Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS) (the "Company") is providing the following update on the most recent information related to the Company's third quarter 2012 financial results and business trends. ABF Freight System, Inc. ("ABF") is the largest subsidiary of the Company.

ABF's financial metrics and business trends for third quarter 2012 to-date, through August 31, 2012, versus the same period last year:

†          Billed revenue decreased approximately one half percent (0.5%)

†          Total billed revenue per hundredweight increased approximately 2%

†          Tonnage per day decreased approximately 2%

Based on projected operating results through August 2012, the Company does not expect ABF's third quarter 2012 operating ratio to be improved compared to second quarter 2012. In recent years, ABF's operating ratio trend between second quarter and third quarter averaged an improvement of 1.6 points.

The Company attributes the decline in business trends and expected operating results to a weakening economic environment, particularly in the manufacturing sector. ABF's sequential percentage change in total tonnage per day from July 2012 to August 2012 was weaker than historical averages.

The following is a "safe harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements contained in this report that are not based on historical facts are "forward-looking statements." Terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "plan," "predict," "prospects," "scheduled," "should," "would," 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, general economic conditions and related shifts in market demand that impact the performance and needs of industries served by Arkansas Best Corporation's subsidiaries and limit our customers' access to adequate financial resources; the successful integration of Panther; relationships with employees, including unions; union and nonunion employee wages and benefits, including changes in required contributions to multiemployer pension plans; competitive initiatives, pricing pressures, the effect of volatility in fuel prices and the associated changes in fuel surcharges on securing increases in base freight rates and the inability to collect fuel surcharges; availability of fuel; availability and cost of reliable third-party services; the timing and amount of capital expenditures; future costs of operating expenses such as fuel and related taxes; self-insurance claims and insurance premium costs; governmental regulations and policies; future climate change legislation; availability and cost of capital and financing arrangements; the cost and timing of growth initiatives; the impact of our brand and corporate reputation; the cost, integration, and performance of any future acquisitions; costs of continuing investments in technology and the impact of cyber incidents; weather conditions; and other financial, operational, and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Arkansas Best Corporation's Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") public filings.