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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OxhvAhONg3EIDRu6do9KCW9ibz4rygKn1p63i10iqr5ybjlMiA+3TETYgtRpqTDo
 vFvV+YFq3uVGWsIz+rj+Hg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-026799.txt : 20031024
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-026799.hdr.sgml : 20031024
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031024172537
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-026799
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:			MORTON JAMES L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001193006

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19969
		FILM NUMBER:		03957141

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ARKANSAS BEST CORP
		STREET 2:		3801 OLD GREEN ROD
		CITY:			FORT SMITH
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72903
</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>0001193006</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>MORTON JAMES L</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>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP-Tax &amp; Chief Int. Auditor</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></re
portingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><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>3000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>32.5845</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>24400</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><
securityTitle><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>3100</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>33.0355</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10226.911</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by 401(k) Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNatur
e></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Intra-plan transfer of 3,100 shares from Mr. Morton's 401(k) Arkansas Best Corporation Stock Fund into another fund, which has less than 20% of its assets invested in Arkansas Best Corporation equity securities.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes 41.323 shares acquired on February 19, 2003, 42.826 shares acquired on May 21, 2003, and 37.909 shares acquired August 20, 2003 through automatic dividend reinvestment in the Arkansas Best Corporation 401(k) Plan. This dividend reinvestment is exempt from Section 16 pursuant to Rule 16a-3(f)(1)(i)(B). Calculation of stock in 401(k) account is based on Arkansas Best Corporation Stock Fund figures provided by the fund management company on 10/23/03.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ J. Lavon Morton</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-24</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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