(FORT SMITH, Arkansas, April 18, 2003) — ABF Freight System, Inc.^®, announces the launch of its Reports Inbox tool, further enhancing the transportation industry’s most innovative collection of online reporting tools. Reports Inbox allows customers to schedule the ongoing delivery of customized shipment reports for distribution via e-mail or for placement in a secure, online “inbox” location within the Reports Center at abf.com.

Reports Inbox further expands online shipment visibility and control for ABF’s customers by placing real-time or historical shipment information, in a customer-designed format, at a convenient location of the customer’s choosing. Customer interviews and online customer surveys led to the development of this new tool. Doug Erwin, materials group supervisor at NGK Spark Plugs USA, was one of the customers who tested the system for ABF^®. Mr. Erwin uses Reports Inbox daily to ensure the prompt and reliable shipping of components critical to his supply chain that stretches across the United States and into Mexico.

 “ABF developed Reports Inbox around our needs and was willing to adjust the tool based on our feedback,” Mr. Erwin said. “Our buyers, operating out of our West Virginia manufacturing facility, can schedule a report that will notify them daily of all inbound shipments. These e-mail reports allow our buyers to see where their supplies are located and when they are scheduled to arrive. Reports Inbox is a ‘must’ if you are optimizing your supply chain. It’s easy to control and really helps you maximize the dollar,” Mr. Erwin added.

“Reports Inbox presents customers with a new level of flexibility, with reports they can automate in a number of ways,” commented Michael Newcity, ABF manager of eCommerce. “For example, a customer can receive an e-mail each morning listing all shipments due for delivery that day, simultaneously sending the same report to his own customers or vendors via e-mail.” Mr. Newcity added, “These interactive reports also allow the recipients to access critical shipping documents like the proof of delivery, review the freight invoice, and track and reroute shipments, all directly from the report.”

The launch of Reports Inbox enhances ABF’s online Reports Center — a collection of tools offering industry-leading reporting capabilities by means of sophisticated, but user friendly, Status Reports, Historical Summary Reports, the industry’s first and only Business Trend Analysis tool, the exclusive Charts & Graphs tool and now the Reports Inbox. 

Using the innovative tools within the Reports Center, customers can examine shipping and receiving patterns over the current and previous years, by month, by location, by state, by vendor or customer. Data can be displayed as bar, line and pie charts or in a standard report format with links to real-time shipment information. The customer can conduct business including shipment tracking, rerouting and document retrieval directly from these reports.

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.