ArcBest (ARCB) 8-K ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION ANNOUNCES 4th QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2008 RESULTS

EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION ANNOUNCES
4th QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2008 RESULTS

          (Fort Smith, Arkansas, January 29, 2009) — Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS) today announced a fourth quarter 2008 net loss of $11.0 million, or $0.44 per share, compared to net income of $13.5 million, or $0.54 per share in the fourth quarter of 2007.

          “Arkansas Best’s fourth quarter results reflect the profitability effects of ABF’s decelerating tonnage levels and competitive pricing pressures in the midst of a freight environment of unprecedented weakness,” said Robert A. Davidson, Arkansas Best President and Chief Executive Officer. “ABF’s fourth quarter and full-year results also reflect our continuing commitment to maintaining customer service levels, including the strategically-important regional initiative.”

          “We are now over twenty-seven months into a freight recession that is the worst I have seen during my 37 years in this industry,” said Mr. Davidson. “Fourth quarter freight declines of this magnitude, in addition to those ABF has experienced during the previous two years, have made it more and more difficult to adequately reduce network costs in step with business declines without impacting the service to our customers. The resulting negative operating leverage has adversely influenced profitability,” said Mr. Davidson.

          “Our current results are obviously unacceptable. Since the fourth quarter of 2006, when ABF first experienced dramatic declines in business, we have been committed to taking the necessary actions to directly respond to the on-going decline in business,” said Mr. Davidson. “Since that time we have taken the following steps to reduce ABF’s network capacity and cost structure. Some of these actions took place in the fourth quarter of 2008 and in January 2009. These recent changes will have a greater impact in reducing costs beginning in 2009,”:

• An 18% reduction of ABF employees (including approximately 1,100 that occurred in the fourth quarter of 2008).

• Half of our employee reductions from the last two years occurred in the fourth quarter of 2008.

• Additional employee reductions of approximately 350 in January 2009.

• Fleet reductions that include a 14% decrease in road tractors and a 9% decrease in road trailers (additional tractor and trailer reductions planned later in 2009).

• Closure of facilities and consolidation of various service areas throughout the ABF network in order to improve efficiencies and lower costs.

• Realignment of the structure of ABF’s field management organization, to 10 nationwide regions from 12 regions, thus eliminating four field officer positions, other employee jobs and the associated overhead costs.

• Reductions of employee positions in the corporate office.

• Institution of health insurance premiums and increases in deductibles for nonunion employees.

• Elimination of 2009 cost-of-living and merit pay increases for nonunion employees.

• Elimination of pay increases and annual incentive payments to company executives.

• Company-wide travel limitations.

          “Our strong financial position, with ample cash reserves and very little debt, affords us the ability to continue a high level of service to our customers despite lower tonnage and declining prices. In addition, we remain able to take advantage of the unique opportunities that present themselves in this environment,” said Mr. Davidson. “Meanwhile, we will continue to respond in a prudent and resolute manner to the challenges in our industry by making the necessary changes to our cost structure.”

Arkansas Best Corporation

Fourth Quarter 2008

• Revenue of $391.2 million, a per-day decrease of 14.1% from prior year quarter of $459.3 million.

• Net loss of $0.44 per share compared to net income of $0.54 per share in the prior year period.

• Includes cash surrender value of life insurance market losses of $0.08 per share compared to $0.01 per share losses in the prior year period.

• Includes $0.17 per share costs from the ABF RPM initiative compared to prior year quarter of $0.09 per share costs.

Full Year 2008

• Revenue of $1.83 billion, a slight per-day decrease from 2007 revenue of $1.84 billion.

• Net income of $1.15 per diluted common share compared to income of $2.26 per diluted common share in 2007.

• Includes cash surrender value of life insurance market losses of $0.14 per share compared to $0.07 per share gains in the prior year period.

• Includes $0.54 per share costs from the ABF RPM initiative compared to prior year of $0.37 per share costs.

ABF Freight System, Inc.^®

Fourth Quarter 2008

• Revenue of $375.2 million compared to $441.3 million in 2007, a per-day decrease of 14.3%.

• Tonnage per-day decrease of 11.5% versus 2007.

• Total billed revenue per hundredweight of $25.09 compared to $26.02 in 2007, a decrease of 3.6%.

• Operating loss of $15.2 million compared to operating income of $19.8 million in 2007.

• Operating ratio of 104.0% compared to 95.5% in 2007.

• RPM initiative impacted the operating ratio by 1.8% compared to 0.8% in the prior year period.

