(FORT SMITH, Ark., January 19, 2005) - Two award-winning drivers of ABF Freight System, Inc.^®, have been selected as America's Road Team Captains by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) in Alexandria, Va.

Richard Alford of the Louisville, Ky., ABF^® service center and Ralph Garcia of the Albuquerque, N.M., service center join an elite group of 13 drivers with 312 years of collective experience and nearly 19 million safe-driving miles. They were selected from a group of 28 finalists who competed before a panel of judges from the trucking industry and trucking media. The competition included a review of the drivers' knowledge of trucking industry safety issues, a test of communications skills and a review of their community service.

Alford, a 25-year veteran of the trucking industry, has an accident-free driving record. Previously, Alford earned recognition as a member of the ABF Road Team, an America's Road Team finalist, Kentucky State Driving Championship winner, and a Bronze Safety Award winner. He also is an active member of the Kentucky Motor Transport Association and the Masonic Lodge.

Garcia has accumulated more than two million accident-free miles during his 27 years as a professional driver. His record as a professional truck driver includes membership in the ABF Road Team, six New Mexico State Truck Driving Championship titles, various safe-driving awards, and Sysco Foods' Driver of the Year. A nationally recognized powerlifter, he is a member of the National Strength Athletics Association.

"Richard and Ralph are outstanding examples of trucking professionals who are dedicated to making our highways safer for all drivers," says Rich Beaulieu, ABF's vice president of transportation. "Having ABF drivers selected for America's Road Team Captains for the tenth year in a row is quite remarkable and is a testament to ABF's total commitment to safely and securely handling and transporting our customers' freight. ABF proudly supports them in their new roles as ambassadors for the trucking industry."

Selection as an ATA America's Road Team Captain is one of the highest honors a professional truck driver can achieve. At least one ABF driver has represented the industry on every America's Road Team for the past 10 years. The new team will serve from January 2005 through December 2006.

After several weeks of team driving with the current Road Team, the new America's Road Team Captains will embark on individual speaking tours on behalf of the ATA. The captains become advocates for the transportation industry, promoting the trucking industry's commitment to highway safety. Road Team Captains are available to testify as experts on trucking and safety issues before Congressional hearings and at the state government level. 

"The general public and other motorists get their impression of the trucking industry from how our drivers behave on the highway," said Bill Graves, ATA President and CEO, "so we put the best of the best out there to do the talking for us. To America's Road Team, highway safety is job one. We're proud to have them deliver that message for the entire industry."

Established in 1923, ABF is one of North America's oldest and most reputable motor carriers. It continues to be recognized as a benchmark for safety, security, technology and freight-handling standards. Last year, the ATA awarded ABF the Excellence in Security Award, the 28th time that ABF has been recognized by the organization since 1971. ABF's emphasis on quality and value was cited by Logistics Management magazine, which awarded the carrier a 2004 Quest for Quality Award. And ABF was twice recognized by CIO magazine for innovative excellence in information technology, earning the 2005 CIO Enterprise Value Award for the transportation industry and a spot on the 2004 CIO Top 100 Agile Companies list.

ABF operates an extensive network of customer service centers and distribution facilities strategically located throughout North America. Through this network, ABF provides comprehensive shipping services to all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Besides broad service to Mexico, the carrier also serves 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 is the largest subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS).

Contact: Mr. Danny Loe, director of marketing & public relations
Telephone: (479) 785-8803