(FORT SMITH, Arkansas, August 4, 2003) — ABF Freight System, Inc.^®, announces the promotion of Gary W. Hunt to vice president of equipment and maintenance, effective September 1, 2003. Mr. Hunt has more than 19 years of experience with ABF^®, 13 of those years in the equipment and maintenance department. He currently serves as director of equipment.

As vice president of equipment and maintenance, Mr. Hunt will be responsible for ABF’s overall equipment plans, including analysis of replacement cycles, development of specifications, and the purchase, maintenance and disposal of equipment. His duties will also include acquisition and inventory of parts, tires, oil and fuel. He will assume the position being vacated by Jim Curtis. Mr. Curtis is retiring on August 31, 2003.

“Having the most efficient and best maintained fleet in the industry is a key ingredient in providing best-in-class customer care. Gary has the experience and judgment to carry on ABF’s excellent record in equipment selection and maintenance. I am confident that Gary is well-equipped for the challenges, and I look forward to working closely with him and others in the department,” commented ABF President and CEO Bob Davidson.

In 1984, Mr. Hunt joined ABF as a project engineer in the terminal operations department. He joined the maintenance department in 1990 where his primary responsibilities involved environmental compliance. In 1995, Mr. Hunt was promoted to director of equipment, expanding his responsibilities to include the acquisition and disposal of equipment. 

Mr. Hunt is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where he earned a degree in industrial engineering. He and his wife of 18 years, Lana, are longtime residents of Fort Smith, Arkansas. They have two children, Taber and Jensen.

ABF Freight System 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. Photo image of Mr. Hunt is available upon request at marketing@abf.com