ABF Freight System, Inc. and the Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee (TNFINC) announced they expect to begin negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement on December 18, 2012.
TNFINC is the negotiating arm of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. ABF is the largest subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation.

The current National Master Freight Agreement, expires at midnight on March 31, 2013. It covers approximately 7,800 ABF Teamster employees in various locations across the United States, including road drivers, city drivers, dockworkers, mechanics and clerical personnel.

“We look forward to working together with TNFINC to create an agreement for our future that allows ABF to be more competitive,” said Roy Slagle, ABF president and chief executive officer. “Our goal is to reach an agreement that enables us to better compete in a rapidly changing freight transportation market on behalf of our customers, our employees and our shareholders.”

Founded in 1928, ABF is the principal subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation.