(FORT SMITH, Arkansas, December 13, 2002) — ABF Freight System Inc.^® has selected its 2003 Load Team, consisting of the top freight-handling professionals from across ABF’s North American network. ABF^® Load Team members for 2003, are as follows:

Donnie Adams, Ellenwood, Georgia
David Bond, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Richard Brandt, Dayton, Ohio
Travis Drage, Salt Lake City, Utah
Bobby King, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Brian Komula, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Richard Mann, Dallas, Texas
Darrell Motton, Little Rock, Arkansas
Brian Osinski, South Chicago, Illinois

When asked about his selection, David Bond from Carlisle said, “I am happy to be recognized among so many great ABF employees. I just do my part to move the freight on-time and claims-free. Taking care of our customers’ freight is a group effort.”

Albuquerque Load Team member Brian Komula added, “Working together as a team is very important to a successful operation. Doing it right the first time and making safety the first priority are the critical things to remember when loading a trailer.”

Load Team members are selected on the basis of their safety records and involvement in ABF’s Quality Process. Also considered is their ability to load trailers in an optimal fashion – a skill that facilitates the safe, timely and efficient movement of shipments. Additional details about the ABF Load Team are available at www.abf.com/about/news/loadteam/.

Wes Kemp, ABF’s vice president of terminal operations, commented, “We greatly appreciate the work of these nine exceptionally talented individuals and their contribution to ABF’s success. They’re the best of the best. In addition to their outstanding work, they also serve as outstanding role models for other employees. Load Team members epitomize ABF’s commitment to meeting the needs of our customers through safe and efficient freight handling.” 

ABF's safety and freight handling performance has been consistently recognized as best-in-class. Over the past two decades, ABF has received the ATA’s prestigious President’s Trophy for safety in virtually every year that it has been eligible. In each of the last 30 years, ABF’s safety ranking has been first, second or third within its trucking category. In 2001, the ATA selected ABF as the top LTL motor carrier both in claims/loss prevention and in security, the first such dual award of its kind. Earlier this year, ABF was again selected by the ATA as the top LTL motor carrier in claims/loss prevention.

ABF Freight System Inc. is one of North America’s largest and most experienced motor carriers, with direct service to all 50 states, nine Canadian provinces and Puerto Rico. In addition to its broad service to Mexico, the carrier offers service to 250 ports in more than 130 countries worldwide. Via its TimeKeeper^® service, ABF provides guaranteed expedited service for time-critical and time-definite shipments. The company’s Web site, www.abf.com, is ranked among the best 50 of all sites by CIO magazine and top 10 Web sites by BtoB magazine. ABF has been in continuous service since 1923 and is the largest subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS).

Contact: Mr. Chris Baltz, director of marketing & public relations — ABF Freight System Inc. — Telephone: (479) 785-8803