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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>0000883945-09-000016.txt : 20090130
<SEC-HEADER>0000883945-09-000016.hdr.sgml : 20090130
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090130194135
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000883945-09-000016
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090128
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090130
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090130

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Ming Darron Ray
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001409567

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19858
		FILM NUMBER:		09559677

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		479-471-2500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3200 INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD
		CITY:			VAN BUREN
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72956

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			USA TRUCK INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000883945
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TRUCKING (NO LOCAL) [4213]
		IRS NUMBER:				710556971
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3200 INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD
		CITY:			VAN BUREN
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72956
		BUSINESS PHONE:		479-471-2500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3200 INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD
		CITY:			VAN BUREN
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72956
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>drm_form4-20090130ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000883945</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>USA TRUCK INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>USAK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001409567</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ming Darron Ray</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3200 INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VAN BUREN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>72956</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Finance, CFO &amp; Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-28</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25540</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy) Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-28</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 28, 2009, the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors approved the USA Truck, Inc. Executive
 Team Incentive Plan (&quot;Plan&quot;) which granted the Reporting Person the right to acquire Restricted Stock of the Company.  The
 initial award granted under this Plan will be determined based upon the market price of the Company's Common Stock on a
 future date.  An amendment to this Form 4 will be filed once the quantity of the award has been determined.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On January 28, 2009, the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors approved the USA Truck, Inc. Executive
 Team Incentive Plan (&quot;Plan&quot;) which granted the Reporting Person an option (right to buy) of the Company's Common Stock.  The
 initial award granted under this Plan will be determined based upon the market price of the Company's Common Stock on a
 furture date.  An amendment to this Form 4 will be filed once the exercise price and quantity of the award have been
 determined.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Darron R. Ming</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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