ABF Earns Listing on InformationWeek 500 for Sixth Consecutive Year

(FORT SMITH, Ark., September 14, 2011) — ABF® has been cited as an innovator in business technology by InformationWeek magazine, which lists the carrier on the 2011 InformationWeek 500. The list was revealed on September 13, 2011, at a gala awards ceremony during the InformationWeek 500 Conference at the St. Regis Resort in Monarch Beach, Calif. Among the information technology executives in attendance was Dave Cogswell, president of Data-Tronics Corp., the IT sister company of ABF. “Through collaboration with our supply chain partners, the ABF IT team at Data-Tronics continues to improve supply-chain management processes through homegrown innovation.

The result is a unique experience where user-centric applications are designed to meet the specific needs of our customers,” said Cogswell. “We are grateful to have our efforts recognized again by this prestigious organization.” This marks the sixth consecutive year that ABF has earned a place on the list. ABF placed 33rd on the 2011 listing for its ongoing efforts to facilitate supply chain management processes through IT innovation. The carrier’s Customer Shipment Manager, an internal, intranet-based system, was cited as an example.

InformationWeek has identified and honored the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual listing, and has tracked the technology, strategies, investments and administrative practices of America’s best-known companies. The list is unique among corporate rankings because it spotlights the power of innovation in business technology, rather than simply identifying the biggest spenders. For 23 years, the InformationWeek 500 has honored the most innovative users of business technology, said Rob Preston InformationWeek vice president and editor in chief. If there's one common thread we're hearing in our discussions with CIOs, it's the tremendous pressure they're under to deliver technology projects and programs faster, in order to support and drive business. This year's list highlights the companies that are using technology to turbo-charge execution and growth—managing operations more efficiently, investing more wisely, delighting customers more consistently, and managing risk more profitably.

As the principal subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS), ABF operates as a global provider of customizable supply chain solutions. ABF enhances supply chain efficiencies and achieves optimum performance by focusing on specific logistics needs and customizing innovative solutions. The carrier’s resource-rich infrastructure includes an innovative dual-system network for regional and national transportation. Its portfolio of logistics services extends from the manufacturer’s floor to expedited and/or white-glove final delivery. In between, customers benefit from a single point of contact and total end-to-end supply chain visibility.