(FORT SMITH, Arkansas, January 27, 2004) — ABF Freight System, Inc.^®, has announced its 2004-2005 Road Team, consisting of the top driving professionals from across ABF’s North American network. The new ABF^® Road Team members are as follows:

Richard Alford, City Driver, Louisville, Ky.
Wylie Basford, Road Driver, Ontario, Ore.
John Cotton, Road Driver, South Chicago, Ill.
Cecil Fisher, Road Driver, Salt Lake City, Utah
David Forman, City Driver, Topeka, Kan.
Ralph Garcia, Road Driver, Albuquerque, N.M.
Paul Gattin, City Driver, Little Rock, Ark.
Steve Hall, Road Driver, Ellenwood, Ga.
Usevio Martinez, City Driver, Amarillo, Texas
John McGinley, Vincentown, N.J.
Conrad (Lee) Ocker, Road Driver, Carlisle, Pa.
Arthur Schmeckenbecher, Road Driver, Little Rock, Ark.

Road Team members are selected on the basis of their safety records and involvement in ABF’s Quality Process. These drivers represent the 7,000 ABF drivers who safely travel North America’s highways and city streets every day. Additional details about the new ABF Road Team are available at www.abf.com/about/news/roadteam/.

ABF Vice President of Transportation Rich Beaulieu, commented, “Our 2004-2005 Road Team members have been chosen from what we believe is the best group of drivers in the transportation industry. These drivers set the standard for customer care, professionalism and safe-driving.”

ABF Road Team members are ambassadors for ABF and the trucking industry, promoting safety and increasing public awareness of professional drivers. During their 24-month term, team members are available to speak at schools, civic organizations, traffic and transportation organizations, or meetings of other groups, educating the driving public about safety issues, as well as the vital role the trucking industry plays in our global economy. When called upon, they may speak on safety, the image of the truck driver and the industry, sharing the road with a truck, or other subjects of community or industry interest.

ABF’s safety, security and freight-handling performance has been consistently recognized as best-in-class. In 2003, ABF was awarded the President’s Trophy for safety by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), for an unprecedented fifth time. During the past decade, 99% of all shipments handled by ABF have moved without a loss or damage claim. 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 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, has been 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.