,
are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the
undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and
effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file
Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings
of and transactions in securities relating to the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing
delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power
of Attorney to be executed as of this 15th day of August, 2002.
	/s/ Joe D. Powers
	Signature
	Joe D. Powers
	Printed Name