ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER 1999 CASH DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED STOCK

(Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 20, 1999) - The Board of Directors of Arkansas Best Corporation (NASDAQ/NMS: “ABFS”; WWW.ARKBEST.COM) has declared to be paid for the fourth quarter of 1999, to holders of record of its $2.875 Series A Cumulative Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock (NASDAQ/NMS: “ABFSP”) on November 5, 1999, a cash dividend of $.71875 per share payable November 15, 1999.
Contact: Mr. David Humphrey, Director of Investor Relations
              Telephone (479) 785-6200