(FORT SMITH, Ark., August 26, 2009) — ABF Freight System, Inc.^®, driver Anthony (Tony) Spero won the National Championship in the Tank Truck Class during the 72nd National Truck Driving Championships, August 18–22, 2009, in Pittsburgh. This is Spero’s second National Championship. He also won the Flatbed Class during the 2006 championships.

Professional drivers earn the right to compete in the National Championships by winning state driving championships and by maintaining accident-free driving records for the past year.
 
Spero, a city driver at the ABF^® Stratford, Conn., service center, was one of 20 state champion drivers representing ABF in the national competition. Spero qualified for the national competition by winning the tank truck class in Connecticut's state championship, where he was named 2009 Grand Champion. His record of accomplishment includes two Connecticut Grand Champion awards and nine state championship victories since 1997. A former America’s Road Team Captain and a three-time member of the ABF Road Team, Spero has driven more than 20 years accident free. 
 
“Thanks to the commitment and leadership of outstanding employees like Tony Spero, ABF has a well-earned reputation as a trusted supply-chain partner,” said Jim McFarlin, ABF safety and security director. “The drive and dedication of such productive, conscientious professionals bring unmatched value-added logistics solutions to ABF customers. Everyone at ABF greatly appreciates the dedication and hard work Tony puts into every endeavor. We are proud of the way he represents both ABF and the trucking industry at large.”
 
Known informally as the “Super Bowl of Safety,” the annual event is sponsored by the Safety and Loss Prevention Management Council of the American Trucking Associations to promote driving safety among the nation’s three million professional truck drivers. Competitive divisions include straight truck, three-axle, four-axle, five-axle, tank truck, flatbed, five-axle sleeper, or twins. The comprehensive competitions include written examinations, pre-trip inspection and a demonstration of braking, parking, backing and maneuvering skills.

Established in 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, the only five-time winner of the Excellence in Security Award, and the only four-time winner of the Excellence in Claims/Loss Prevention 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).

Source: ABF Freight System, Inc.

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

Websites: abf.com
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