History
1920s | 1923 Founded as a local freight hauler, the company operated in and around Fort Smith, Arkansas, as OK Transfer. |
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1930s | 1935 OK Transfer acquired Arkansas Motor Freight (AMF) and assumed its name. Became an interstate carrier with the purchase of Motor Express. |
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1940s | 1940s Operated as a regional carrier in Arkansas, Missouri and Louisiana. |
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1950s | 1951 Robert A. Young Jr. purchased AMF and made other key acquisitions. 1956 AMF acquired Best Motor Freight and became Arkansas Best Freight System Inc. the next year – later renamed ABF. |
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1960s | 1966 Arkansas Best Corporation is formed. System expansion continued with the purchase of Healzer Cartage Company, Delta Motor Line and others. |
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1970s | 1972 Arkansas Best Corporation becomes a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. 1978 With the purchase of Navajo Freight Lines, ABF becomes one of 12 transcontinental motor carriers. |
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1980s | 1980 The Motor Carrier Act of 1980 is introduced, and the trucking industry is deregulated. 1988 Arkansas Best Corporation endures a hostile takeover attempt. A leveraged buyout is executed and Arkansas Best becomes a private company. |
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1990s | 1992 Arkansas Best Corporation once again becomes a public company, now traded on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. 1994 Arkansas Best expands its global capabilities through its own non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) operation. 1995 Worldway acquisition, which includes the purchase of FleetNet America. |
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2000s | 2006 Robert A. Young III retires as CEO after a 42-year career. He remains as Chairman of the Arkansas Best Corporation Board. |
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2010s |
2010 ABF Logistics acquires Logistics & Distribution Services. |