Full Year 2008

• Revenue of $1.76 billion compared to $1.77 billion in 2007, a per-day decrease of 0.9%.

• Tonnage per-day decrease of 4.2% versus 2007.

• Total billed revenue per hundredweight of $26.70 compared to $25.81 in 2007, an increase of 3.4%.

• Operating income of $48.4 million compared to $84.5 million in 2007.

• Operating ratio of 97.2% compared to 95.2% in 2007.

• RPM initiative impacted our operating ratio by 1.3% compared to 0.9% in the prior year period.

          “Though there has been little positive economic news in our industry recently, it is important to mention some of the achievements of 2008 that continue to set ABF apart in the LTL marketplace,” said Mr. Davidson. “ABF’s cargo claim ratio reflected further improvement; ABF’s accident per mile ratio improved; ABF’s combined costs for workers’ compensation and third-party casualty claims were below historical averages; ABF was once again named as one of the top U.S. companies to sell for bySelling Powermagazine and ABF was once again cited as an innovator in information technology byInformationWeekmagazine. These things matter to customers and they will continue to differentiate ABF in a hyper-competitive environment. Our

deep roots of corporate excellence, our industry-leading employee team, and our strong financial position will allow us to remain one of the leading carriers in the LTL industry,” said Mr. Davidson.

Strategic Alternatives

          Arkansas Best recently engaged an advisory firm to help develop a formal strategic plan and to assist in the identification of potential acquisition opportunities. In the fourth quarter of 2008, charges associated with this initiative were approximately $0.8 million pre-tax, or $0.02 per share, net of taxes. Additional expenses associated with this review will occur over the next three to four months. “Although ABF and the freight industry are in the midst of a significant decline, we believe this timely process is very important in determining a future path that maximizes shareholder value,” said Mr. Davidson.

Nonunion Pension Plan Contribution

          The decline in the overall equity markets during 2008 impacted the funded status of Arkansas Best’s nonunion pension plan. In December 2008, the company made a voluntary tax-deductible contribution to this plan of $20 million. At the end of 2008, the plan was 83% funded on an accumulated benefit obligation basis. An additional first quarter 2009 tax-deductible contribution of up to $15 million is currently being considered. As a result of the impact of the overall equity markets on Arkansas Best’s plan assets and investment returns, the company anticipates that its 2009 pre-tax expense could be approximately twice as much as the 2008 expense of $9.6 million. An update on 2009 pension expense will be provided in the company’s first quarter 2009 earnings release.

Capital Expenditures

          Arkansas Best estimates 2009 net capital expenditures will be approximately $45 million to $50 million including road and city equipment replacements totaling approximately $40 million. Total net capital expenditures in 2008 were $42 million. Arkansas Best’s depreciation and amortization for 2009 is estimated to be approximately $70 million to $75 million.

Conference Call

          Arkansas Best Corporation will host a conference call with company executives to discuss the 2008 fourth quarter and full year results. The call will be today, Thursday, January 29, at 11:00 a.m. ET (10:00 a.m. CT). Interested parties are invited to listen by calling

(877) 275-1257 or (706) 634-6529 (for international callers). Following the call, a recorded playback will be available through the end of the day on Friday, February 20, 2009. To listen to the playback, dial (800) 642-1687 or (706) 645-9291 (for international callers). The conference call ID for the playback is 79853645. The conference call and playback can also be accessed, through Friday, February 20, on Arkansas Best’s Web site atarkbest.com.

Company Description

          Arkansas Best Corporation, headquartered in Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a transportation holding company. ABF Freight System, Inc., Arkansas Best’s largest subsidiary, has been in continuous service since 1923. ABF provides transportation of less-than-truckload (“LTL”) general commodities throughout North America. More information is available atarkbest.com andabf.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

          The following is a “safe harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements contained in this press release that are not based on historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” Terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict,” “prospects,” “scheduled,” “should,” “would,” and similar expressions and the negatives of such terms are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are by their nature subject to uncertainties and risk, including, but not limited to, union relations; availability and cost of capital; shifts in market demand; weather conditions; the performance and needs of industries served by Arkansas Best’s subsidiaries; actual future costs of operating expenses such as fuel and related taxes; self-insurance claims; union and nonunion employee wages and benefits; actual costs of continuing investments in technology; the timing and amount of capital expenditures; competitive initiatives and pricing pressures; general economic conditions; and other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Arkansas Best’s Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) public filings.

