(FORT SMITH, Arkansas, March 5, 2003) — ABF Freight System Inc.^® has been selected as the top transportation provider for the trade show industry by show managers, as compiled by Expo magazine. ABF^® shares this “Shipper of the Year” award with EAX and Federal Express.

Expo magazine readers were encouraged to visit www.expoweb.com and participate in the Reader’s Choice Suppliers of the Year Awards survey. Trade show managers identified the best suppliers in seven categories and offered explanations for their selections. One show manager’s basis for choosing ABF included the company’s “years of specialized trade show experience and commitment to the industry and exhibitors.” One hundred fifty managers submitted carrier names for the “shipping company” category. The complete article can be viewed at: http://www.expoweb.com/CurrentIssue/feature6.htm.

“ABF is dedicated to providing the best customer care in the industry through on time, intact and damage-free freight-handling,” stated Don Reynolds, ABF vice president of national sales. “Our highly trained trade show specialists know this industry and are able to provide personal solutions for each customer’s unique needs. At trade shows, our specialists are on the floor to assist customers, immediately and in person. Behind the scenes, we are there to coordinate move-in delivery and move-out loading, along with transportation to the next show. We are pleased to be recognized as the industry’s top transportation provider and we appreciate the confidence trade show managers have placed in us.”

ABF’s freight-handling performance has been consistently recognized as best-in-class. Over the past decade, 99% of all shipments handled by ABF have moved without a loss or damage claim. ABF recently achieved a quarterly record for low claims, with 99.23% of all shipments moving claims-free. Over the past two decades, ABF has received the prestigious President’s Trophy for safety from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) 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. In 2002, 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 the 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.