<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000894405 <NAME> ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 6,344 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 178,321 <ALLOWANCES> 7,565 <INVENTORY> 30,459 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 237,473 <PP&E> 555,264 <DEPRECIATION> 239,263 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 719,885 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 262,030 <BONDS> 221,675 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 15 <COMMON> 196 <OTHER-SE> 157,928 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 719,885 <SALES> 83,523 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 804,765 <CGS> 59,192 <TOTAL-COSTS> 774,853 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,734 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,009 <INCOME-PRETAX> 18,676 <INCOME-TAX> 7,657 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 11,019 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,019 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.45 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.44