(Fort Smith, Arkansas, July 25, 2007) — Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS) today announced second quarter 2007 net income of $19.6 million, or $0.78 per diluted common share, compared to second quarter 2006 income from continuing operations of $29.0 million, or $1.13 per diluted common share.  Arkansas Best’s second quarter 2007 revenue was $458.2 million compared to second quarter 2006 revenue of $479.3 million.  

ABF Freight System, Inc.^®

ABF Freight System, Inc., the company’s largest subsidiary, had second quarter 2007 revenue of $442.9 million, a per-day decrease of 5.1% from second quarter 2006.  Second quarter 2007 operating income at ABF was $30.5 million compared to $46.4 million during the second quarter of 2006.  ABF’s second quarter 2007 operating ratio was 93.1% versus an operating ratio of 90.1% in the second quarter of 2006.  “During this year’s second quarter, ABF effectively managed through a challenging environment with a softer, more competitive marketplace,” said Robert A. Davidson, Arkansas Best President and Chief Executive Officer. 

ABF’s second quarter 2007 total weight per day decreased by 6.9% versus last year.  “Our year-over-year tonnage comparisons have not significantly changed since the fourth quarter of last year,” said Mr. Davidson.  “However, it’s helpful to remember that during last year’s second quarter, especially in June, ABF experienced significant increases in total business. In the current environment, ABF’s continual focus on maintaining pricing discipline, controlling costs and adding value to customer relationships becomes even more important.”  

Total billed revenue per hundredweight was $25.53, an increase of 1.2% over last year’s second quarter figure of $25.22.  “The nominal yield increase was reduced by significant changes in freight mix and shipment profile,” said Mr. Davidson.  “As we have noted before, revenue per hundredweight is an imperfect measure of yield.  Currently, we find that rates in our industry remain compensatory.”

 “We continue to be excited about our long-term prospects for profitable growth with our Regional Performance Model (RPM), which provides improved next-day and second-day services in the eastern two-thirds of the United States.  Because ABF is still in the early stages of marketing RPM, the investment in these new services increased ABF’s second quarter operating ratio by 1.3 percentage points,” said Mr. Davidson.  “ABF is making progress in the regional sector.  In most cases, as in our traditional long-haul market, ABF is securing this business by meeting specific customer needs or by providing value in other ways, such as superior cargo care.”

Throughout the quarter, ABF continued to excel in operational areas, including cargo care and safety and security, which translate into customer satisfaction and profitability.  So far this year, ABF’s cargo claim ratio, a measure of net cash payouts to revenue, is only 0.70%.  Compared to previous full-year figures, this is ABF’s best record in 24 years and the best in the nationwide LTL industry.  Lower expenses associated with third-party casualty claims improved ABF’s second quarter operating ratio by one half of a percentage point compared with the same period last year.  As a percent of revenue, these second-quarter costs were the lowest in the last five years, when compared to both second-quarter and full-year figures.  In May 2007, ABF was awarded the 2007 Excellence in Security Award from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) Security Council.  In only the seventh year of this award’s existence, ABF was recognized with this honor for an unprecedented fourth time.  “These are real examples of how ABF distinguishes its services in the marketplace through its Quality Process, which has been active throughout the company since 1983,” said Mr. Davidson.  “Damage-free handling of freight cargo in a safe and secure environment is important to our customers.  All of our employees take pride in producing the high standard that ABF maintains in these important areas of customer service.”

Capital Expenditures

Due to the current freight environment and because of delays in the timing of real estate opportunities throughout ABF’s network, Arkansas Best now estimates that 2007 net capital expenditures will be approximately $95 million to $110 million.  This is a reduction from the original $110 million to $135 million range that was provided at the beginning of the year.   

Conference Call

Arkansas Best Corporation will host a conference call with company executives to discuss the 2007 second quarter results.  The call will be today, Wednesday, July 25, at 10:00 a.m. EDT (9:00 a.m. CDT).  Interested parties are invited to listen by calling (877) 275-1257 or (706) 634-6529 (for international callers).  Following the call, a recorded playback will be available through Wednesday, August 15.  To listen to the playback, dial (800) 642-1687 or (706) 645-9291 (for international callers).  The conference call ID for the playback is 6336515.  The conference call and playback can also be accessed, through Wednesday, August 15, on Arkansas Best’s Internet Web site at arkbest.com.

Company Description

Arkansas Best Corporation, headquartered in Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a transportation holding company.  ABF Freight System, Inc., Arkansas Best’s largest subsidiary, has been in continuous service since 1923.  ABF provides transportation of less-than-truckload (“LTL”) general commodities throughout North America.  More information is available at arkbest.com and abf.com..

Forward-Looking Statements

The following is a “safe harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:  Statements contained in this press release that are not based on historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” Terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict,” “prospects,” “scheduled,” “should,” “would,” and similar expressions and the negatives of such terms are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Such statements are by their nature subject to uncertainties and risk, including, but not limited to, union relations; availability and cost of capital; shifts in market demand; weather conditions; the performance and needs of industries served by Arkansas Best’s subsidiaries; actual future costs of operating expenses such as fuel and related taxes; self-insurance claims; union and non-union employee wages and benefits; actual costs of continuing investments in technology; the timing and amount of capital expenditures; competitive initiatives and pricing pressures; general economic conditions; and other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Arkansas Best’s Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) public filings.

The following table shows financial data and operating statistics on ABF Freight System, Inc.

ABF FREIGHT SYSTEM, INC.
OPERATING STATISTICS
 

	Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
	2007	2006	% Chg		2007	2006	% Chg
Workdays	64	64			128	128
Billed Revenue* / CWT	$    25.53	$  25.22	1.2%		$    25.17	$  24.54	2.6%
Billed Revenue* / Shipment	$ 329.05	$ 326.98	0.6%		$  318.54	$ 313.79	1.5%
Shipments	1,354,075	1,445,305	(6.3)%		2,688,230	2,841,384	(5.4)%
Tonnage (tons)	872,626	936,942	(6.9)%		1,700,961	1,816,297	(6.4)%

*Billed revenue does not include revenue deferral required for financial statement purposes under the Company’s revenue recognition policy.  

Includes U.S., Canadian and Puerto Rican operations of ABF affiliates.

Contact:   Ms. Judy R. McReynolds, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
              Telephone: (479) 785-6281

              Mr. David Humphrey, Director of Investor Relations
              Telephone: (479) 785-6200