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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Nzvr2jQFhuk2nCFvuTXSoTgg4OXkRba41hano/DXnkvs0UryqEe3kkfbCXuFPHEF
 8DYYO6tXuH2KqNd6A16tsw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-026796.txt : 20031024
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-026796.hdr.sgml : 20031024
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031024171645
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-026796
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031023
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031024

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARKANSAS BEST CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000894405
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TRUCKING (NO LOCAL) [4213]
		IRS NUMBER:				710673405
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3801 OLD GREENWOOD RD
		CITY:			FORT SMITH
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72903
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5017856000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 48
		CITY:			FORT SMITH
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72902

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MORRIS JOHN H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195755

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19969
		FILM NUMBER:		03957040

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ARKANSAS BEST CORP
		STREET 2:		3801 OLD GREENWOOD RD
		CITY:			FORT SMITH
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72903
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4797856130

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 POINT CATALINA
		CITY:			LAGUNA NIGUEL
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92677
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-23</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000894405</issuerCik><issuerName>ARKANSAS BEST CORP /DE/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABFS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001195755</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>MORRIS JOHN H</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>3801 OLD GREENWOOD ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>FORT SMITH</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>AR</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>72903</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><s
ecurityTitle><value>Common  Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-23</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>32.35</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by CRT Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDeriv
ativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>70025</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by Family Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Five thousand shares were sold from the Morris CRT Charitable Trust, of which Mr. Morris is co-trustee.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Balance in the Morris CRT Charitable Trust after the transaction.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Balance in the John H. Morris and Sharon L. Morris Family Trust.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ John H. Morris</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-24</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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