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What is ABF Freight?

ABF Freight System, Inc. is one of the largest LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) freight carriers in North America. Based in Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States, this century-old company has built a reputation for excellence in transporting medium-sized shipments. As the main subsidiary of ArcBest Corporation, a company listed on NASDAQ under the symbol ARCB, ABF Freight represents the historic cornerstone of a diversified logistics group that today employs approximately 14,000 associates across more than 250 sites and service centers.

The history of ABF Freight begins in 1923, when the company was founded under the name OK Transfer in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Originally, it was a modest local carrier serving this border town between Arkansas and Oklahoma. In 1935, after acquiring Arkansas Motor Freight, the company adopted this new name and began expanding beyond state borders. The major turning point came in 1957 with the acquisition of Best Motor Freight, giving rise to Arkansas Best Freight System Inc., whose acronym ABF would become the carrier's trademark.

Over the following decades, ABF Freight pursued a growth strategy through acquisitions. The purchase of Navajo Freight Lines in 1978 marked a decisive milestone, enabling the company to become one of the few transcontinental trucking carriers of the era, capable of covering the entire United States from coast to coast. The company successfully overcame the major challenge of trucking deregulation initiated by the Motor Carrier Act of 1980, which disrupted the American freight industry.

• Date of establishment: 1923, under the name OK Transfer in Fort Smith, Arkansas
• Parent company: ArcBest Corporation, a holding company listed on NASDAQ (symbol ARCB)
• Headquarters: 3801 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903, United States
• Workforce: Approximately 14,000 employees within the ArcBest group, including more than 7,000 professional drivers
• Revenue: More than 4 billion dollars annually for the entire ArcBest group
• Vehicle fleet: More than 4,000 tractors and 22,000 trailers in operation
• Daily volume: More than 20,000 LTL shipments processed on average each day

The holding company Arkansas Best Corporation was created in 1966 by Robert A. Young, then owner of ABF Freight, to facilitate the diversification of the group's activities. The company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972 under the symbol ABZ. In 2014, Arkansas Best Corporation was renamed ArcBest Corporation to better reflect the scope of its activities beyond traditional trucking. The group notably acquired Panther Expedited in 2012 for 180 million dollars, strengthening its urgent transport offering, then MoLo Solutions in 2021 for 235 million dollars, thus developing its freight brokerage capabilities.

ABF Freight holds a unique position in the American market as the country's premier unionized LTL carrier. This distinction reflects the importance the company places on training and employee well-being. The carrier is recognized for its operational excellence, having won the American Trucking Associations' President's Trophy seven times, the most prestigious award in the American trucking industry. ABF Freight has also received the Excellence in Claims and Loss Prevention Award seven times and the Excellence in Security Award eight times, confirming its commitment to service quality and safety.

Which countries does ABF Freight deliver to?

ABF Freight has a particularly dense logistics network covering all of North America. The carrier operates approximately 240 service centers strategically positioned to serve all 50 U.S. states, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as Canada, Puerto Rico, and Guam. This comprehensive territorial coverage allows ABF Freight to offer transport solutions adapted to all geographic configurations, from dense urban areas to the most remote rural regions.

In the United States, ABF Freight ensures complete national coverage with terminals distributed throughout all continental states. The network layout optimizes transit times between the country's major industrial and commercial zones. Regions with high economic activity such as the East Coast, West Coast, Texas, and the Midwest benefit from a particularly high density of service centers, guaranteeing competitive delivery times for shippers and recipients in these areas.

In Canada, ABF Freight offers seamless cross-border transport services through a network of service centers present in nine provinces and thirteen major cities. The provinces served include Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. This Canadian presence allows North American businesses to benefit from a single point of contact for their shipments crossing the border, with simplified customs formalities management.

• United States: Full coverage of all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii
• Canada: Presence in 9 provinces and 13 major cities, with optimized cross-border services
• Puerto Rico: Strategically located service center near the Port of San Juan for door-to-door deliveries throughout the island
• Guam: Service to this American Pacific territory
• Mexico: Cross-border transport services via facilities near the border and partnerships with local Mexican carriers

For international destinations beyond the North American continent, ABF Freight relies on ArcBest's global network. The group has local representatives in major cities across Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and South America. These relays enable coordination of ocean or air shipments to worldwide destinations, combining North American ground transport provided by ABF Freight with international freight solutions. ArcBest is notably licensed as an ocean transportation intermediary and non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC), offering full container load (FCL) and less-than-container load (LCL) services from major manufacturing centers worldwide.

