FORT SMITH, Ark., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- ABF Freight System, Inc.® has become the only six-time winner of the transportation industry's most prestigious safety award, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) President's Trophy. The award was presented during the ATA Safety Management Council's Safety and Human Resources National Conference and Exhibition in Rogers, Ark., September 29, 2010.

"The ATA President's Trophy is the highest safety award available to motor carriers in the United States," said Susan Chandler, ATA executive director. "ABF has been judged most outstanding on the basis of its safety record, programs and community outreach activities."

The President's Trophy is awarded each year to carriers in three categories based on cumulative miles driven annually: under 25 million miles; 25 million to 100 million miles; and more than 100 million miles. ABF now has earned recognition in the more than 100 million miles category in 1984, 1989, 1993, 1998, 2003, and 2010. This year, ABF also placed third in the less-than-truckload category for local carriers of general commodities, 50 million to 100 million miles.

"Naturally, ABF is proud to be recognized again with this prestigious honor. Our reputation is earned by the consistent performance of employees, who bring value to the supply chains of our customers. So it is particularly rewarding to see their efforts recognized as exceptional," said ABF President and Chief Executive Officer Wes Kemp. "Moreover, our customers will be pleased to learn that their supply chain partner has once again earned the admiration of its industry peers."

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 shipments are 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).

SOURCE ABF Freight System, Inc.