STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2005	Dec. 31, 2003
Total Comprehensive Loss
Net income (loss)					$ 1,404,000	$ 12,265,000	$ 5,451,000	$ (12,787,000)					$ (7,732,000)	$ 6,333,000	$ (32,421,000)
Less: Noncontrolling interest in net income of subsidiary							(153,000)	(21,000)						(174,000)	(272,000)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION	(7,929,000)	6,518,000	11,841,000	(18,162,000)	1,404,000	12,265,000	5,298,000	(12,808,000)					(7,732,000)	6,159,000	(32,693,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in foreign currency translation, net of tax of (2012 - $10; 2011 - $69; 2010 - $49)													19,000	(108,000)	76,000
Change in foreign currency translation, tax													10,000	69,000	49,000
Unrecognized net actuarial gain (loss), net of tax of (2012 - $3,709; 2011 - $10,804; 2010 - $1,951)													(5,830,000)	(27,178,000)	3,064,000
Unrecognized net actuarial gain, tax													3,709,000	10,804,000	1,951,000
Amortization of unrecognized net periodic benefit costs, net of tax of (2012 - $4,354; 2011 - $2,789; 2010 - $3,119)
Net actuarial loss													6,957,000	4,497,000	4,819,000
Prior service credit													(116,000)	(115,000)	(4,000)
Net transition obligation															82,000
Amortization of unrecognized net periodic benefit costs, tax													4,354,000	2,789,000	3,119,000
Pension settlement expense, net of tax of (2012 - $0; 2011 - $438; 2010 - $69)														687,000	109,000
Pension settlement expense, tax													0	438,000	69,000
Other, net of tax of (2012 - $0; 2011 - $70; 2010 - $7)														(132,000)	13,000
Other, tax													0	70,000	7,000
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), net of tax													1,030,000	(22,349,000)	8,159,000
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION													(6,702,000)	(16,190,000)	(24,534,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, pre-tax amounts:
Foreign currency translation	(662,000)				(691,000)				(514,000)				(662,000)	(691,000)	(514,000)
Unrecognized net periodic benefit costs	(86,737,000)				(88,393,000)				(58,707,000)				(86,737,000)	(88,393,000)	(58,707,000)
Other									202,000						202,000
Total pre-tax amount	(87,399,000)				(89,084,000)				(59,019,000)				(87,399,000)	(89,084,000)	(59,019,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, after-tax amounts:
Foreign currency translation	(404,000)				(423,000)				(315,000)				(404,000)	(423,000)	(315,000)
Unrecognized net periodic benefit costs	(56,968,000)				(57,979,000)				(35,870,000)				(56,968,000)	(57,979,000)	(35,870,000)
Other									132,000						132,000
Total after-tax amount	(57,372,000)				(58,402,000)				(36,053,000)				(57,372,000)	(58,402,000)	(36,053,000)
Dividends on Common Stock
Dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.12
Dividend Amount	807,000	807,000	808,000	797,000	797,000	798,000	797,000	788,000	786,000	786,000	777,000	777,000	3,219,000	3,180,000	3,126,000
Treasury Stock
Amount of stock repurchases authorized																75,000,000	25,000,000
Additional amount of stock repurchases authorized																50,000,000
Shares repurchased	1,618,150												1,618,150
Aggregate cost of shares repurchased	56,800,000												56,800,000
Amount of shares available for repurchase under the current buyback program													$ 18,200,000