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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-018410.txt : 20030821
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-018410.hdr.sgml : 20030821
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030821153408
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-018410
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030820
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030821

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARKANSAS BEST CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000894405
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TRUCKING (NO LOCAL) [4213]
		IRS NUMBER:				710673405
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3801 OLD GREENWOOD RD
		CITY:			FORT SMITH
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72903
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5017856000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 48
		CITY:			FORT SMITH
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72902

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COOPER RICHARD F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001193001

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19969
		FILM NUMBER:		03860155

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ARKANSAS BEST CORP
		STREET 2:		3801 OLD GREENWOOD ROAD
		CITY:			FORT SMITH
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72903
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4797856130

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ARKANSAS BEST CORP
		STREET 2:		3801 OLD GREEN ROD
		CITY:			FORT SMITH
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72903
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-20</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000894405</issuerCik><issuerName>ARKANSAS BEST CORP /DE/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABFS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001193001</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>COOPER RICHARD F</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>3801 OLD GREENWOOD ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>FORT SMITH</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>AR</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>72903</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP-Administration, Corp Sec</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></repo
rtingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>243.99</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>28</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0.696</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By 401(k) Plan</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></natu
reOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1660</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Intra-plan transfer of 243.99 shares from Mr. Cooper's 401(k) account into another fund, which has less than 20% of its assets invested in Arkansas Best Corporation equity securities.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Prior to the 8/20/2003 sale of Arkansas Best Corporation stock from his 401(k) account, Mr. Cooper had acquired .758 shares on 2/19/2003 and .786 shares on 5/21/2003 through automatic dividend reinvestment in the Arkansas Best Corporation 401(k) Plan.  On 8/20/2003, he acquired .696 shares through automatic dividend reinvestment 
in the Arkansas Best Corporation 401(k) Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Calculation of stock shares is based on Arkansas Best Corporation stock fund figures provided by the fund management company on 8/21/2003.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Richard F. Cooper</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-21</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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