(FORT SMITH, Ark., May 20, 2009) — ABF Freight System, Inc.^®, service centers in Spokane and Tacoma, Wash.; Amarillo, Texas; and Albuquerque, N.M., are the 2009 winners of the prestigious President’s Quality Award, which represents the highest honor the company can bestow upon its facilities. The award recognizes those most exemplifying the ABF Quality Process and considered the “Best of the Best”.
 
This marks the third time the Amarillo facility has earned the recognition. It is the second consecutive year for Albuquerque and the first year for both Spokane and Tacoma. 
 
ABF^® service centers annually undergo extensive evaluations, including a nomination process, a quality awareness survey, an on-site validation audit, and scrutiny by the ABF Quality Implementation Committee. The comprehensive process gauges resource management, damage/loss prevention, customer satisfaction, and other key performance indicators for the previous year. Finalists are reviewed by ABF President and Chief Operating Officer Wes Kemp, who makes the final selections. 
 
“We believe our customers deserve error-free service,” said Mr. Kemp. “The personalized customer care ABF provides comes from the training, experience, and responsiveness of our local service center personnel. These employees have demonstrated what can be achieved when the principles of the ABF Quality Process are put into practice. Our company has prospered because of our dedication to serving internal and external customers in a helpful, efficient, innovative, and error-free manner. In this context, these four facilities have earned the distinction and I'm looking forward to my visit with each one in celebration of their achievement.”
 
Mr. Kemp is scheduled to present the awards in Amarillo and Albuquerque on May 26, 2009, and in Tacoma and Spokane on May 27, 2009. Each facility is presented with a plaque that resides permanently at their location and a Quality Cup that resides only as long as a facility maintains the distinction. Each ceremony is attended by the ABF Quality Implementation Committee, local employees, and special guests.