8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549-1004

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 16, 2006 (June 15, 2006)

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware 0-19969 71-0673405

(State or other
jurisdiction of
incorporation or
organization) (Commission
File Number) (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

3801 Old Greenwood Road
Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903
(479) 785-6000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of

the registrant’s principal executive offices)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions.

o Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

ITEM 8.01 — OTHER EVENTS

On June 15, 2006, Arkansas Best Corporation issued a press release announcing the completed sale of Clipper Exxpress, its intermodal transportation subsidiary, for approximately US$21 million in cash to Bluenose Holdings Inc., a division of Wheels Group, of Mississauga, Ontario Canada. A copy of the press release is attached as an exhibit to this Report on Form 8-K.

ITEM 9.01 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

99.1 Press release of Arkansas Best Corporation dated June 15, 2006.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION

(Registrant)

Date:	June 16, 2006	/s/ Judy R. McReynolds
		Judy R. McReynolds,
		Senior Vice President –      Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION
ANNOUNCES THE SALE OF CLIPPER EXXPRESS

     (Fort Smith, Arkansas, June 15, 2006) — Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS) announced today it has completed the sale of Clipper Exxpress, its intermodal transportation subsidiary, for approximately US$21 million in cash to Bluenose Holdings Inc., a division of Wheels Group, of Mississauga, Ontario Canada.

     Arkansas Best estimates that its net cash proceeds from the sale, after transaction costs and income taxes, will be approximately US$19 million. The company estimates that the sale will result in an after-tax gain of between $0.11 and $0.12 per share which will be recognized in the second quarter of 2006. The final purchase price is subject to adjustments based on the closing balance sheet as of June 14, 2006.

     Clipper’s results of operations and the gain on the sale will be reported as discontinued operations in Arkansas Best’s future financial filings.

     Arkansas Best Corporation, headquartered in Fort Smith, AR, is a transportation holding company. Arkansas Best’s largest subsidiary, ABF Freight System, Inc. has been in continuous service since 1923. ABF provides transportation of less-than-truckload (“LTL”) general commodities throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.arkbest.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

     The following is a “safe harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements contained in this press release that are not based on historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” Terms such as “estimate,” “forecast,” “expect,” “predict,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “should,” “would,” “scheduled,” 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 union relations; availability and cost of capital; shifts in market demand; weather conditions; the performance and needs of industries served by Arkansas Best’s subsidiaries; actual future costs of operating expenses such as fuel and related taxes; self-insurance claims; union and non-union employee wages and benefits; actual costs of continuing investments in technology, the timing and amount of capital expenditures; competitive initiatives and pricing pressures; general economic conditions; and other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Arkansas Best’s Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) public filings.

Contact:	Ms. Judy R. McReynolds, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
	Telephone: (479) 785-6281
	Mr. David Humphrey, Director of Investor Relations
	Telephone: (479) 785-6200

END OF RELEASE