EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION ANNOUNCES

THIRD QUARTER 2011 NET INCOME OF $0.46/SHARE

(Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 28, 2011) — Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS) today announced third quarter 2011 net income of $12.3 million, or $0.46 per share, compared to a net loss of $0.7 million, or $0.03 per share in the third quarter of 2010.

Arkansas Best’s third quarter 2011 performance reflects strong improvement from its largest subsidiary, ABF Freight System, Inc.  ABF produced healthy revenue and profit growth that resulted from improved account pricing in the midst of moderating tonnage levels.  ABF improved its third quarter operating ratio by four and a half operating points versus the same period last year and by over two operating points versus this year’s second quarter.

“We are pleased to report another quarter of profitability resulting from the value and superior service that ABF offers in the marketplace.  The ABF team is to be congratulated for producing better results in the face of an uncertain economic environment,” said Judy R. McReynolds, Arkansas Best President and Chief Executive Officer.  “In looking ahead, we are prepared to appropriately adjust resources to business levels while maintaining a high level of service for our customers.  Our blend of investments in people and technology as well as the unique logistics services provided to our customers put us in a good position as we cultivate opportunities for future growth and new offerings.”

Arkansas Best Corporation

Third Quarter 2011

·Revenue of $510.9 million, a per day increase of 14.7% from the prior year third quarter revenue of $445.5 million

·Net income of $0.46 per share compared to a net loss of $0.03 per share in the prior year third quarter

·Includes market losses on the cash surrender value of life insurance of $0.05 per share compared to gains of $0.06 per share in the prior year period

ABF Freight System, Inc.®

Third Quarter 2011

·Revenue of $466.3 million compared to $409.9 million in third quarter 2010, a per-day increase of 13.8%

·Tonnage per day decrease of 2.0% versus third quarter 2010

·Total billed revenue per hundredweight of $27.10 compared to $23.38 in third quarter 2010, an increase of 15.9%, including increases in fuel surcharge

·Operating income of $18.3 million compared to an operating loss of $2.6 million in third quarter 2010

·Operating ratio of 96.1% compared to 100.6% in third quarter 2010

“Since March of this year, ABF’s year-over-year change in monthly tonnage has moderated, and beginning in August, tonnage has been below that of the same period last year.  So far in October, ABF’s tonnage is lower than last October by between six and seven percent, but because of greatly improved yields, ABF revenues continue to be ahead of the same period last year by approximately 5%.  We attribute the tonnage decline to weakening economic conditions, our efforts to improve account pricing and more difficult comparisons from last year,” said Ms. McReynolds.  “Despite the softening in ABF’s freight, our pricing levels have improved significantly from recent recessionary levels.  We constantly strive to grow ABF’s business with accounts that value our wide range of services.  As a result, ABF’s overall group of accounts offers a better mix of business with yields that have contributed to the improved profitability we’ve experienced during the last two quarters.”

“ABF continues to focus on making investments in resources and personnel that strengthen the positive experience of our customers while improving our operational efficiencies,” said Ms. McReynolds.  “In the third quarter, ABF and its exceptional employees were recognized and honored by three national publications, twice for excellence in information technology and once for ABF’s commitment to sustainability.  Two ABF drivers achieved recognition for superior driving achievements, one as a national driving champion.  Earlier this month, ABF earned the American Trucking Associations’ Excellence in Security Award for the sixth time of the 11 times it has been awarded,” said Ms. McReynolds.  “As we move forward, we will continue to build on the strong foundation provided by ABF’s nationwide network and the relationship-forming skills of its well-trained sales force to offer additional services and to take advantage of new growth opportunities.”

Conference Call

Arkansas Best Corporation will host a conference call with company executives to discuss the third quarter 2011 results.  The call will be today, Friday, October 28, at 9:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. CT).  Interested parties are invited to listen by calling (800) 936-4761.  Following the call, a recorded playback will be available through the end of the day on November 30, 2011.  To listen to the playback, dial (800) 633-8284 or (402) 977-9140 (for international callers).  The conference call ID for the playback is 21541622.  The conference call and playback can also be accessed, through November 30, on Arkansas Best’s website at www.arkbest.com.

Company Description

Arkansas Best Corporation, headquartered in Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a transportation holding company.  ABF Freight System, Inc., Arkansas Best’s largest subsidiary, has been in continuous service since 1923.  ABF has evolved from a local less-than-truckload (LTL) motor carrier into a global provider of customizable supply chain solutions.  More information is available at www.arkbest.com and www.abf.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 “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, recessionary economic conditions; competitive initiatives, pricing pressures and effect of volatility in fuel prices and the associated changes in fuel surcharges on securing increases in base freight rates; the impact of any limitations on our customers’ access to adequate financial resources; availability and cost of capital; shifts in market demand; weather conditions; the performance and needs of industries served by Arkansas Best Corporation’s subsidiaries; future costs of operating expenses such as fuel and related taxes; self-insurance claims and insurance premium costs; relationships with employees, including unions; union and non-union employee wages and benefits, including changes in required contributions to multiemployer pension plans; governmental regulations and policies; future climate change legislation; costs of

continuing investments in technology; the timing and amount of capital expenditures; the cost, integration and performance of any future acquisitions; 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.

