16 ABF Drivers to Compete in National Truck Driving Championships

FORT SMITH, Ark., July 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ABF Freight System, Inc.®, is sending 16 championship drivers from 10 states to the 73rd National Truck Driving Championships, August 3-8, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio. By winning state truck driving championships and by maintaining an accident-free driving record for the previous 12 months, professional drivers earn the right to compete in the National Championships.

Among the competitors representing ABF are six repeat winners from 2009, three former National Champion Drivers and four 2010 state driving Grand Champions.

Team Championship trophies were also awarded to the ABF driving teams in Arkansas, New Mexico and Wyoming.

"ABF is extremely proud of our drivers who have earned the privilege to compete in this year's National Truck Driving Championships. These 16 drivers are just a small sampling of the ABF professional drivers who on a daily basis safely deliver and protect the goods entrusted to us, bringing unmatched value-added logistics solutions to our customers," said Sam Cates, ABF safety and security director. "The reputation ABF enjoys as a trusted supply-chain partner and an industry leader in safety will be well represented with this group."

Known informally as the "Super Bowl of Safety," the annual event is sponsored by the Safety and Loss Prevention Management Council of the American Trucking Associations to promote driving safety among the nation's three million professional truck drivers. Competitive divisions include straight truck, three-axle, four-axle, five-axle, tank truck, flatbed, five-axle sleeper, twins and step van. The comprehensive competitions include written examinations, pre-trip inspection and a demonstration of braking, parking, backing and maneuvering skills.

Established in 1923, ABF® is best-in-class for safety, security, technology and freight-handling. InformationWeek, CIO, InfoWorld, and BtoB magazines have cited ABF's strategic use of information technology as exemplary. ABF is a five-time winner of the American Trucking Associations President's Trophy for Safety and the only five-time winner of the Excellence in Security Award. ABF is the only carrier to earn both the Excellence in Claims/Loss Prevention Award and the Excellence in Security Award in the same year, which ABF accomplished twice.

ABF provides guaranteed service for expedited or time-definite shipments via its TimeKeeper® service. Regional shipments are handled via the carrier's RPM® Network, providing next-day and second-day shipping. The ABF system stretches throughout North America, with local service centers serving all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Guam and Puerto Rico. Globally, the carrier serves 250 ports in more than 130 countries.

ABF is the largest subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS).

SOURCE ABF Freight System, Inc.