USA Truck Inc. reports financial results.

VAN BUREN, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 1996--USA Truck Inc. (NASDAQ/NMS:USAK) announced today that operating revenues for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 1995, were $25,425,380, up 4.7% from $24,277,638 for the same quarter of 1994.

Net income decreased 45.0% to $1,088,797 ($.11 per share) for the fourth quarter of 1995, compared to $1,979,109 ($.20 per share) for the fourth quarter of 1994.

For the year ended Dec. 31, 1995, operating revenues increased 10.7% to $102,400,353, from $92,511,364 for the year ended Dec. 31, 1994. Net income decreased 25.2% to $6,037,408 ($.60 per share) for the year ended Dec. 31, 1995, compared to $8,067,329 ($.80 per share) for the year ended Dec. 31, 1994.

The following table summarizes USA Truck's earnings information: -0-

                           Quarter Ended            Year Ended
                              Dec. 31,                Dec. 31,
                         1995        1994        1995        1994

Operating revenues  $25,425,380 $24,277,638 $102,400,353 $92,511,364
Operating expenses
 and costs:
 Salaries, wages and
  employee benefits  10,226,530  10,007,752   42,859,567  38,093,614
 Operations and
  maintenance         6,810,706   6,281,871   26,908,540  23,143,655
 Operating taxes
  and licenses          442,780     415,293    1,822,295   1,574,844
 Insurance and claims 1,976,616     945,251    5,146,409   3,631,768
 Communications and
  utilities             373,340     283,200    1,284,957     980,590
 Depreciation and
  amortization        2,864,811   2,409,547   11,144,969   9,125,533
 Other                  808,336     514,910    2,794,443   2,075,267
 Total operating
  expenses and costs 23,503,119  20,857,824   91,961,180  78,625,271
Operating income      1,922,261   3,419,814   10,439,173  13,886,093
Other expenses, net     156,167     209,579      646,134     800,400
Income before income
 taxes                1,766,094   3,210,235    9,793,039  13,085,693
Income taxes            677,297   1,231,126    3,755,631   5,018,364
Net income          $ 1,088,797 $ 1,979,109  $ 6,037,408 $ 8,067,329
Earnings per share  $       .11 $       .20  $       .60 $       .80
Average shares
 outstanding          9,912,660  10,086,076   10,030,312  10,103,976

Key Operating Statistics:
                              Quarter Ended          Year Ended
                                 Dec. 31,              Dec. 31,
                             1995       1994       1995       1994
Total miles
 (loaded & empty)         22,782,849 21,816,818 92,174,623 82,983,154
Empty mile factor             10.64%      9.97%     10.69%      9.23%
Revenue per mile              $1.116     $1.113     $1.111     $1.115
Average number of tractors       794        678        771        642
Miles per tractor             28,694     32,178    119,552    129,257
Average miles per tractor
 per week                      2,352      2,638      2,382      2,565
Miles per trip                   879        940        900        948
Number of shipments           23,161     20,896     91,460     79,422
Operating ratio                92.4%      85.9%      89.8%      85.0%-0-

In comparing the financial results of the year ended Dec. 31, 1995, to the year ended Dec. 31, 1994, Robert M. Powell, president and chief executive officer of the company, said, "There was no soft landing in 1995 for trucking companies. The reduction in the growth rate of economic activity and the excess capacity within the truckload sector of the industry caused a reduction in utilization and increase in empty miles.

"Although 1995 was a year of scrambling to adjust equipment orders to meet demand, USA Truck experienced revenue growth of 11% while maintaining a revenue per mile rate of $1.11. That, combined with the efforts of our employees, provided an operating ratio below 90.0% for the sixth consecutive year."

Although our utilization rate was at an all time high as recently as 1994, current market conditions have caused our fleet size to exceed our customers' demands. These conditions do not impede nor detract from our ability to manage cost, make fact based decisions consistent with long range plans, or invest in company infrastructure that will continue to position USA Truck among the leaders in the truckload industry. Currently all of our tractors have drivers assigned to them. We are aggressively seeking additional business from new and existing customers, and we have the ability to quickly increase our fleet size should market conditions improve.

USA Truck is a medium haul, common and contract carrier specializing in truckload quantities of general commodities. The company operates in the 48 contiguous United States and in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

CONTACT: USA Truck Inc., Van Buren

Jerry D. Orler, 501/471-2657