The following tables show financial data and operating statistics on Arkansas Best Corporation and its subsidiary companies.

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

	Three Months Ended September 30						Nine Months Ended September 30
	2011			2010			2011			2010
	(Unaudited)
	($ thousands, except share and per share data)
OPERATING REVENUES	$	510,887		$	445,531		$	1,444,369		$	1,216,768
OPERATING EXPENSES AND COSTS	489,769			447,307			1,436,245			1,264,619
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	21,118			(1,776		)	8,124			(47,851		)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest and dividend income	273			313			790			920
Interest expense and other related financing costs	(973		)	(853		)	(2,899		)	(1,853		)
Other, net	(1,345		)	1,346			1,544			1,558
	(2,045		)	806			(565		)	625
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	19,073			(970		)	7,559			(47,226		)
INCOME TAXES
Current provision (benefit)	7,041			(1,864		)	9,432			(11,199		)
Deferred provision (benefit)	(233		)	1,479			(6,802		)	(6,722		)
	6,808			(385		)	2,630			(17,921		)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	12,265			(585		)	4,929			(29,305		)
LESS: NONCONTROLLING INTEREST IN NET INCOME OF SUBSIDIARY	—			164			174			280
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION	$	12,265		$	(749	)	$	4,755		$	(29,585	)
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE(1)
Basic	$	0.46		$	(0.03	)	$	0.18		$	(1.18	)
Diluted	0.46			(0.03		)	0.18			(1.18		)
AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
Basic	25,421,887			25,199,123			25,388,174			25,166,678
Diluted	25,421,887			25,199,123			25,388,174			25,166,678
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE	$	0.03		$	0.03		$	0.09		$	0.09

(1)The Company uses the two-class method for calculating earnings per share. This method, as calculated below, requires an allocation of dividends paid and a portion of undistributed net income (but not losses) to unvested restricted stock for calculating per share amounts.

NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION	$	12,265		$	(749	)	$	4,755		$	(29,585	)
EFFECT OF UNVESTED RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS(1)	(532		)	(21		)	(191		)	(38		)
ADJUSTED NET INCOME (LOSS) FOR CALCULATING EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE	$	11,733		$	(770	)	$	4,564		$	(29,623	)

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

	September 30 2011			December 31 2010
	(Unaudited)			Note
	($ thousands, except share data)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	137,099		$	102,578
Short-term investments	30,992			39,288
Restricted cash equivalents and short-term investments	52,323			51,661
Accounts receivable, less allowances (2011 — $6,265; 2010 — $3,944)	165,259			145,426
Other accounts receivable, less allowances (2011 — $1,206; 2010 — $1,254)	6,226			8,157
Prepaid expenses	9,114			10,258
Deferred income taxes	37,031			32,681
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	2,106			3,958
Other	5,251			5,677
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS	445,401			399,684
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Land and structures	241,310			243,981
Revenue equipment	568,639			530,424
Service, office and other equipment	169,743			163,732
Leasehold improvements	21,258			21,890
	1,000,950			960,027
Less allowances for depreciation and amortization	590,418			552,781
	410,532			407,246
OTHER ASSETS	52,439			54,021
	$	908,372		$	860,951
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Bank overdraft and drafts payable	$	14,631		$	13,023
Accounts payable	74,656			62,134
Income taxes payable	5,787			196
Accrued expenses	156,537			144,543
Current portion of long-term debt	21,179			14,001
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES	272,790			233,897
LONG-TERM DEBT, less current portion	45,900			42,657
PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT LIABILITIES	66,907			65,421
OTHER LIABILITIES	13,933			19,827
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES	20,045			19,405
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 70,000,000 shares; issued 2011: 27,099,819 shares; 2010: 26,934,847 shares	271			269
Additional paid-in capital	284,991			281,169
Retained earnings	294,501			292,129
Treasury stock, at cost, 1,677,932 shares	(57,770		)	(57,770		)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(33,196		)	(36,053		)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	488,797			479,744
	$	908,372		$	860,951

Note: The balance sheet at December 31, 2010 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

