New ABF Freight System, Inc. Senior Vice Presidents Named

(Fort Smith, Arkansas, November 17, 2005) -- ABF Freight System, Inc.®, the largest subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS), has announced the appointment of Chris Baltz, Wes Kemp and Roy Slagle to the position of senior vice president. In addition, as previously announced, Judy McReynolds has been named Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Arkansas Best Corporation. All of these promotions are effective on February 1, 2006 and these four persons will report to Robert A. Davidson. As previously announced, on February 1, 2006 Mr. Davidson will become Arkansas Best's President and Chief Executive Officer. In addition to these new duties with Arkansas Best, Mr. Davidson will continue to be the President and Chief Executive Officer of ABF Freight System, Inc.
Chris Baltz has been named Senior Vice President of Yield Management and Strategic Development. In his new position, Mr. Baltz will lead all activity related to pricing, rating, strategic planning, market development and specialized supply chain services at ABF.
Mr. Baltz began his career with ABF in 1989 as an analyst in the company's pricing department. After holding various positions within the pricing area, he was named ABF's Director of Marketing and Public Relations in 1997. Since 2004, Mr. Baltz has served as ABF's Vice President of Marketing and Pricing with responsibility for pricing, market strategy, new service development, Internet initiatives, advertising and public relations. Mr. Baltz is a graduate of the University of Arkansas where he earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering.
Wes Kemp has been named Senior Vice President of Operations. Mr. Kemp has held a variety of positions during his 36-year career with ABF and currently serves as Vice President of Terminal Operations. In his new role, he will be responsible for all areas of operational execution for ABF, including terminal and linehaul operations, equipment procurement and maintenance, real estate management and industrial relations. Mr. Kemp will also lead ABF's engineering and safety and security initiatives.
Mr. Kemp joined ABF as a management trainee in 1969 after graduating from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor's degree in management. During the first thirteen years of his tenure with ABF, he served as equipment coordinator, manager of systems design, manager of production systems, and director of engineering. Prior to assuming his current duties in 1985, he was an ABF Regional Vice President of Operations based in Bristol, CT. Mr. Kemp has completed the Executive Program at Northwestern University in Advanced Transportation/Logistics Management. He is also on the board of the Mack-Blackwell Transportation Center and the Supply Chain Management Research Center at the University of Arkansas.
Roy Slagle, a 33-year veteran of the transportation industry, has been named Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, with responsibility for all of ABF's local and national sales execution and administration. He will also oversee ABF's advertising, marketing and public relations initiatives.
Mr. Slagle has been with ABF for more than 29 years, beginning as an operations supervisor in the company's Dayton, OH distribution center. He moved into the operations manager position at that facility before advancing to Cincinnati, OH as branch manager. In 1985, Mr. Slagle moved to ABF's major distribution center in Carlisle, PA as branch manager and also served as a regional training specialist. In 1989 he was named Regional Vice President of Sales in Dayton, OH. Mr. Slagle moved to ABF's headquarters in Fort Smith, AR in 1995 to serve as Vice President and Treasurer and subsequently added the title of Vice President of Administration in 2000. Mr. Slagle has completed the Executive Program at Northwestern University in Financial Management for Transportation and Logistics.
Judy McReynolds has served as Arkansas Best's Vice President, Controller since January 2000. Ms. McReynolds joined Arkansas Best in 1997 after several years in public accounting and two years at another publicly held transportation company. Ms. McReynolds holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Oklahoma.
Arkansas Best Corporation, headquartered in Fort Smith, AR, is a transportation holding company with two primary operating subsidiaries. ABF Freight System, Inc., in continuous service since 1923, provides transportation of less-than-truckload ("LTL") general commodities throughout North America. Clipper is an intermodal marketing company that provides domestic freight services utilizing rail and over-the-road transportation. For more information, please visit www.arkbest.com.
Established in 1923, ABF is one of North America's oldest and most reputable motor carriers. It continues to be recognized as a benchmark for safety, security, technology and freight-handling standards. ABF's emphasis on quality and value was cited by Logistics Management magazine, which awarded the carrier a 2004 Quest for Quality Award. ABF also was recognized by CIO magazine for innovative excellence in information technology, earning the 2005 CIO Enterprise Value Award for the transportation industry and a spot on the CIO Top 100 Companies list in both 2004 and 2005.
ABF operates an extensive network of customer service centers and distribution facilities strategically located throughout North America. Through this network, ABF provides comprehensive shipping services to all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Guam and Puerto Rico. Globally, the carrier serves 250 ports in more than 130 countries. ABF is certified as an Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) carrier by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as well as a Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) carrier to and from Canada. Via its TimeKeeper® service, ABF provides guaranteed service for expedited or time-definite shipments.
Investor Relations Inquiries: Mr. David Humphrey, Director of Investor Relations
Arkansas Best Corporation
Telephone: (479) 785-6200
Press Inquiries: Mr. Danny Loe, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
ABF Freight System, Inc.
Telephone: (479) 785-8803