Cross-border services to Mexico deserve particular attention. ABF Freight has facilities located near the U.S.-Mexico border and maintains partnerships with the most reliable Mexican trucking carriers. This organization enables door-to-door services, in LTL or full truckload, to virtually any destination in Mexico. Shipments benefit from integrated customs formalities management thanks to the multiple customs administration and border crossing certifications held by the group.

What are ABF Freight's services and delivery times?

ABF Freight offers a comprehensive range of transport services tailored to the varied needs of its professional clientele. As a historic specialist in industrial freight, the carrier has developed over the decades a diversified offering ranging from individual pallet transport to customized logistics solutions for the most demanding sectors. Each service is designed to optimize the balance between cost, transit time, and shipment security.

ABF Freight's core business remains LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) transport. This service involves shipping cargo from multiple customers on the same vehicle, thus optimizing truck capacity utilization and offering an economical solution for volumes that do not justify chartering a full truck. ABF Freight ensures reliable LTL deliveries throughout its North American network, with transit times calculable through an online tool that estimates shipping time between two zip codes.

• Standard LTL transport: Basic service for LTL shipments, with transit times generally ranging from 1 to 5 business days depending on distance. For example, a shipment from New York to Naples (Florida) requires approximately four business days.
• Time-Critical services: Guaranteed delivery solutions with precise date and time, backed by a 100% punctuality guarantee. These services mobilize driver teams who take turns to drive 24 hours a day, enabling evening, weekend, or holiday deliveries as needed.
• Full truckload (FTL) transport: For large shipments requiring a dedicated vehicle, ABF Freight offers full truckload solutions. The cargo occupies the truck alone and follows a direct route from origin to destination, without intermediate consolidation stops, which reduces transit time and handling-related risks.
• Intermodal transport: Road-rail combination for long distances, helping reduce transport costs and carbon footprint. Trailers are transported by train for part of the journey, then picked up by truck for final delivery.
• Specialized services: Hazardous materials transport (certified), temperature-controlled shipments via refrigerated or heated trailers, trade show transport for conventions and professional exhibitions, high-value goods delivery with enhanced security protocols.

ABF Freight delivery times vary based on several factors: the distance between origin and destination, the type of service chosen, and the shipment characteristics. For standard LTL transport, average transit times range from one business day for nearby destinations to five business days or more for transcontinental journeys. The carrier provides an online transit time calculator allowing shippers to obtain a precise estimate by entering origin and destination zip codes.

ArcBest's Time-Critical services, formerly known as ABF TimeKeeper, allow setting a precise delivery window with a punctuality guarantee. These services are particularly suited to industries where timing is critical: just-in-time production lines, automotive sector, healthcare, or retail. The ability to deliver outside standard business hours, including weekends, offers valuable flexibility for urgent situations.

For transport to Canada or Mexico, transit times include the time required for customs clearance. ABF Freight holds specific certifications for customs administration and border crossing, ensuring the smoothest possible formalities. Nevertheless, shippers should anticipate additional variable time depending on the complexity of the goods and the accuracy of the documentation provided.

What are ABF Freight's rates and maximum accepted dimensions?

ABF Freight pricing is based on a freight classification system compliant with North American trucking industry standards. Prices are determined by a combination of factors including weight, dimensions, freight class, distance traveled, and additional services requested. This approach enables transparent and fair pricing, adapted to the specific nature of each shipment.

The freight classification system used by ABF Freight is the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC), the American trucking industry standard. This system divides all goods into 18 distinct categories, numbered from class 50 to class 500. Four factors determine a product's classification: its density (main factor), its value, its ease of stowage and handling, and its susceptibility to damage. The higher the class, the more costly or risky the transport is considered, and therefore the higher the rate.

ABF Freight has also adopted space-based pricing, a simplified approach that facilitates obtaining quotes and improves estimate accuracy. This method establishes a minimum rate per cubic foot for LTL shipments, called the Cubic Minimum Charge (CMC), similar to the absolute minimum rate applied to weight-based pricing. This pricing innovation responds to market changes and the needs of shippers of bulky but lightweight goods.

• Pricing factors: Shipment weight, dimensions (length, width, height), NMFC class of the goods, origin and destination zip codes, selected additional services.
• Potential additional charges: Special handling, fuel surcharge, residential delivery, liftgate, delivery notification, inside delivery services.
• Rate changes: ABF Freight regularly adjusts its LTL rates, with increases generally ranging between 5% and 6% per year, in line with North American trucking market trends.
• Obtaining quotes: ABF Freight offers an online quote tool on the ArcBest portal allowing instant estimates by entering shipment details. The number 800-610-5544 also allows obtaining quotes by phone.

Regarding maximum accepted dimensions and weights, ABF Freight handles shipments of highly variable sizes, from a single pallet to loads requiring a full truck. For standard LTL transport, limits depend on trailer configuration and North American road regulations. Standard trailers measure approximately 8.5 meters in length and can accommodate goods up to a certain ceiling height, generally around 2.4 to 2.7 meters depending on configuration.

