SEC Form 4
FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
YOUNG ROBERT A III

(Last) (First) (Middle)
3801 OLD GREENWOOD ROAD

(Street)
FORT SMITH AR 72903

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ARKANSAS BEST CORP /DE/ [ ABFS ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
X Director 10% Owner
X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
Chairman & CEO
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
11/17/2005
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 11/17/2005 M 45,400 A $7.0125 318,900 D
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 11/18/2005 S 45,400 D $41.8043(1) 273,500 D
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 955.318 I By 401(k)(2)
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 1,805,639 I By limited partnership(3)
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $7.0125 11/17/2005 M 45,400 (4) 01/30/2006 Common Stock Par Value, $0.01 Per Share 45,400 (5) 0 D
Explanation of Responses:
1. The range of prices is from $41.55 to $42.37 and includes: 400 shares @$41.55 per share, 700 @$41.56, 394 @$41.57, 800 @$41.58, 1014 @$41.59, 2239 @$41.60, 1000 @$41.61, 800 @$41.62, 592 @$41.63, 2617 @$41.64, 400 @$41.6416, 100 @$41.6458, 5300 @$41.65, 1300 @$41.66, 602 @$41.67, 733 @$41.68, 1100 @$41.70, 1900 @$41.71, 2500 @$41.72, 500 @$41.73, 200 @$41.74, 300 @$41.76, 1100 @$41.77, 300 @$41.78, 500 @41.79, 361 @$41.81, 100 @$41.82, 25 @$41.84, 1158 @$41.85, 800 @$41.86, 65 @$41.87, 200 @$41.88, 2108 @$41.90, 92 @$41.91, 200 @$41.915, 1100 @$41.94, 500 @$41.95, 600 @$41.96, 1100 @$41.97, 1028 @$41.98, 113 @$41.99, 500 @$42.00, 59 @$42.02, 894 @$42.03, 400 @$42.04, 306 @$42.06, 900 @$42.09, 395 @$42.10, 260 @$42.11, 500 @$42.12, 199 @$42.14, 600 @ $42.18, 501 @$42.19, 500 @$42.20, 1000 @$42.21, 300 @$42.22, 245 @$42.30, 400 @ $42.32, 500 @$42.37.
2. Includes shares acquired through automatic dividend reinvestment in the Arkansas Best 401(k) Plan: 3.465 shares on 5/18/05 and 4.186 shares on 8/25/05. This dividend reinvestment is exempt from Section 16 pursuant to Rule 16a-3(f)(1)(i)(B). Calculation of stock in 401(k) account is based on Arkansas Best Corporation Stock Fund figures provided by the fund management company on 11/17/2005.
3. Robert A. Young III retains sole voting and investment power of the 1,805,639 shares of Arkansas Best Corporation common stock held in the R.A. Young III Investments Limited Partnership.
4. The option is exercisable in five (5) annual installments beginning on 1/31/1997.
5. Field intentionally left blank.
Remarks:
/s/ Robert A. Young III 11/18/2005
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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