CIO Magazine Lists ABF Among Its 2011 Information Technology Innovators

FORT SMITH, Ark., July 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ABF® has been named a recipient of a 2011 CIO 100 award. In announcing the winners in its 24th annual program, CIO magazine said the organizations chosen "exemplify the highest level of operation and strategic excellence in information technology (IT) and use IT in innovative ways to create business value."

ABF earned a spot on the distinguished listing for its use of IT in leveraging supply chain services. "ABF is always striving to improve supply-chain management by integrating quality processes and leading-edge technology. It's very gratifying to have those efforts recognized with this prestigious award," said Dave Cogswell, president of Data-Tronics Corp., ABF's IT sibling.

"Our model provides for a single point of contact for all of our customers' supply chain needs, including order fulfillment, packaging and light assembly, labeling, and product inspection and testing," says Stephen Young, director of ABF Supply Chain Services. "Our web-based management tools give customers a seamless connection to inventory, shipping and receiving, order status and warehouse documentation, enabling them to take control of their product distribution across multiple warehouse locations on a single system."

The recipients of this year's CIO 100 awards were selected through a three-step process. First, companies completed an online application detailing their innovative IT and business initiatives. Next, a team of judges reviewed the applications in depth, looking for unique practices and substantial results. Finally, CIO editors reviewed the judges' recommendations and voted on the final 100. "This year's CIO 100 awards draw well-deserved attention to companies that are not only innovating with IT but creating genuine business value as well," said Maryfran Johnson, editor-in-chief of CIO magazine. "These winning companies and their IT organizations are an inspiration to businesses everywhere."

The 2011 CIO 100 awards will be presented at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., on August 16 at the conclusion of the 16th Annual CIO 100 Symposium and Awards Ceremony. Complete coverage of the 2011 CIO 100 awards will be online at www.cio.com on August 1, 2011, and in the August issue of CIO magazine. This is the third time ABF has been recognized as an IT innovator by CIO.

Established in 1923, ABF 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 the only six-time winner of the American Trucking Associations President's Trophy for Safety, the only five-time winner of the Excellence in Security Award, and the only four-time winner of the Excellence in Claims/Loss Prevention Award. ABF also 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 has accomplished twice.

ABF provides guaranteed service for expedited or time-definite shipments via its TimeKeeper® service. Regional shipping is handled via the carrier's RPM® 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. Russ Aikman, director of marketing & public relations
Telephone: (479) 785-8913
Website: abf.com
Facebook: facebook.com/ABFtoday
Twitter: twitter.com/ABFtoday

SOURCE ABF Freight System, Inc.