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): January 18, 2011 (November 26, 2010)

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) 0-19969 (Commission File Number) 71-0673405 (IRS Employer Identification Number)

3801 Old Greenwood Road Fort Smith, Arkansas (Address of principal executive offices) 72903
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (479) 785-6000

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

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:

oWritten communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

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

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

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

Item 5.04 Temporary Suspension of Trading Under Registrant’s Employee Benefit Plans.

On November 26, 2010, Arkansas Best Corporation (the “Company”) received a notice from the Plan Administrator of the Arkansas Best Corporation 401(k) and DC Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) notifying the Company of a blackout period under the Plan, pursuant to Section 101(i)(2)(E) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The blackout period began at 4:00 PM Eastern Time on December 28, 2010 and ended at approximately 1:00 PM Eastern Time on January 14, 2011 (the “Blackout Period”). The Blackout Period was required due to a change in the recordkeepers for the Plan, from Fidelity Investments to Diversified Investment Advisors. During the Blackout Period, participants in the Plan were temporarily unable to direct or diversify investments under the Plan, or obtain a loan or distribution from the Plan.

Also on November 26, 2010, the Company sent a notice to its directors and executive officers informing them of the Blackout Period, pursuant to Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Section 104 of Regulation BTR under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  During the Blackout Period the Company’s directors and executive officers were prohibited from trading in the Company’s common stock (including with respect to derivatives).

A copy of the notice to the Company’s directors and executive officers is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. During the Blackout Period and for a period of two years after the ending date of the Blackout Period, stockholders or other interested parties may obtain, without charge, information regarding the Blackout Period by contacting Erin Gattis, Chief of Staff, Arkansas Best Corporation, 3801 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903, or by telephone at (479) 785-6000.

Item 8.01   Other Events.

On January 18, 2011, Arkansas Best Corporation’s (Nasdaq: ABFS) largest subsidiary, ABF Freight System, Inc. (ABF) filed an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (St. Louis) from the December 20, 2010, decision of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas dismissing the lawsuit filed by ABF in November, 2010, Case 2:10-cv-02165-SWW ABF Freight System, Inc. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and various other parties.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)           Exhibits.

99.1         Notice to Directors and Executive Officers dated November 26, 2010.

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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:	January 18, 2011	/s/ Michael R. Johns
		Michael R. Johns,
		Vice President – General Counsel and
		Corporate Secretary

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Notice to Directors and Executive Officers dated November 26, 2010.

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Important Notice Concerning Your Rights Under the Arkansas Best 401(k) and DC Retirement Plan

Date of Notice:  November 26, 2010

·This notice is to inform you that the Arkansas Best 401(k) and DC Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) will be changing its record-keeper from Fidelity Investments to Diversified Investment Advisors and also changing certain investment options effective January 1, 2011.

·As a result of these changes, you will be temporarily unable to direct or diversify investments in your individual account, or obtain a loan or distribution from the Plan.  This period, during which you will be unable to exercise these rights otherwise available under the Plan, is called a “blackout period.”  Whether or not you are planning retirement in the near future, we encourage you to carefully consider how this blackout period may affect your retirement planning, as well as your overall financial plan.

·The blackout period for the core funds of the Plan is expected to begin at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 31, 2010 and end during the week of January 9, 2011.  If any portion of your account balance at Fidelity is held in a BrokerageLink account, the blackout period for such portion is expected to begin at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 28, 2010 and end during the week of January 9, 2011.  During these weeks, you can determine whether the applicable blackout period has started or ended by calling your new provider, Diversified Investment Advisors, toll-free at 1-888-676-5512.

·During the applicable blackout period, you will be unable to direct or diversify the affected  assets held in your Plan account.   For this reason, it is very important that you review and consider the appropriateness of your current investments in light of your inability to direct or diversify those investments during the blackout period.  For your long-term retirement security, you should give careful consideration to the importance of a well-balanced and diversified investment portfolio, taking into account all your assets, income and investments.

·You should be aware that there is a risk to holding substantial portions of your assets in the securities of any one company, as individual securities tend to have wider price swings, up and down, in short periods of time, than investments in diversified funds.  Stocks that have wide price swings might have a large loss during the blackout period, and you would not be able to direct the sale of such stocks from your account during the blackout period.

·If you have any questions concerning this notice, you should contact:

Diversified Investment Advisors

440 Mamaroneck Avenue

Harrison, NY 10528

866-646-5512