(FORT SMITH, Ark., March 2, 2010) — ABF Freight System, Inc.^®, has named a select group of freight-handling professionals from across ABF’s North American network for its 2010-2011 Load Team. Those chosen along with their customer service Centers are:

Gregory Allen, Dayton, Ohio

Robert Anderson Jr., Kansas City, Mo.

Jack Boseman, Atlanta

Randall Espey, Dallas

Nickola Georgiefski, Chicago

James High, Carlisle, Penn.

Kenneth Reinhart, Albuquerque, N.M.

Myron Smith, Little Rock, Ark.

Emanuel Staton, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Dale Wallis, Salt Lake City, UT

“Load Team members help to personify ABF's commitment to meeting our customers’ needs through safe and efficient freight handling,” says ABF President and Chief Executive Officer Wes Kemp. “Due to the talents of dedicated employees like these, shipping customers can trust ABF — knowing that more than 99 percent of all shipments are moved claim free.”

Load Team members are selected on the basis of their safety records, involvement in ABF’s Quality Process, integrity and their ability to load trailers in an optimal fashion – a skill that facilitates the safe, timely and efficient movement of shipments. The Load Team program was established not only to honor outstanding performance but also to draw upon dock employees’ insights regarding dock procedures and equipment.

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
              TimeKeeper.com 
              FreightValue.com 
              upack.com