ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER 1998 CASH DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED STOCK (NASDAQ/NMS: " ABFS")

(Fort Smith, Arkansas, July 22, 1998) - The Board of Directors of Arkansas Best Corporation has declared to be paid for the third quarter of 1998, to holders of record of its $2.875 Series A Cumulative Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock (NASDAQ/NMS: "ABFSP") on August 4, 1998, a cash dividend of $.71875 per share payable August 18, 1998.
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Contact: David Humphrey, Director - Investor Relations, at (501) 785-6200
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