<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-5.1
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>dex51.txt
<DESCRIPTION>OPINION OF SMITH, GAMBRELL & RUSSELL, LLP
<TEXT>
<PAGE>

                                                                     Exhibit 5.1

                 [Letterhead of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP]

                                  March 1, 2002

Board of Directors
P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc.
Highway 412 West
Tontitown, Arkansas 72770

      Re: Registration Statement on Form S-2

Gentlemen:

     This firm has acted as counsel to P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with its registration,
pursuant to the Company's registration statement on Form S-2, File No. 333-83084
(as amended, the "Registration Statement"), of (i) 2,621,250 shares (the
"Company Shares") of the Company's common stock, $0.01 par value per share,
including 521,250 shares that may be offered and sold by the Company upon
exercise of an underwriters' over-allotment option described in the Registration
Statement, and (ii) 1,375,000 shares (the "Selling Stockholder Shares") of the
Company's common stock to be offered and sold by the holders thereof disclosed
in the "Principal and Selling Stockholders" section of the Registration
Statement. This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you
to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R.
Section 229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.

     For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of the
following documents:

     1. A copy of the Registration Statement.

     2. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as currently in effect.

     3. The Bylaws of the Company, as currently in effect.

     4. Minutes and/or resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company
        certified by the Secretary of the Company as then being complete,
        accurate and then in effect.

     5. Such other documents or instruments as we have deemed necessary to the
        opinions expressed herein.

     In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the
authenticity, accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, and
the conformity with the original documents of all documents submitted to us as
certified, telecopied, photostatic, or reproduced copies. We have also assumed
the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certifications of corporate
officials which we have examined. This opinion letter is given, and all
statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.

<PAGE>

Board of Directors
P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc.
March 1, 2002
Page 2

     Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion
that (i) the Company Shares have been legally authorized and, when issued and
sold in accordance with the terms described in the Registration Statement, will
be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and (ii) the Selling
Stockholder Shares have been legally issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable.

     This opinion letter has been prepared solely for your use in connection
with the filing of the Registration Statement and, except as set forth in the
following paragraph, is not to be quoted in whole or in part or otherwise be
referred to, or filed with or furnished to any governmental agency or other
person or entity, without the prior written consent of this firm.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to
the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption
"Legal Matters" in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration
Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we come within
the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rule and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        SMITH, GAMBRELL & RUSSELL, LLP

                                        By: /s/ Marlon F. Starr
                                           ---------------------------
                                           Marlon F. Starr

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
