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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RmpfvfazhVYFtv6BVotUkNM3FjcSC/hg1Okkh1APYaEArIWY4VKsYlazjI2VKoRq
 bT1GwuCupC1efqFoMfvRkw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000937013-03-000001.txt : 20030826
<SEC-HEADER>0000937013-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030826
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030826180322
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000937013-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030825
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030826

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POWELL ROBERT M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000937013

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19858
		FILM NUMBER:		03867324

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3108 INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD
		CITY:			VAN BURNE
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72956
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5014712500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3108 INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD
		CITY:			VAN BUREN
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72956
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-25</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000883945</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>USA TRUCK INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>usak</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000937013</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>POWELL ROBERT M</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>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>D</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>100000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2139300</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></directOrIndirect
Ownership><natureOfOwnership><value/><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The reporting person contributed/transferred 100,000 shares to the Company without consideration in a transaction exempt pursuant to Rule 16b-3 (e).</footnote><footnote id="F2">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by his spouse in the amount of 10,000 shares of common stock.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert M. Powell</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-26</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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