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Treadco, Inc. Announces Promotions

15 February 2000

Treadco, Inc. Announces Promotions

    FORT SMITH, Ark., Feb. 15 -- Treadco, Inc. today announced
the following management promotions.
    Fred Dickinson has been promoted to Regional Vice President.
Mr. Dickinson has served as Treadco's Director of Sales for its Western Region
since 1996.  From 1981 to 1996, Mr. Dickinson served as a plant manager for
Treadco.  Mr. Dickinson has been with Treadco since 1981.
    Terry Lea has been promoted to Regional Vice President - Production.
Mr. Lea has served as Treadco's Director of Production for its Western Region
since 1997.  From 1992 to 1997, Mr. Lea served as a plant manager for Treadco.
Mr. Lea has been with Treadco since 1972.
    Randall Loyd has been promoted to Vice President - Controller.  Mr. Loyd
was previously Controller of Treadco.  Mr. Loyd served as Director - Financial
Reporting and in various other positions with Arkansas Best Corporation from
1980 until joining Treadco in 1997.
    Keith Martin has been promoted to Vice President - Administration.
Mr. Martin has served as Treadco's Director of Administration since 1996.
Prior to joining Treadco, Mr. Martin had served in various executive positions
in the computer industry since 1972.
    Dave Moeller has been promoted to Regional Vice President.  Mr. Moeller
has served as Treadco's Director of Sales for its Eastern Region since 1999.
Prior to joining Treadco in 1998, Mr. Moeller had served in various executive
positions in the tire industry since 1979.
    Bob Sell has been promoted to Vice President - Strategic Account Sales.
Mr. Sell has served as Treadco's Director of Strategic Account Sales since
1996.  Prior to joining Treadco, Mr. Sell had served in various executive
positions in the tire industry since 1969.
    Treadco, Inc. is the nation's largest independent truck tire retreader and
commercial truck tire dealer with 59 locations in the United States located
primarily in the South, Southwest, Midwest and West.  Treadco is a subsidiary
of Arkansas Best Corporation .

    Contact:   Mr. David Humphrey, Director of Investor Relations of Arkansas
Best Corporation, 501-785-6200.