For specific moving and personal property transport needs, ABF Freight offers ReloCube containers with standardized dimensions through its U-Pack subsidiary. These modules have exterior dimensions of approximately 1.8 m x 2.1 m x 2.4 m (depth x width x height), with interior dimensions of approximately 1.75 m x 2.05 m x 2.35 m. Each ReloCube offers a volume of approximately 5.8 cubic meters and can support a maximum load of approximately 1,130 kg.

Goods exceeding standard LTL transport capacities can be shipped via full truckload (FTL) services or specialized solutions including flatbed transport for oversized loads requiring top or side loading. For particularly bulky or heavy shipments, ABF Freight recommends contacting the sales department directly to evaluate the most suitable transport options.

What are ABF Freight's delivery options?

ABF Freight offers a complete range of delivery options allowing shippers and recipients to customize the service according to their specific needs. From standard business delivery to residential services with inside delivery, the carrier adapts to highly varied receiving contexts. This flexibility is a major asset for businesses with particular logistics constraints.

Standard business delivery represents the most common option. Goods are shipped to the loading dock or receiving area of the recipient business during normal business hours. The carrier ensures the delivery location has the necessary equipment for unloading, typically a dock adapted to trailer height. For businesses lacking such facilities, additional options are available.

• Residential delivery: ABF Freight offers home delivery services, with the possibility of additional fees reflecting the specific constraints of this type of destination (accessibility, lack of unloading dock). This option is particularly aimed at individuals receiving bulky goods or using U-Pack moving services.
• Liftgate service: For destinations without an unloading dock, ABF Freight can deploy a hydraulic liftgate to lower goods to ground level. This service generates an additional charge but greatly facilitates receiving for small businesses or residential addresses.
• Hold at Terminal: An economical alternative for customers wishing to avoid residential delivery or liftgate fees. The shipment is held at the ABF Freight terminal nearest to the recipient, who picks it up at their convenience.
• Inside delivery: Through ArcBest's last-mile solutions, inside delivery services are available, including room-of-choice placement, stair carry, light assembly, and packaging removal.
• Appointment delivery: For Time-Critical shipments, ABF Freight allows setting a precise delivery window, guaranteeing goods arrival at the time desired by the recipient.
• After-hours services: To meet urgent needs or operational constraints of certain industries, ArcBest offers deliveries outside standard business hours, contactable at 800-610-5544.

Pickup services offer similar flexibility. ABF Freight offers several options including residential pickup for departures from a personal address, pickup with secure divider for shipments requiring physical separation from other goods, Trade Show Pickup for exhibition equipment, and Flatbed Pickup for oversized loads requiring top or side access.

The process of scheduling pickups and deliveries can be done in two ways: online via the pickup request tool available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or by phone at 800-610-5544. The online interface allows selecting specific services such as Time-Critical deliveries, trade show shipments, or residential deliveries, and adding special instructions (do not stack, freeze protection, sort and segregate, etc.).

Delivery notifications are a valuable complement for recipients wishing to anticipate the arrival of their goods. ABF Freight offers alerts to inform the recipient of shipment progress and expected delivery date. These notifications can be configured when booking transport or added later via the ArcBest customer portal.

What should I do if my ABF Freight shipment is lost or damaged?

In case of loss or damage to an ABF Freight shipment, the carrier has a structured claims procedure allowing customers to assert their rights. Claims management receives particular attention from ABF Freight, as evidenced by the multiple awards received for excellence in loss prevention and claims management. Nevertheless, when an incident occurs, it is essential to scrupulously follow the established procedure to maximize the chances of compensation.

The first crucial step occurs at the time of receiving the goods. The recipient must inspect the integrity of the outer packaging before signing the Bill of Lading or Proof of Delivery. If damage is visible on the packaging, stretch wrap, or any other packaging, these observations must be noted in writing on the delivery document. It is strongly recommended to immediately photograph any apparent damage, both on the outer packaging and on the product itself once unpacked.

• Filing deadline: Claims for loss or damage must be filed within nine months following freight delivery. For cases of non-delivery, the nine-month period runs from when a reasonable delivery time has elapsed.
• Authorized persons: The shipper, recipient, or owner of the goods may file a claim with ABF Freight.
• Required documentation: Completed claim form, copy of the delivery receipt with damage annotations, photographs of damage to packaging and products, purchase invoice or proof of goods value, any other relevant documents (packing list, customs documents, etc.).
• Online procedure: The ArcBest portal offers a dedicated tool for filing or updating a claim, uploading supporting documents, and tracking case status in real time.
• Standard form: A downloadable claim form is available on the ArcBest website for mail submissions.

