Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.16

                 SUNTRUST LEASING CORPORATION COMMITMENT LETTER

                                 USA TRUCK, INC.

October 24, 2001

Mr. Jerry Orler
Chief Financial Officer
USA Truck, Inc.
3108 Industrial Park Road
Van Buren, Arkansas 72956

Dear Jerry:

         We are pleased to provide the following lease proposal covering
financing for your truck acquisitions for the 2002 calendar year for your review
and consideration. The attached Proposal Exhibit outlines the details of our
financing. Per your request, the terms and conditions of this proposal are
identical to our original lease proposal dated January 4, 2000. You will note
below that the monthly lease factors have been adjusted to reflect the
prevailing market conditions as of October 24, 2001.

         Thank you for the opportunity to be of service on this transaction.
Should you have any questions or require additional information, please do not
hesitate to contact me at your convenience.

                                              Sincerely,

                                              /s/ Mark D. King

                                              SunTrust Leasing Corporation
                                              Mark D. King
                                              Vice President

Agreed to and accepted on this     5th     day of    November   , 2001
                               -----------        --------------

USA Truck, Inc.
Lessee

By:    /s/ Jerry D. Orler         C.F.O
   ----------------------------------------------------------
                   Name/Title

       Jerry D. Orler
   ----------------------------------------------------------
                       Print Name Above

                                       59<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.17

                   SUNTRUST LEASING CORPORATION LEASE PROPOSAL

                                 USA TRUCK, INC.

                      LEASE PROPOSAL DATED OCTOBER 24, 2001

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LESSOR:                                              SunTrust Leasing Corporation/or its assignee or nominee

LESSEE:                                              USA Truck, Inc.

EQUIPMENT:                                           Freightliner FLD-120 Tractors

EQUIPMENT COST:                                      $5,500,000

BASIC TERM:                                          Forty Two (42) Months

BASIC TERM COMMENCEMENT DATE:                        The Basic Term will commence on the 30th day of the month in
                                                     which the funding occurs.

BASIC TERM RENTALS:                                  Lease rentals are payable monthly in ARREARS from the Basic
                                                     Commencement Date.

                                                     Base Lease                   Monthly Rental Factor
                                                     Commencement Date          (As a % of Equipment Cost)
                                                     -----------------          --------------------------
                                                      January, 2002                     1.66988
                                                      February, 2002                    1.66712
                                                      March, 2002                       1.66390
                                                      April, 2002                       1.66190
                                                      May, 2002                         1.66055
                                                      June, 2002                        1.65805
                                                      July, 2002                        1.64261
                                                      August, 2002                      1.63884
                                                      September, 2002                   1.63542
                                                      October, 2002                     1.63379
                                                      November, 2002                    1.63044
                                                      December, 2002                    1.62704

                                                     The above Monthly Rental Factors are based on current market
                                                     conditions as of October 24, 2001. On this date the
                                                     interpolated yield for the three (3) year Treasury Note is
                                                     3.24%. On the Funding Date the Monthly Rental Factor will be
                                                     adjusted upward or downward by .011704% for every 25 basis
                                                     points change in the yield of the three (3) year Treasury
                                                     Note. The implicit rate may also be adjusted upward or
                                                     downward for each one basis point (.01%) change in the AA
                                                     swap spreads as published in SWYC of Bloomberg Investor
                                                     Service for 3 year, 30/360 basis, level payment obligations.

INTERIM LEASE TERM AND RENT:                         The Interim Lease Term will run from the date the Equipment
                                                     is accepted by the Lessee to (but not including) the Basic
                                                     Term Commencement Date. Interim Rent will be paid by the
                                                     Lessee on the Basic
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<S>                                                  <C>

                                                     Term Commencement Date in an amount equal to the daily
                                                     equivalent of Basic Term Rentals.

EARLY TERMINATION:                                   In the event that any item of Equipment is (i) damaged or
                                                     destroyed to such extent that it cannot be reasonably
                                                     restored to normal operating condition or (ii) seized or
                                                     condemned by governmental authorities (i.e. eminent domain)
                                                     or (iii) lost due to theft or disappearance for a period in
                                                     excess of 45 days, the Lease with respect to such Equipment
                                                     will terminate and the Lessee thereof will pay the
                                                     Stipulated Loss Value with respect thereto.

NET LEASE:                                           The Lease will be a net lease in that the Lessee will be
                                                     responsible for any and all costs and expenses in connection
                                                     with the Equipment, including sales and use taxes, and any
                                                     other taxes with the exception of federal and state net
                                                     income taxes on the net income of the Lessor. The Lessee is
                                                     also responsible for maintaining and insuring the Equipment
                                                     and for all fees; insurance premiums; cost of installation,
                                                     operations, maintenance, repair, and rebuilding; and other
                                                     charges related to the use or possession of the Equipment.

FEDERAL TAX INDEMNIFICATIONS:                        The Lessee will indemnify the Lessor for any loss or
                                                     deduction in federal tax benefits based on the tax
                                                     assumptions outlined above if such loss or reduction is
                                                     caused by (i) any breach, inaccuracy or incorrectness of any
                                                     representation, warranty or covenant made by the Lessee,
                                                     (ii) the acts or omissions (not including the execution of
                                                     documents contemplated hereby or any act or omission
                                                     expressly required or expressly permitted by such documents)
                                                     of the Lessee, or (iii) any change in federal law with an
                                                     effective date that precedes the date of acceptance of the
                                                     Equipment for lease by the Lessee. If an Investment Tax
                                                     Credit provision is passed, benefit will flow to Lessee at
                                                     the same lease rate as indicated in this proposal.

MAINTENANCE:                                         Lessee will maintain the Equipment leased by it so that it
                                                     remains in good operating condition (ordinary wear and tear
                                                     excepted) and in compliance with any and all applicable
                                                     laws, regulations, and state inspections.

END OF TERM OPTIONS:                                 At the end of the Basic Term, the Lessee shall have the
                                                     option of purchasing the Equipment or returning the
                                                     Equipment to the Lessor in accordance with the terms
                                                     described below.
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TERMINATION:                                         At the satisfactory conclusion of the Basic Term, the Lessee
                                                     shall have the option to purchase all, but not less than
                                                     all, of the equipment on a Lease Schedule. In this event,
                                                     the Lessee will have a purchase price as follows:

                                                     Forty Percent (40%) of the Equipment Cost

                                                     In the event the Lessee chooses to return the Equipment, the
                                                     Lessor will sell the Equipment. If the Net Proceeds of the
                                                     sale (after expenses) are greater than the Purchase Price,
                                                     the excess proceeds will be returned to the Lessee. If the
                                                     Net Proceeds are less than the Purchase Price, the
                                                     difference between the proceeds and the Purchase Price will
                                                     be paid by the Lessee to the Lessor as a final Rental
                                                     Payment then due.

DOCUMENTATION:                                       This Proposal is not intended to address all the final legal
                                                     and documentation matters pertaining to this lease. The
                                                     lease documentation will represent the final legal
                                                     agreement. The lease documentation will be furnished by the
                                                     Lessor.

DISCLAIMER:                                          This proposal letter is not a commitment by SunTrust Leasing
                                                     Corporation to enter into this lease. A commitment can be
                                                     issued only upon final approval by our Credit/Investment
                                                     Committee.
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