          The following tables show financial data and operating statistics on Arkansas Best Corporation and its subsidiary companies.

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

	Three Months Ended						Year Ended
	December 31						December 31
	2008			2007			2008			2007
	(Unaudited)
	($ thousands, except share and per share data)
OPERATING REVENUES	$	391,211		$	459,323		$	1,833,052		$	1,836,878
OPERATING EXPENSES AND COSTS		407,013			439,758			1,784,528			1,752,034
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)		(15,802	)		19,565			48,524			84,844
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest and dividend income		1,178			1,648			5,937			5,671
Interest expense and other related financing costs		(300	)		(304	)		(1,181	)		(1,189	)
Other, net		(2,196	)		(112	)		(3,370	)		1,465
		(1,318	)		1,232			1,386			5,947
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES		(17,120	)		20,797			49,910			90,791
FEDERAL AND STATE INCOME TAXES
Current (benefit) provision		(20,538	)		1,315			8,171			27,806
Deferred provision		14,391			5,993			12,571			6,160
		(6,147	)		7,308			20,742			33,966
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$	(10,973	)	$	13,489		$	29,168		$	56,825
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
Basic	$	(0.44	)	$	0.54		$	1.17		$	2.29
Diluted		(0.44	)		0.54			1.15			2.26
AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
Basic		25,023,794			24,870,847			24,976,412			24,822,673
Diluted		25,023,794			25,055,495			25,279,963			25,117,597
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED AND PAID PER COMMON SHARE	$	0.15		$	0.15		$	0.60		$	0.60

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

	December 31		December 31
	2008		2007
	(Unaudited)		Note
	($ thousands, except share data)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	100,880	$	93,805
Short-term investment securities		117,855		79,373
Accounts receivable, less allowances (2008 — $3,513; 2007 — $3,942)		111,452		141,565
Other accounts receivable, less allowances (2008 — $1,001; 2007 — $774)		6,611		8,963
Prepaid expenses		10,670		11,243
Deferred income taxes		36,079		36,585
Prepaid income taxes		17,661		3,699
Other		6,982		7,184
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS		408,190		382,417
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Land and structures		235,861		231,169
Revenue equipment		514,503		509,627
Service, office and other equipment		150,524		142,635
Leasehold improvements		21,697		19,794
		922,585		903,225
Less allowances for depreciation and amortization		473,010		437,087
		449,575		466,138
OTHER ASSETS		50,636		70,803
GOODWILL		63,897		63,991
	$	972,298	$	983,349

Note: The balance sheet at December 31, 2007 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS — continued

	December 31			December 31
	2008			2007
	(Unaudited)			Note
	($ thousands, except share data)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Bank overdraft and drafts payable	$	15,189		$	15,248
Accounts payable		51,646			60,341
Income taxes payable		758			2,414
Accrued expenses		147,540			166,631
Current portion of long-term debt		159			171
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES		215,292			244,805
LONG-TERM DEBT, less current portion		1,457			1,400
PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT LIABILITIES		89,472			48,859
OTHER LIABILITIES		17,314			25,093
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES		24,017			30,806
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 70,000,000 shares; issued 2008: 26,702,222 shares; 2007: 26,549,038 shares		267			265
Additional paid-in capital		268,396			258,878
Retained earnings		471,360			457,536
Treasury stock, at cost, 1,677,932 shares		(57,770	)		(57,770	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(57,507	)		(26,523	)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		624,746			632,386
	$	972,298		$	983,349

Note: The balance sheet at December 31, 2007 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

	Year Ended
	December 31
	2008			2007
	(Unaudited)
	($ thousands)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$	29,168		$	56,825
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		76,872			77,318
Other amortization		293			261
Pension settlement expense		1,540			1,665
Share-based compensation expense		6,106			4,911
Provision for losses on accounts receivable		1,623			1,056
Deferred income tax provision		12,571			6,160
Gain on sales of assets		(3,720	)		(4,351	)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation		(692	)		(683	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables		30,568			533
Prepaid expenses		573			491
Other assets		11,087			(676	)
Accounts payable, taxes payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities(1)(2)		(60,652	)		(377	)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES		105,337			143,133
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property, plant and equipment, net of capital leases(1)		(58,729	)		(96,670	)
Proceeds from asset sales		17,073			12,067
Purchases of short-term investment securities		(146,655	)		(292,064	)
Proceeds from sales of short-term investment securities		107,404			348,008
Capitalization of internally developed software and other		(5,325	)		(4,599	)
NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES		(86,232	)		(33,258	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Payments on long-term debt		(295	)		(1,360	)
Net change in bank overdraft		(59	)		(2,175	)
Payment of common stock dividends		(15,344	)		(15,165	)
Purchases of treasury stock		—			(4,945	)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation		692			683
Deferred financing costs		—			(800	)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and other		2,976			2,683
NET CASH USED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES		(12,030	)		(21,079	)
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		7,075			88,796
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		93,805			5,009
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$	100,880		$	93,805

