EXHIBIT 99.1



                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



                            ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION
                   COMMENTS ON SECOND QUARTER BUSINESS TRENDS


         (Fort Smith, Arkansas, June 5, 2003) - Arkansas Best Corporation
(Nasdaq: ABFS) today announced that tonnage and pricing trends at ABF Freight
System(R) continue to be consistent with those seen in the first quarter of
2003. "In the first quarter of 2003 we reported an increase in ABF's LTL tonnage
per day of 2.7% compared to the first quarter of 2002," said Robert A. Young
III, Arkansas Best President and Chief Executive Officer. "Year-over-year second
quarter LTL tonnage trends through May 2003, compared to the same period in
2002, are generally consistent with the positive change reported for the first
quarter after eliminating the timing effects of Easter," said Mr. Young.
"Pricing continues to be very competitive, as it has been throughout the soft
economic environment in which we are operating."

         Arkansas Best Corporation, headquartered in Fort Smith, AR, is a
diversified transportation holding company with two primary operating
subsidiaries. ABF Freight System, Inc., in continuous service since 1923,
provides national transportation of LTL general commodities throughout North
America. Clipper is an intermodal marketing company that provides domestic
freight services, utilizing rail and over-the-road transportation.

         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 "estimate," "forecast," "expect," "predict," "plan," "anticipate," "believe,"
"intend," "should," "would," "scheduled," 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 and 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 the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") public
filings.



Contact: Mr. David E. Loeffler, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
         Treasurer
         Telephone: (479) 785-6157

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



                                 END OF RELEASE