FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                      
                          ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION
                  ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF CLIPPER EXXPRESS
                            (NASDAQ/NMS:  "ABFS")


      (Fort  Smith,  Arkansas, August 18, 1994) -- Arkansas Best  Corporation
(the  "Company")  announced today that it has entered into  an  agreement  to
purchase   all   of  the  stock  of  Clipper  Exxpress  and  two   affiliated
transportation  companies  for  a total consideration  of  approximately  $60
million in cash, subject to certain closing audit adjustments.

     Clipper Exxpress has been engaged in transportation as a non-asset based
intermodal  marketing and freight logistics company since 1938.  Clipper  was
founded  by  the  late  Jerry  Chambers, a visionary  in  the  transportation
business.

      Robert  A. Young, III, President - CEO of the Company said "the Clipper
acquisition  will  provide us with a strong entry into a very  different  and
rapidly growing segment of the transportation market.  We anticipate that  it
will  continue to be headquartered in Lemont, Illinois (a suburb of  Chicago)
and   operated  separately  and  distinctly  from  the  other  Arkansas  Best
subsidiaries.   It is our intention that Clipper's management  will  continue
their very able and experienced management roles with no changes in personnel
anticipated as a result of the change in control.

      "Clipper  is  a  truly multi-modal transportation company  that  is  an
excellent strategic fit with current year revenues for the acquired companies
expected to be in the $140 million range," Mr. Young added.

      The Company said that it will use cash on hand and funds provided under
its existing lines of credit to finance the acquisition.

      The  completion of the transaction is subject to the receipt of certain
regulatory approvals and other customary conditions, and is expected to  take
place within the next 45 to 60 days.

     The Company, through subsidiaries, is engaged in nationwide LTL trucking
primarily through ABF Freight System, Inc. and truck tire retreading and  new
tire sales through its approximately 46%-owned subsidiary, Treadco, Inc.

END OF RELEASE

For  further  information, contact Mr. Randall Loyd,  Director  of  Financial
Reporting, at (501) 785-6200.