(FORT SMITH, Arkansas, March 25, 2003) — The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has selected three ABF^® Road Team Drivers to be among 30 national finalists in the competition to become captains on the 2003 America’s Road Team. The drivers will now move on to the final round of competition April 6–9 at ATA headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. The selected drivers from ABF Freight System Inc.^® are Ruben Armendariz of the Albuquerque service center, Arthur (Otto) Schmeckenbecher of the Little Rock service center and Garland Woods of the Tulsa service center.  

In selecting the 30 national finalists, the ATA considered the safety record, community involvement and presentation skills of each nominated driver. “The commitment of these driver candidates to improve the safety record and public image of our industry is impressive,” said Bill Graves, ATA president and CEO, “as are their individual accident-free driving skills. Our members would be proud to have any one of these drivers representing us.”

ATA created America’s Road Team in 1986 in an effort to promote the trucking industry, its positive safety record and its professional drivers, and to highlight the importance of the industry to the U.S. economy. As a captain, drivers deliver the trucking industry’s highway safety message to the motoring public, the news media, civic organizations and legislative bodies. Thousands of professional drivers from across the nation compete annually to represent the industry in this highly-regarded position as an America’s Road Team Captain.

Ruben Armendariz has been a road driver for ABF’s Albuquerque service center since 1990. He has accumulated 2 million accident-free miles during his 25-year trucking career. “I serve the Teamsters as a steward and a Trustee, and I serve the shipping public as a dedicated employee of ABF Freight System,” stated Mr. Armendariz. “I am proud to be associated with both organizations and their partnership.” Mr. Armendariz and his wife live in Albuquerque. He enjoys spending time with his family and church, hunting, coaching softball and basketball, and playing golf and racquetball.

“Ruben Armendariz always has a quick smile and a happy disposition. He gets serious, however, when he talks about highway safety and truck drivers’ responsibilities. His long-term experience in the industry and his outstanding safety record lend credence to his message,” noted Rich Beaulieu, ABF’s vice president of transportation.

Otto Schmeckenbecher has 28 years of professional trucking experience. He has been a road driver for ABF’s Little Rock service center for over 14 years. Regarding his nomination, Mr. Schmeckenbecher commented, “It is quite an honor to be selected as a finalist from among the thousands of professional truck drivers in our industry. I appreciate the support received from everyone in the ABF family, and I will represent them to the best of my ability.” Mr. Schmeckenbecher and his wife live in Little Rock where he serves his community as an Assistant Scoutmaster working with the Boy Scouts of America. He enjoys working on home improvement projects, collecting model trains and restoring his 1969 Olds 442.

When asked about Otto Schmeckenbecher’s nomination, Mr. Beaulieu said, “Otto is serious about his profession and safety. He is very aware that the way he conducts himself reflects on ABF and his profession. He is well liked and respected by his fellow employees. Otto’s oral presentation skills are superb, his appearance professional and his personality delightful. He makes an excellent representative for our industry.”

Garland Woods, a city driver for the Tulsa service center, has fifteen years of accident- and injury-free driving. He has earned ABF’s Bronze Award for 15,000 hours driven without an accident. “Being selected as a finalist for a position on America’s Road Team is definitely the highlight of my career as a professional truck driver. I want to thank ABF for allowing me the opportunity to represent our company, our union and our industry to the general public as ambassadors of the trucking profession,” explained Mr. Woods when asked what being named as a finalist meant to him. Mr. Woods and his daughter, live in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. He enjoys fishing, weightlifting and coaching his daughter’s basketball team.

“Garland has a natural talent for meeting and conversing with people. He is an excellent speaker and a valuable contributor in group discussions about safety issues. He is especially attuned to truck drivers’ roles as protectors of the motoring public. He is always prepared to offer his expertise when events on the highway call for his assistance. Garland is an outstanding role model for other professional drivers,” commented Mr. Beaulieu.

“We are proud to have Ruben, Otto and Garland representing ABF in the competition for America’s Road Team,” added Mr. Beaulieu. “While these gentlemen excel at what they do, most importantly they possess the character and dedication required to represent our industry as members of that elite group. They are fine examples of the caliber of drivers who work for ABF and who each year come forward with an interest in furthering their service to our industry.”

During the upcoming competition, the 30 finalists will make presentations, participate in mock media interviews, and contribute to round-table discussions about the trucking industry. Being selected as an ATA America’s Road Team Captain is one of the highest honors a professional truck driver can receive. ABF drivers have been represented on America’s Road Team ten of the last twelve years.

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 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.