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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 rdqwRnDgVF9GIWqVQwuYMQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019687-09-000787.txt : 20090310
<SEC-HEADER>0001019687-09-000787.hdr.sgml : 20090310
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090310165028
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019687-09-000787
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090306
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090310
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090310

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MOROUN MATTHEW T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001030743
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15057
		FILM NUMBER:		09670072

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8109397000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12225 STEPHENS ROAD
		CITY:			WARREN
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48089

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PAM TRANSPORTATION SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000798287
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TRUCKING (NO LOCAL) [4213]
		IRS NUMBER:				710633135
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		297 WEST HENRI DE TONTI BLVD
		CITY:			TONTITOWN
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72770
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4793619111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		297 WEST HENRI DE TONTI BLVD
		CITY:			TONTITOWN
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72770
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-03-06</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000798287</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PAM TRANSPORTATION SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PTSI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001030743</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOROUN MATTHEW T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>12225 STEPHENS ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WARREN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48089</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>29861</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.97</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1537047</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10409</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.86</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1547456</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3092000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>In Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ C. Douglas Buford, Jr. as power of attorney for Matthew T. Moroun</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>moroun_poa.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 24 - POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints
each of C. Douglas Buford, Jr. and Larry Goddard, signing singly, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

         (1)      prepare, execute in the undersigned's name and on the
                  undersigned's behalf, and submit to the U.S. Securities and
                  Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a Form ID, including
                  amendments thereto, and any other documents necessary or
                  appropriate to obtain codes and passwords enabling the
                  undersigned to make electronic filings with the SEC of reports
                  required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
                  1934 or any rule or regulation of the SEC;

         (2)      execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
                  undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director of P.A.M.
                  Transportation Services, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4, and
                  5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange
                  Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder, and any other forms on
                  reports the undersigned may be required to file in connection
                  with the undersigned's ownership, acquisition, or disposition
                  of securities of the Company;

         (3)      do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
                  undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete
                  and execute any such Form 3, 4, or 5, or other form or report,
                  and timely file such form or report with United States
                  Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange
                  similar authority; and

         (4)      take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection
                  with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such
                  attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest
                  of , or legally required by, the undersigned, it being
                  understood that the documents executed by such
                  attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this
                  Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such
                  terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in
                  such attorney-in-fact's discretion

         The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power
and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever
requisite, necessary, or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights
and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full power of
substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of the power of attorney and the
rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that the
foregoing attorneys-in-facts, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the
undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.

         This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney
to be executed as of this 10th day of March, 2009.


                                                  /s/ Matthew T. Moroun
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Signature


                                                  Matthew T. Moroun
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Printed Name
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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