Fort Smith, Arkansas, February 15, 1999 -- ABF Freight System, Inc., one of the largest U.S. less-than-truckload (LTL) motor carriers, has formed an alliance with MultiPack, one of Mexico's largest motor carriers.

The alliance will provide motor freight and expedited cargo service to and from virtually all points in Mexico. The new service was launched on February 11 in Mexico with a joint announcement by ABF President/CEO David E. Stubblefield and MultiPack Director General Luis Javier Barroso Acosta. Stubblefield stated, "This alliance combines MultiPack's significant Mexican transportation experience and network with ABF's similar capabilities throughout the United States and Canada. By leveraging the strengths of each company, our combined service will bring an unmatched value to our customers." Stubblefield said ABF had been doing business in Mexico for more than 30 years, "but we wanted to establish a relationship with a carrier that has a solid infrastructure in Mexico. We feel that MultiPack meets and exceeds that requirement."

The ABF-MultiPack alliance can move freight across the U.S.-Mexican border via six primary gateways at San Diego, CA; Nogales, AZ; and El Paso, Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville, TX. The service offers bilingual personnel at these gateways, as well as many other facilities. ABF and MultiPack provide real- time shipment status information over the entire shipment route. Customers receive a single freight bill based upon a simplified rate structure, supported by personal computer and Internet quotation programs. Payment is accepted in either U.S. dollars or Mexican pesos.

MultiPack, an ISO 9001 certified company, has 335 offices, including 35 major distribution centers. With more than 6,000 employees in Mexico, the company operates 4,100 pickup and delivery units. All MultiPack tractors and trailers are tracked and controlled by satellite from the headquarters in Mexico City for added security. For data and voice integration of its facilities, MultiPack maintains its own fiber optic communication lines within Mexico.

ABF Freight System, Inc. has direct service to all 50 states, nine Canadian provinces, Guam and Puerto Rico. In addition to this enhanced service to Mexico, ABF serves more than 160 other countries worldwide with seamless single-bill service. ABF is the largest subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS).

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