For damage not apparent at delivery, known as "concealed damage," the procedure differs slightly. The recipient must contact the ABF Freight service center that made the delivery (contact information shown on the delivery receipt) to report the discovery. Depending on the situation, the center may waive a physical inspection and advise submitting a claim directly, or send a representative to examine the goods. It is imperative to retain the damaged goods as well as all packaging until the case is resolved, otherwise the claim may be rejected.

Regarding processing times, ABF Freight's goal is to conclude all claims within 30 days of receipt at the Fort Smith, Arkansas headquarters. Legally, the carrier has 30 business days to acknowledge receipt of the claim, then 120 days to respond with acceptance or denial. Beyond this period, the carrier commits to keeping the claimant informed every 60 business days until final settlement of the case.

It should be noted that ABF Freight's liability is engaged only when the carrier is at fault. Damage resulting from inadequate packaging, loading errors by the shipper, or weather conditions are not the carrier's responsibility. The shipper is required to package goods to withstand normal transport conditions (vibrations, movements), properly label the shipment, and accurately complete shipping documents. When damage occurs due to improper packaging or documentation, repair or replacement is the shipper's responsibility.

To check the status of a pending claim, simply log into the ArcBest portal and enter the shipment's PRO number or assigned claim number. This feature allows tracking case progress and making modifications if necessary.

Does ABF Freight handle international shipments and customs formalities?

ABF Freight, through its parent company ArcBest, offers comprehensive international transport solutions combining the group's North American logistics expertise with a worldwide network of partners. Customs formalities management is an integrated component of these services, allowing businesses to simplify their import-export operations without having to deal with multiple contacts. The group's multiple customs certifications ensure efficient border crossings.

ArcBest's international services cover three main types of needs: North American cross-border transport (United States, Canada, Mexico), ocean freight to and from major world markets, and air freight for urgent or high-value shipments. This range of solutions enables building customized supply chains, adapted to each customer's time, budget, and goods constraints.

• United States/Canada cross-border transport: ABF Freight has terminals in nine Canadian provinces and provides seamless door-to-door services between the two countries. The group's customs certifications ensure optimized border crossing.
• Transport to Mexico: Thanks to facilities near the border, commercial offices in Mexico, and partnerships with the most reliable local trucking carriers, ABF Freight offers door-to-door services in LTL, full truckload, or express to virtually any destination in Mexico.
• Ocean freight (FCL and LCL): As a licensed ocean transportation intermediary and non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC), ArcBest offers full container load (FCL) and less-than-container load (LCL) services from major manufacturing centers worldwide to North America and vice versa.
• Customs brokerage: ArcBest offers customs brokerage services including assistance navigating customs regulations, timely shipment clearance, Import Security Filing (ISF) management for the United States, and prepayment of duties and taxes on U.S. customs declarations.
• Worldwide representation: The group has local representatives in major cities across Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and South America, enabling efficient coordination of international shipments.

Documents required for international shipments vary depending on the nature of the goods and the countries of origin and destination. ABF Freight offers document retrieval services including signed bill of lading and delivery receipts for each shipment. Other documents such as packing lists, customs declarations, and weight confirmations are provided as applicable. For in-bond shipments, special freight segregation and purchase of a customs bond by the carrier are required in accordance with U.S. regulations.

International services pricing generally includes ground transport costs in the United States or Canada, ocean or air freight, port or airport handling charges, and customs brokerage fees. Customs duties and taxes are generally the importer's responsibility, although ArcBest offers prepayment and credit billing options for U.S. customs duties to simplify importers' cash flow.

For complex international shipments, ArcBest combines its domestic and international logistics expertise to plan optimal routes, manage shipments end-to-end, and navigate global customs requirements. The group's specialized teams assist customers in preparing export and import documents, complying with regulations specific to certain product categories, and optimizing overall logistics costs.

Understanding tracking statuses

When tracking an ABF Freight shipment online, different statuses may appear reflecting your goods' progress through the logistics network. Each shipment is assigned a unique tracking number called a PRO number, consisting of 9 digits, which identifies the shipment in the system. This number can be entered on the ArcBest portal to obtain real-time freight status, location, and estimated delivery date. Data is updated as soon as a scan or movement is recorded in the network. Here are the main statuses and their meanings:

If a tracking number does not return information on the first lookup, the shipment may not yet have been scanned into the system, particularly in the hours immediately following pickup. Simply wait a few hours before checking again. In case of an invalid number or prolonged absence of updates, ABF Freight customer service can help resolve the issue by contacting 800-610-5544 or by email at [email protected].