ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2000 CASH DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED STOCK

(Fort Smith, Arkansas, January 21, 2000) – The Board of Directors of Arkansas Best Corporation (NASDAQ/NMS: “ABFS”; www.arkbest.com) has declared to be paid for the first quarter of 2000, to holders of record of its $2.875 Series A Cumulative Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock (NASDAQ/NMS: "ABFSP") on February 5, 2000, a cash dividend of $0.71875 per share payable February 15, 2000.
Contact: Mr. David Humphrey, Director of Investor Relations
              Telephone (479) 785-6200