(FORT SMITH, Ark., August 20, 2007) — ABF Freight System, Inc.^®, is celebrating the 12th Annual National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, August 26 – September 1, 2007, with a system-wide campaign to highlight the long history of successful achievement by ABF employees.
 
“Our campaign recognizes the contributions of ABF professional drivers as well as all other ABF employees. It’s a time when we thank ABF employees across North America for their individual and collective contributions to the continued success of our company,” said ABF President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Davidson. “After all, ABF is far more than brick, mortar, and rolling capital — it’s 13,000 employees whose dedication to safety, cargo handling and customer service inspires confidence among customers throughout North America.”

During the campaign, each ABF employee is sent a special letter of appreciation from Mr. Davidson and service centers host special events. ABF also recognizes outstanding performance by its employees, particularly professional drivers, throughout the year. Ongoing ABF training and incentive programs for professional drivers are designed to help truckers maintain the highest standards of professionalism and become ambassadors for promoting safety and increasing public appreciation for the trucking industry.

The annual campaign immediately follows the National Truck Driving Championships being held in Minneapolis. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) sponsors this safe-driving event. Drivers across the ABF system competed in state driving competitions, with 15 of those drivers taking first place and earning the right to compete in this year’s national championships.

Established 1923, ABF is best-in-class for safety, security, technology and freight-handling. InformationWeek, CIO, InfoWorld, and BtoB magazines have cited ABF’s strategic use of information technology as exemplary. ABF is the only five-time winner of the American Trucking Associations President’s Trophy for Safety and the only four-time winner of the Excellence in Security Award. ABF also is the only carrier to earn both the Excellence in Claims/Loss Prevention Award and the Excellence in Security Award in the same year, which ABF accomplished twice.

ABF provides guaranteed service for expedited or time-definite shipments via its TimeKeeper^® service. Regional shipments are handled via the carrier’s RPM Network, providing next-day and second-day shipping. The ABF system stretches throughout North America, with local service centers serving all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Guam and Puerto Rico. Globally, the carrier serves 250 ports in more than 130 countries.

ABF is the largest subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS).

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