Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.22

                       FIRST UNION COMMERCIAL CORPORATION

                                 USA TRUCK, INC.

October 17, 2000

Mr. Jerry D. Orler
Chief Financial Officer
USA Truck, Inc.
3200 Industrial Park Road
Van Buren, Arkansas 72956

Dear Jerry:

We are pleased to present our proposal for lease of equipment from First Union
Commercial Corporation. The enclosed proposal exhibit contains additional
information regarding this proposal and is incorporated herein by reference. If
the terms are mutually satisfactory, they will be incorporated in an Equipment
Lease agreement which will be executed by the parties.

The lease proposal is as follows:

1.       LESSEE:  USA Truck, Inc.

2.       LESSOR:  First Union Commercial Corporation or its nominee.

3.       EQUIPMENT, LEASE TERM AND LEASE PAYMENT:  See attached exhibit(s).

4.       TYPE OF LEASE: The lease will be a net lease whereby Lessee will be
         responsible for all expenses related directly or indirectly to the use
         of the equipment including maintenance, taxes, insurance coverage, etc.

Should this proposal be acceptable in principle, please sign and date the
enclosed original of this letter and return it to us as an indication of your
acceptance, by the expiration date noted below. As is our standard practice,
this proposal is subject to final approval by our Pricing and Credit Committees
and, as such, should not be deemed to be a commitment on the part of First
Union.

<PAGE>   2
We appreciate the opportunity to present this proposal and look forward to your
favorable acknowledgement of this letter. In the meantime, we would be pleased
to receive any questions or comments that you may have.

Sincerely,

FIRST UNION COMMERCIAL CORPORATION

/s/ J. Roberts

Jody Roberts
Vice President

                                            ACCEPTED PROPOSAL EXHIBIT NO.

                                            USA TRUCK, INC.
                                            ---------------
                                                  (Seal)
                                            By: /s/ Jerry D. Orler
                                                ------------------

                                                  C.F.O.
                                            ------------------
                                                  Title

                                            Date: October 18, 2000

THIS PROPOSAL SHALL EXPIRE ON NOVEMBER 17, 2000 UNLESS ACCEPTED BY LESSEE PRIOR
TO THAT DATE.<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.23

           FIRST UNION COMMERCIAL CORPORATION PROPOSAL EXHIBIT (NO. 1)

                                 USA TRUCK, INC.

                            PROPOSAL EXHIBIT (NO. 1)

The terms of this Proposal Exhibit are incorporated by reference within the
Proposal letter dated October 17, 2000.

1.       TYPE OF EQUIPMENT: Approximately One Hundred and Seventy (170)
         Freightliner Columbia Tractors.

2.       ANTICIPATED EQUIPMENT COST: Approximately $12,000,000.00.

3.       EQUIPMENT LOCATION: Continental United States.

4.       ANTICIPATED DELIVERY DATE: January 15th through December 15th, 2001.

5.       LEASE TERM: Forty-two (42) months.

6.       LEASE PAYMENTS: Lessee shall make forty-two (42) monthly payments, each
         payable in arrears, with the following monthly payment factors
         according to the month of equipment takedown:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Month             JAN       FEB       MAR       APR       MAY      JUNE     JULY      AUG      SEPT       OCT       NOV       DEC
--------------  -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------  -------  -------   -------   -------   -------   -------
<S>             <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
Lease Rate      6.33%     6.28%     6.24%     6.19%     6.17%     6.12%    5.64%    5.58%     5.51%     5.50%     5.43%     5.37%
--------------  -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------  -------  -------   -------   -------   -------   -------
Payment Factor  1.70079   1.69791   1.69500   1.69206   1.69071   1.68786  1.65767  1.65373   1.64976   1.64854   1.64468   1.64079
--------------  -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------  -------  -------   -------   -------   -------   -------
</TABLE>

