ABF Celebrates National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

    FORT SMITH, Ark., Aug. 18 /EMWNews/ -- ABF Freight System,

Inc.(R), is celebrating the 13th Annual National Truck Driver Appreciation

Week, August 24-30, 2008, with a system-wide campaign called: "ABF

Employees. Standing the Test of Time. 1923-2008." The campaign highlights

the integral role played by transportation industry employees in supporting

the North American economy.



    "This campaign recognizes the professional drivers of ABF as well as

the valuable contribution of all employees," said ABF President and Chief

Operating Officer Wes Kemp. "ABF people have earned a reputation as the

safest, most conscientious, highly innovative members of our industry. We

commend and sincerely thank our employees across North America for their

contributions to the continued success of our company."



    During the campaign, each ABF employee receives a special letter of

appreciation and has the opportunity to win an HDTV, GPS unit, or Maglite

flashlight in a special drawing in their honor. ABF service centers host

special events such as cookouts and other forms of recognition. 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 Houston, Texas. The American Trucking

Associations sponsors this safe-driving event. Drivers across the ABF

system competed in state driving competitions, with 19 of those drivers

taking first place and earning the right to compete in this year's national

championships. In fact, the ABF driving team includes five former national

champions, four state grand champions and seven repeat champions from 2007.



    Established in 1923, ABF(R) 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 a 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 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(R) service. Regional shipments are handled via

the carrier's RPM(R) 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