ArcBest Statement On Coronavirus

At ArcBest, we are monitoring the evolving situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its potential impact on our customers’ supply chains.

Our primary focus is the health, welfare and safety of our team members, and we have business continuity and contingency plans in place in the event of widespread outbreak. These plans include enabling employees to work remotely if necessary, to reduce the risk of service interruptions.

Recent actions include:

• At all of our locations, we have implemented screening procedures for visitors and are limiting entry to only necessary personnel.
• We have instituted screening procedures with customers who have inside or residential deliveries.
• We have modified procedures and software to enable drivers to deliver freight without a customer handling their handheld device, and we have provided cleaning instructions for the handheld devices. Please see temporary updates to ArcBest and ABF Rules Tariffs.
• We have instituted travel restrictions for management and are using technology to conduct meetings virtually instead of in person.

This is a very fluid situation. We are continually monitoring it closely and making adjustments to ensure our customers’ supply chains keep running. 

It will take a coordinated effort from all parties to ensure the movement of goods across the United States is uninterrupted. At this time, there are no restrictions on the movement of essential goods such as medical supplies, food, water, etc.

In this unprecedented time, communication is more important than ever. We recommend that shippers monitor conditions at the location of their intended recipients before shipping to ensure orders can be delivered.

We understand shippers have concerns about service networks. While the full impact of the coronavirus is not yet determined, we are well positioned and prepared to aid you if you experience supply chain challenges or disruptions that develop because of the coronavirus.

We are posting updates on service outages on our service advisories page, and we have strategies in place to adjust operations to ensure minimal interruptions to service. We continue to serve customers in all markets.

For almost 100 years, we have provided reliable service to customers of all sizes, and we have decades of experience managing supply chain disruptions due to natural disasters and emergencies. We are confident we have the equipment and resources necessary to help customers should the coronavirus pose an increased threat.

We will continue to assess this situation and how new developments could affect you. We remain committed to providing a best-in-class experience and supporting you as you evaluate the potential impacts to your businesses.

If you have specific questions, please contact your ArcBest account manager.