FORT SMITH, Ark., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ABF Freight System, Inc.(R), has selected its 2008-2009 Load Team, an elite group of freight-handling professionals from across ABF's North American network. The Load Team members and their customer service centers are:

    Erik Van Amen, Salt Lake City, Utah
    Joseph B. Baety, Atlanta, Ga.
    Jeremiah Shane Bergman, Dayton, Ohio
    David Shane Crockett, Little Rock, Ark.
    Lowell Mark Moore, Kansas City, Mo.
    Ronald E. Patrick, Carlisle, Penn.
    Ricky C. Self, Winston-Salem, N.C.
    Mark Reed Shaffer, Dallas, Texas
    Leonard Taylor, Chicago, Ill.
    Warren E. White, Albuquerque, N.M.

'Load Team members exemplify an attitude of teamwork and commitment to meeting the needs of our customers through safe and efficient freight handling,' says ABF Senior Vice President of Operations Wes Kemp. 'We acknowledge the contributions and the talents of these dedicated employees who make it possible for customers to trust ABF -- knowing that more than 99 percent of all ABF shipments are moved claim free.'

The Load Team program was established both to honor outstanding performance and to draw upon dock employees' insights regarding dock procedures and equipment. Members are selected on the basis of their safety records, involvement in ABF's Quality Process, integrity and their ability to load trailers in an optimal fashion -- a skill that facilitates the safe, timely, claims-free and efficient movement of shipments.

Established in 1923, ABF(R) is best-in-class for safety, security, technology and freight-handling. InformationWeek, CIO, InfoWorld, and BtoB magazines have cited ABF's strategic use of information technology as exemplary. ABF is a five-time winner of the American Trucking Associations President's Trophy for Safety and the only four-time winner of the Excellence in Security Award. ABF is the only carrier to earn both the Excellence in Claims/Loss Prevention Award and the Excellence in Security Award in the same year, which ABF accomplished twice.

ABF provides guaranteed service for expedited or time-definite shipments via its TimeKeeper(R) service. Regional shipments are handled via the carrier's RPM(R) Network, providing next-day and second-day shipping. The ABF system stretches throughout North America, with local service centers serving all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Guam and Puerto Rico. Globally, the carrier serves 250 ports in more than 130 countries.

    ABF is the largest subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS).

     Contact:  Mr. Danny Loe, director of marketing & public relations
               Telephone: (479) 785-8803

     Websites:  http://www.abf.com
                http://www.TimeKeeper.com
                http://www.FreightValue.com
                http://www.upack.com

SOURCE ABF Freight System, Inc.

Source: PR Newswire (February 22, 2008 - 4:30 PM EST)

News by QuoteMedia
www.quotemedia.com