Bryan Cave LLP
3500 One Kansas City Place
1200 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64105-2100

October 1, 1996

OTR Express, Inc.
804 N. Meadowbrook Drive
Olathe, Kansas 66062

Re:   OTR Express, Inc. 1996 Stock  Option Plan of 1991 (the "Plan") 
      Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies/Gentlemen:

We are writing as counsel for OTR Express, Inc. (the
"Corporation") in connection with the above-captioned Registration
Statement on Form S-8 to which this opinion is filed as an exhibit
(the "Registration Statement") which registers under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, fifty thousand (50,000) shares of Common
Stock of the Corporation (the "Shares") which may be purchased
pursuant to the exercise of options granted pursuant to the Plan.

As counsel for the Corporation, we are familiar with its Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, and Bylaws, as amended.  We are also
familiar with the corporate proceedings taken by the Corporation in
connection with the authorization of the Plan.  In rendering this
opinion we have examined and relied upon such corporate records
of the Corporation and such other documents, instruments, and
certificates of public officials and officers and representatives of the
Corporation as we have considered relevant, necessary or
appropriate for purposes of rendering this opinion.

Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that:

1.The Corporation is duly organized, existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Kansas.

2.The Shares to which the Registration Statement relates, when sold
in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, will be legally issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.


We hereby consent to the use of our name in the Registration
Statement and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit thereto.  In
giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are experts with
respect to any part of the Registration Statement within the meaning
of the term "expert" as used in the Securities Act of 1933 or the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
promulgated thereunder.  


Very truly yours,

Bryan Cave LLP