(1)	Does not include $0.1 million and $0.7 million of equipment which was received but not yet paid for at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
(2)	Includes a $25.0 million contribution to the Company’s nonunion pension plan.

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OPERATING SEGMENT DATA,
OPERATING RATIOS AND FINANCIAL STATISTICS

	Three Months Ended								Year Ended
	December 31								December 31
	2008					2007						2008					2007
	(Unaudited)
	($ thousands)
OPERATING REVENUES
ABF Freight System, Inc.(1)	$	375,188				$	441,326					$	1,758,780				$	1,770,749
Other revenues and eliminations		16,023					17,997						74,272					66,129
Total consolidated operating revenues	$	391,211				$	459,323					$	1,833,052				$	1,836,878
OPERATING EXPENSES AND COSTS
ABF Freight System, Inc.(1)
Salaries, wages and benefits	$	246,818		65.8	%	$	263,170			59.6	%	$	1,049,470		59.7	%	$	1,072,373		60.6	%
Fuel, supplies and expenses		68,914		18.4			77,101			17.5			341,826		19.4			293,056		16.5
Operating taxes and licenses		11,310		3.0			11,635			2.6			47,088		2.7			47,682		2.7
Insurance		5,471		1.5			5,819			1.3			21,370		1.2			22,230		1.3
Communications and utilities		3,721		1.0			3,760			0.9			15,102		0.9			15,334		0.9
Depreciation and amortization		18,681		5.0			18,802			4.3			74,000		4.2			74,231		4.2
Rents and purchased transportation		34,715		9.3			41,495			9.4			158,943		9.0			160,062		9.0
Gain on sale of property and equipment		(726	)	(0.2	)		(1,607	)		(0.4	)		(3,723	)	(0.2	)		(4,347	)	(0.2	)
Other		1,435		0.2			1,373			0.3			6,269		0.3			5,607		0.2
		390,339		104.0	%		421,548			95.5	%		1,710,345		97.2	%		1,686,228		95.2	%
Other expenses and eliminations		16,674					18,210						74,183					65,806
Total consolidated operating expenses and costs	$	407,013				$	439,758					$	1,784,528				$	1,752,034
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
ABF Freight System, Inc.(1)	$	(15,151	)			$	19,778					$	48,435				$	84,521
Other income and eliminations		(651	)				(213	)					89					323
Total consolidated operating income	$	(15,802	)			$	19,565					$	48,524				$	84,844

(1) Includes U.S., Canadian, and Puerto Rican operations of ABF affiliates.

	Rolling Twelve Months
	Ended
	December 31, 2008
FINANCIAL STATISTICS
After-Tax Return on Capital Employed(2)		4.7	%

(2) (net income + interest after tax) / (average total debt + average equity)

ABF FREIGHT SYSTEM, INC.
OPERATING STATISTICS

	Three Months Ended December 31							Year Ended December 31
	2008		2007		% Change			2008		2007		% Change
Workdays		61.0		61.5					252.5		252.0
Billed Revenue(1) / CWT	$	25.09	$	26.02		(3.6	)%	$	26.70	$	25.81		3.4	%
Billed Revenue(1) / Shipment	$	328.43	$	331.08		(0.8	)%	$	350.55	$	328.24		6.8	%
Shipments		1,131,195		1,326,268		(14.7	)%		5,017,807		5,393,689		(7.0	)%
Tonnage (tons)		740,379		843,811		(12.3	)%		3,293,411		3,430,363		(4.0	)%
Tons/Day		12,137		13,721		(11.5	)%		13,043		13,613		(4.2	)%

(1)	Billed Revenue does not include revenue deferral required for financial statement purposes under the company’s revenue recognition policy.
Includes U.S., Canadian and Puerto Rican operations of ABF affiliates.

Contact: Ms. Judy R. McReynolds, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Telephone: (479) 785-6281

Mr. David Humphrey, Director of Investor Relations
Telephone: (479) 785-6200

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