(FORT SMITH, Ark., May 2, 2005) - Four North American customer service centers have earned the prestigious President's Quality Award presented annually by ABF Freight System, Inc.^® The award-winning facilities are located in Carlisle and Chester, Penn.; Fargo, N.D.; and South Bend, Ind., The President's Quality Awards program recognizes facilities exemplifying the ABF^® Quality Process and is the highest internal recognition available to ABF service centers.

This year's winning facilities are among 286 ABF service centers that compete in the rigorous selection process, which gauges resource management, damage/loss prevention, customer satisfaction and other key performance indicators. Each year, every ABF customer service center undergoes extensive evaluations that include a nomination process, a quality awareness survey, an on-site validation audit and scrutiny by the ABF Quality Implementation Committee. Finalists are submitted to the company president, who selects the winners.

"Quality is a subject we take very seriously at ABF. Highly motivated employees in our customer service centers use the ABF Quality Process to achieve quantifiable results that include satisfied customers and significant cost savings," says ABF President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Davidson. "ABF's ability to continue providing the best customer care to North American shippers is dependent upon the experience and responsiveness of our local service personnel. The customer service teams in Fargo, South Bend, Chester and Carlisle are the best of the best. Their versatility, attention to detail, and conscientious approach to customer service is a benchmark for best practices in the transportation industry."

Mr. Davidson is scheduled to present the awards in Carlisle on May 3, Chester on May 4, and South Bend and Fargo on May 10. The winning facilities will receive a permanent plaque and a traveling Quality Cup in a ceremony attended by the ABF Quality Implementation Committee, local employees and special guests.

"The ABF Quality Process identifies areas of nonconformance and establishes proven methods for correcting and eliminating problems and their source," says Joe Davis, ABF director of quality awareness. "ABF institutionalized quality as a structured process in 1984. By emphasizing quality, which we define as conformance to the agreed upon requirements of our customers, we create a means for developing the industry's highest quality people, facilities, equipment, tools and procedures.

Davis said the President's Quality Awards competition prompts benchmarking among ABF's network of service centers. "Each year, the standard for excellence and the levels of performance are a little higher than the year before. This leads to continual improvement in productivity, efficiency, and most important, customer loyalty."

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 the organization has recognized ABF 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. In addition, 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, Mexico, Guam and Puerto Rico. Globally, the carrier serves 250 ports in more than 130 countries. ABF is certified as an Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) carrier by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as well as a Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) carrier to and from Canada. 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).

Additional background information.