<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, 1999 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-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1999 <CASH> 4,436 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 174,543 <ALLOWANCES> 5,573 <INVENTORY> 31,239 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 223,686 <PP&E> 603,052 <DEPRECIATION> 269,988 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 709,401 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 271,010 <BONDS> 207,663 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 15 <COMMON> 196 <OTHER-SE> 189,631 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 709,401 <SALES> 86,593 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 813,280 <CGS> 61,469 <TOTAL-COSTS> 770,267 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 827 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,327 <INCOME-PRETAX> 32,019 <INCOME-TAX> 13,444 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 18,575 <DISCONTINUED> (664) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 17,911 <EPS-BASIC> .80 <EPS-DILUTED> .76