(FORT SMITH, Arkansas, December 20, 2002) — ABF Freight System Inc.^® announces the promotion of Gerald Pirpich to vice president of marketing and pricing effective February 1, 2003. Mr. Pirpich has more than 25 years of experience in customer relations and yield management and currently serves as director of pricing.

As vice president of marketing and pricing, Mr. Pirpich will lead all activity related to yield management, market strategy, advertising, public relations and freight bill rating. He will assume the position being vacated by Bob Davidson. Mr. Davidson will assume the role of ABF President and CEO on February 1, 2003.

“Over the past 20 years, Gerald has played a key role in the development and implementation of ABF’s yield management principles, helping ABF to become the most profitable long-haul LTL carrier in the United States,” noted Mr. Davidson. “Gerald has a thorough understanding of our customers and the competitive landscape of the LTL industry. Under his leadership, I am confident that ABF will continue to offer customers the best value in the transportation industry.”

In 1966, Mr. Pirpich joined ABF^® as a dispatcher at the Fort Smith, Arkansas service center. He moved to the general office in 1967 as a rate trainee and two years later was named traffic analyst. After holding positions as assistant traffic manager, assistant director of traffic and traffic manager, Mr. Pirpich was promoted to the position of director of pricing in 1982.

Mr. Pirpich and his wife of 42 years, Sissy, have three sons and four grandchildren.

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. Photo image of Mr. Pirpich is available upon request at marketing@abf.com