UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549-1004
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 17, 2012 (May 17, 2012)
ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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0-19969 |
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71-0673405 |
(State or other jurisdiction of |
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(Commission |
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(IRS Employer |
3801 Old Greenwood Road
Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903
(479) 785-6000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
the registrants principal executive offices)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions.
o Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
ITEM 7.01 REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE
Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS) (the Company) is making a presentation at an investor conference on May 17, 2012. The Company is providing the following update on the most recent information related to the Companys second quarter 2012 financial results and business trends. ABF Freight System, Inc. (ABF) is the largest subsidiary of the Company.
ABFs financial metrics and business trends for the second quarter 2012 to-date through May 14, 2012, versus the same period last year:
· Billed revenue decreased approximately 2%
· Total billed revenue per hundredweight, including fuel surcharge, increased approximately 7%
· Total billed revenue per hundredweight, excluding fuel surcharge, also increased approximately 7%
· Tonnage per day decreased approximately 8%
· During April 2012, ABF experienced a slight operating loss
· ABFs recent, historical operating ratio trend between first quarter and second quarter is an improvement of between 5 and 7 points
The following is a safe harbor statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements contained in this report that are not based on historical facts are forward-looking statements. Terms such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, forecast, intend, plan, predict, prospects, scheduled, should, would, and similar expressions and the negatives of such terms are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are by their nature subject to uncertainties and risk including, but not limited to, general economic conditions and related shifts in market demand that impact the performance and needs of industries served by Arkansas Best Corporations subsidiaries and limit our customers access to adequate financial resources; relationships with employees, including unions; union and nonunion employee wages and benefits, including changes in required contributions to multiemployer pension plans; competitive initiatives, pricing pressures, the effect of volatility in fuel prices and the associated changes in fuel surcharges on securing increases in base freight rates and the inability to collect fuel surcharges; availability of fuel; availability and cost of reliable third-party services; the timing and amount of capital expenditures; future costs of operating expenses such as fuel and related taxes; self-insurance claims and insurance premium costs; governmental regulations and policies; future climate change legislation; availability and cost of capital and financing arrangements; the cost and timing of growth initiatives; the impact of our brand and corporate reputation; the cost, integration, and performance of any future acquisitions; costs of continuing investments in technology and the impact of cyber incidents; weather conditions; and other financial, operational, and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Arkansas Best Corporations Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) public filings.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION
(Registrant)
Date: |
May 17, 2012 |
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/s/ Michael R. Johns |
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Michael R. Johns | |
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Vice President General Counsel | |
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and Corporate Secretary |