         The lease rate in this transaction will float from the date of this
         letter until the equipment funding date, based on the change in either
         the 5 1/2% Treasury Note's yield to maturity of 5.87% with a three (3)
         year remaining life and maturing Jan, 2003 or the one year LIBOR rate
         of 6.62%, as published in the October 17, 2000 edition of The Wall
         Street Journal and as published on the equipment funding date. The
         lease rate in this transaction will float up from the date of this
         proposal until the equipment funding date based on the change in either
         the above referenced Treasury Note's yield to maturity or the one year
         LIBOR rate, whichever is greater. The lease rate in this transaction
         will float down from the date of this proposal until the equipment
         funding date based on the change in either the above referenced
         Treasury Note's yield to maturity or the one year LIBOR rate, whichever
         is less. The lease rate shall be adjusted by .01% for each
         corresponding increase or decrease of .01% in the selected index.

7.       PURCHASE OPTION: At the end of the lease term, Lessee shall have the
         option to purchase the equipment for its then Fair Market Value.

8.       TERMINAL RENTAL ADJUSTMENT CLAUSE: If the fair market value paid to
         Lessor by the Lessee or a third party exceeds or falls below forty-five
         percent (45%) of original equipment cost, the excess will be refunded
         to Lessee or the shortfall will be reimbursed to Lessor by Lessee
         through a rental adjustment.

9.       DEPRECIATION: For the account of the LESSOR and assumed to be three (3)
         year MACRS property.

<PAGE>   2
10.      EXPENSES: Lessee shall bear expenses related to (i) preparation,
         negotiation and the finalization of documents related to the
         transaction, (ii) out-of-pocket expenses for lien searches, title
         searches and obtaining certified copies of charter documents and good
         standing certificates, (iii) title application, lien application and
         registration fees and financing statement filing fees, and (iv) similar
         out-of-pocket expenses.

11       INDEMNIFICATION: Lessee shall indemnify Lessor against all hazards,
         liabilities, claims, actions, contingencies and risk of loss caused by
         the acts and omissions of Lessee. Additionally, Lessee shall indemnify
         Lessor against the loss of tax benefits retained by Lessor caused by
         the acts and omissions of Lessee.<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.24

                 SUNTRUST LEASING CORPORATION COMMITMENT LETTER

                                 USA TRUCK, INC.

November 3, 2000

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 2001 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 27, 2000.

         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 7th day of November, 2000

USA Truck, Inc.
---------------
Lessee

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

        Jerry D. Orler
   --------------------------------------
                  Print Name Above<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.25

                   SUNTRUST LEASING CORPORATION LEASE PROPOSAL

                                 USA TRUCK, INC.

                      LEASE PROPOSAL DATED NOVEMBER 3, 2000

LESSOR:                             SunTrust Leasing Corporation/or its assignee
                                    or nominee

LESSEE:                             USA Truck, Inc.

EQUIPMENT:                          Freightliner FLD-120 Tractors

EQUIPMENT COST:                     Up to $16,500,000 in total lease
                                    outstandings (estimated to be $8,330,000 in
                                    new funding for the 2001 calendar year)

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.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    Base Lease              Monthly Rental Factor
                                    Commencement Date     (As a % of Equipment Cost)
                                    -----------------     --------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>
                                    January, 2001                 1.69876
                                    February, 2001                1.69520
                                    March, 2001                   1.69156
                                    April, 2001                   1.68827
                                    May, 2001                     1.68660
                                    June, 2001                    1.68334
                                    July, 2001                    1.66295
                                    August, 2001                  1.65793
                                    September, 2001               1.65277
                                    October, 2001                 1.65027
                                    November, 2001                1.64542
                                    December, 2001                1.64046
</TABLE>

                                    The above Monthly Rental Factors are based
                                    on current market conditions as of October
                                    27, 2000. On this date the interpolated
                                    yield for the three (3) year Treasury Note
                                    is 5.84%. 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.

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

<PAGE>   2

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.

<PAGE>   3

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-Five Percent (45%) 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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