ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER 1995 CASH DIVIDENDS ON COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCK

(ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION - NASDAQ/NMS: "ABFS")

(Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 25, 1995) - The Board of Directors of Arkansas Best Corporation has declared to be paid for the fourth quarter of 1995, to holders of record of its Common Stock .01 par value (NASDAQ/NMS: "ABFS"), on November 8, 1995, a cash dividend of one cent ($.01) per share payable November 22, 1995.
Also, the Board of Directors of Arkansas Best Corporation has declared to be paid for the fourth quarter of 1995, to holders of record of its $2.875 Series A Cumulative Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock (NASDAQ/NMS: "ABFSP") on November 8, 1995, a cash dividend of $.71875 per share payable November 22, 1995.
Contact:      Mr. Randall M. Loyd, Director - Financial Reporting
                     Telephone: (501) 785-6200