	Nine Months Ended September 30
	2011			2010
	(Unaudited)
	($ thousands)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	$	4,929		$	(29,305	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	54,201			53,771
Other amortization	177			200
Pension settlement expense	—			178
Share-based compensation expense	5,116			4,191
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	2,105			453
Deferred income tax benefit	(6,802		)	(6,722		)
Gain on sale of property and equipment	(1,934		)	(142		)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables	(20,244		)	(31,595		)
Prepaid expenses	1,144			1,724
Other assets	2,293			659
Income taxes	8,457			18,145
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	22,836			10,316
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	72,278			21,873
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property, plant and equipment, net of capital leases and notes payable	(32,127		)	(4,322		)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment	5,678			3,393
Purchases of short-term investments	(27,930		)	(51,065		)
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments	36,175			99,175
Capitalization of internally developed software and other	(3,735		)	(3,265		)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(21,939		)	43,916
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Payments on long-term debt	(10,886		)	(5,167		)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	—			11,416
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(4,084		)	—
Net change in bank overdraft and other	1,608			(10,057		)
Change in restricted cash equivalents and short-term investments	(662		)	103
Deferred financing costs	(174		)	(35		)
Payment of common stock dividends	(2,383		)	(2,340		)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	763			465
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(15,818		)	(5,615		)
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	34,521			60,174
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	102,578			39,332
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$	137,099		$	99,506
NONCASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Accruals for equipment received	$	5,177		$	5,896
Equipment financed under capital leases and notes payable	$	21,307		$	21,421

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION

FINANCIAL STATEMENT OPERATING SEGMENT DATA

AND OPERATING RATIOS

	Three Months Ended September 30										Nine Months Ended September 30
	2011					2010					2011					2010
	(Unaudited)
	($ thousands)
ABF Freight System, Inc.(1)	$	466,287				$	409,916				$	1,327,168				$	1,122,384
Other revenues and eliminations	44,600					35,615					117,201					94,384
Total consolidated operating revenues	$	510,887				$	445,531				$	1,444,369				$	1,216,768
OPERATING EXPENSES AND COSTS
ABF Freight System, Inc.(1)
Salaries, wages and benefits	$	272,038		58.3	%	$	259,613		63.3	%	$	807,792		60.9	%	$	745,037		66.4	%
Fuel, supplies and expenses	86,570			18.6		67,045			16.4		254,292			19.2		192,686			17.2
Operating taxes and licenses	11,343			2.4		11,229			2.7		34,336			2.6		32,438			2.9
Insurance	5,139			1.1		4,870			1.2		18,132			1.4		14,981			1.3
Communications and utilities	3,779			0.8		3,830			0.9		11,490			0.9		11,008			1.0
Depreciation and amortization	17,540			3.8		16,992			4.2		52,160			3.9		51,698			4.6
Rents and purchased transportation	49,598			10.6		46,830			11.4		140,455			10.6		120,771			10.7
Gain on sale of property and equipment	(1,060		)	(0.2	)	(74		)	—		(1,944		)	(0.1	)	(498		)	—
Other	2,997			0.7		2,141			0.5		6,547			0.3		5,101			0.4
	447,944			96.1	%	412,476			100.6	%	1,323,260			99.7	%	1,173,222			104.5	%
Other expenses and eliminations	41,825					34,831					112,985					91,397
Total consolidated operating expenses and costs	$	489,769				$	447,307				$	1,436,245				$	1,264,619
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
ABF Freight System, Inc.(1)	$	18,343				$	(2,560	)			$	3,908				$	(50,838	)
Other income (loss) and eliminations	2,775					784					4,216					2,987
Total consolidated operating income (loss)	$	21,118				$	(1,776	)			$	8,124				$	(47,851	)

(1)  Includes U.S., Canadian and Puerto Rican operations of ABF affiliates.

ABF FREIGHT SYSTEM, INC.

OPERATING STATISTICS

	Three Months Ended September 30						Nine Months Ended September 30
	2011		2010		% Change		2011		2010		% Change
	(Unaudited)
Workdays	64		64				191.5		190.5
Billed Revenue (1) / CWT	$	27.10	$	23.38	15.9	%	$	25.70	$	23.52	9.3	%
Billed Revenue (1) / Shipment	$	386.25	$	340.54	13.4	%	$	365.09	$	334.56	9.1	%
Shipments	1,203,970		1,201,683		0.2	%	3,652,776		3,366,599		8.5	%
Shipments / Day	18,812		18,776		0.2	%	19,075		17,672		7.9	%
Tonnage (tons)	858,048		875,156		(2.0	)%	2,594,053		2,394,510		8.3	%
Tons / Day	13,407		13,674		(2.0	)%	13,546		12,570		7.8	%

(1)Billed Revenue does not include revenue deferral required for financial statement purposes under the company’s revenue recognition policy.

Includes U.S., Canadian and Puerto Rican operations of ABF affiliates.

Contact:	Mr. David Humphrey, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
	Telephone: (479) 785-6200

END OF RELEASE