UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. )*

USA TRUCK INC.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $.01 

(Title of Class of Securities)

902925106 

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

Alec N. Litowitz

Magnetar Capital LLC

1603 Orrington Ave.

Evanston, Illinois 60201

(847) 905-4400 

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized
to Receive Notices and Communications)

June 29, 2022 

(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a Statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D and is filing this Schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box. ¨

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 240.13d-7(b) for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

SCHEDULE 13D

This Schedule 13D (this “Statement”) relates to the common stock, $0.01 par value (the “Shares”), of USA Truck Inc., a company incorporated in Delaware (the “Company”). The principal executive offices of the Company is 3200 Industrial Park Road, Van Buren, Arkansas 72956.

(a)       The persons filing this Statement are Magnetar Financial LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Magnetar Financial”), Magnetar Capital Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Magnetar Capital Partners”), Supernova Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Supernova Management”), and Alec N. Litowitz (“Mr. Litowitz”) (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”).

This Statement relates to Shares held for the accounts of each of (i) Magnetar PRA Master Fund Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“PRA Master Fund”), and (ii) Magnetar Systematic Multi-Strategy Master Fund Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company, (“Systematic Master Fund, collectively (the “Funds”).

Magnetar Financial is a Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registered investment adviser under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and manager of investment funds and managed accounts. Magnetar Financial serves as investment adviser to each of the Funds. In such capacity, Magnetar Financial exercises voting and investment power over the Shares held for the accounts of each of the Funds. Magnetar Capital Partners serves as the sole member and parent holding company of Magnetar Financial. Supernova Management is the general partner of Magnetar Capital Partners. The manager of Supernova Management is Mr. Litowitz.

(b)       The business address of each of the Reporting Persons is 1603 Orrington Avenue, 13^th Floor, Evanston, Illinois 60201.

(c)       Each of the Funds is a private investment fund; Magnetar Financial is a privately-held SEC registered investment adviser and manager of investment funds and managed accounts; Magnetar Capital Partners is a privately-held limited partnership and serves as the sole member and parent holding company of Magnetar Financial; Supernova Management is a privately-held limited liability company and is the general partner of Magnetar Capital Partners; and Mr. Litowitz is a citizen of the United States of America, manager of Supernova Management and Chief Executive Officer of Magnetar Financial.

(d)       None of the Reporting Persons has, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

(e)       None of the Reporting Persons has, during the last five years, been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction as a result of which such Reporting Person was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

(f)       Magnetar Financial is a Delaware limited liability company. Magnetar Capital Partners is a Delaware limited partnership. Supernova Management is a Delaware limited liability company. Mr. Litowitz is a citizen of the United States of America.

The aggregate amount of funds used by the Reporting Persons in purchasing the 542,355 Shares reported herein on behalf of the Funds have come directly from the assets of the Funds, which may at any given time, have included margin loans made by brokerage firms in the ordinary course of business. The aggregate amount of funds used by the Reporting Persons in purchasing the Shares on behalf of the Funds was $16,828,929.80 (excluding commissions and other execution-related costs).

The Reporting Persons acquired the 542,355 Shares reported herein on behalf of the Funds after the public announcement of the Merger Agreement (as defined below) for purposes of receiving the merger consideration described below upon consummation of the Merger (as described below).

Each of the Reporting Persons reserves the right to acquire additional securities of the Company in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise, to dispose of all or a portion of the Shares and/or other securities reported in this Statement, or to change their intention with respect to any or all of the matters referred to in this Item 4.

Other than as described above in this Item 4, the Reporting Persons do not have any plans or proposals that relate to, or would result in, any actions or events specified in clauses (a) through (j) of Item 4 to Schedule 13D.

The Company reported in their Form 8-K filed on June 24, 2022, that 9,033766 Shares outstanding as of June 23, 2022.

(a)               As of the close of business July 6, 2022, each of the Reporting Persons may have been deemed to have beneficial ownership of 542,355 Shares, which consisted of (i) 449,492 Shares held for the benefit of PRA Master Fund and (ii) 92,863 Shares held for the benefit of Systematic Master Fund, and all such Shares represented beneficial ownership of approximately 6.00% of the Shares.

(b)               As of the close of business July 6, 2022, each of the Reporting Persons may have been deemed to share the power to vote and direct the disposition of 542,355 Shares, which consisted of (i) 449,492 Shares held for the benefit of PRA Master Fund and (ii) 92,863 Shares held for the benefit of Systematic Master Fund and all such Shares represented beneficial ownership of approximately 6.00% of the Shares.

(c)               Except as set forth on Schedule A attached hereto and Item 6, the Funds had no transactions in the Shares during the 60 days preceding the date of filing of this Statement. All of the transactions set forth on Schedule A attached hereto were effected in the ordinary course of business of Magnetar Financial for the accounts of each of the Funds. The transactions in the Shares set forth on Schedule A were effected in open market transactions on the NASDAQ and various other trading markets.

As disclosed by the Company in the 8-K filed with the SEC on June 23, 2022:

On June 23, 2022, USA Truck, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Schenker, Inc., a New York corporation (“Parent”) and Tango Merger, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, that Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”). Parent and Merger Sub are affiliates of DB Schenker, one of the world's leading logistics service providers.

(d)       No other person is known by the Reporting Persons to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, any Shares that are beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons.

Item 6.      contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships with respect to the securities of the issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k)(1) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Reporting Persons have entered into an agreement with respect to the joint filing of this Statement, and any amendment or amendments hereto.

Except as otherwise described herein, no contracts, arrangements, understandings or similar relationships exist with respect to the securities of the Company among or between the Reporting Persons or any other person or entity.

ITEM 7.      MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated:    July 7, 2022

SCHEDULE A

Funds

(1) Excludes commissions and other execution-related costs.

(2) Upon request by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, full information regarding the number of shares bought or sold (as the case may be) at each separate price will be provided.

(3) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $3.05611 per share, at prices ranging from $30.785 to $31.035 per share.

(4) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $3.05928 per share, at prices ranging from $30.78 to $31.4 per share.

(5) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $3.10980 per share, at prices ranging from $30.86to $31.18 per share.

(6) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $3.04916 per share, at prices ranging from $31.01 to $31.4 per share.

(7) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $3.12491 per share, at prices ranging from $31.13 to $31.4 per share.

(8) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $3.08027 per share, at prices ranging from $31.095 to $31.365 per share.

EXHIBIT INDEX