(FORT SMITH, Ark., August 16, 2004) – ABF Freight System, Inc.^®, has been cited as one of the world’s most agile companies by CIO magazine. The international competition recognizes organizations that exemplify the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology (IT). The magazine will honor ABF^® at the CIO 100 Symposium^® and Awards Ceremony on August 24 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Each year, CIO identifies and honors 100 organizations that have distinguished themselves through the innovative application of IT technology. This year's theme is the “Agile 100,” which pays tribute to executives and organizations that respond quickly to changing business environments. Winners demonstrate measurable results in how they used IT to enable and support agility in their organizations.

ABF’s selection is based on its innovative solutions for managing freight transportation via Internet-based applications. The company’s website, abf.com, provides the e-commerce infrastructure that powers the applications. Currently, abf.com has more than 25,000 registered users, representing 16,000 shippers who account for 80 percent of ABF’s revenues and annual shipment tonnage. Online functions include bill of lading generation, pickup planning, customer-intelligent price quotations, proactive tracking, customized e-mail notification, logistics reporting, dynamic rerouting and XML connectivity.

Michael Newcity, ABF’s manager of e-systems and market development, says abf.com serves as an integrated logistics management system that optimizes information. “The system matches relevant tools and information to specific users. Traffic managers, customer-service representatives, logistics executives and others find an environment that intuitively changes to provide users with ultimate control.”

Further enhancing the company’s logistics management system is the innovative use of wireless communication. In addition to increased operational efficiencies, wireless technology allows shipment information to transparently flow through abf.com in real time. “Wireless technology streamlines procedures,” noted Wes Kemp, vice president of terminal operations.

“City drivers, dockworkers, dispatchers and others connect via handheld microbrowsers, facilitating rapid shipment pickups, paperless dock operations and optimal load planning. Shipments become immediately visible on dispatch systems throughout North America, allowing freight to be properly consolidated and quickly moved to destination,” says Kemp.

“As our customers can attest, ABF is continually improving supply-chain management by integrating quality processes and real-time information withleading-edge technology,” says ABF President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Davidson. “It’s very gratifying to have those efforts recognized with this prestigious award.”

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.

ABF’s safety, security and freight-handling performance has been consistently recognized as best-in-class. Acknowledging this performance, the ATA presented ABF with the 2004 Excellence in Security Award. In 2003, ABF was awarded the President’s Trophy for safety by the ATA, for an unprecedented fifth time. ABF has also been a Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) approved carrier to and from Canada since 2003. During the past decade, 99 percent 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. The company’s Web site, 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. Danny Loe, director of marketing & public relations
Telephone: (479) 785-8803

Additional background information.

Photos and other images available upon request to marketing@abf.com.