<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Arkansas Best Corporation Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 4,405 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 187,600 <ALLOWANCES> 7,603 <INVENTORY> 31,509 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 249,478 <PP&E> 565,835 <DEPRECIATION> 247,046 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 732,255 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 266,149 <BONDS> 224,956 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 15 <COMMON> 196 <OTHER-SE> 164,946 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 732,255 <SALES> 135,044 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,236,290 <CGS> 95,813 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,186,923 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,899 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,636 <INCOME-PRETAX> 32,393 <INCOME-TAX> 13,281 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 19,112 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,112 <EPS-PRIMARY> .81 <EPS-DILUTED> .80