Page 32 - ATR 5 2013

“that’s what our compaNy is about: people workiNg hard aNd solViNg
customer problems to make a differeNce eVery day.”

—judy mcreyNolds,
presideNt aNd ceo, arkaNsas best corporatioN

“Arkansas has a strong history Jan. 1, 2012, Slagle also served as senior designed to be temporary, is seen by
in trucking (because of its) entre- vice president of sales and marketing, trucking analysts as essential in restor-
preneurial environment,” she added. vice president administration and trea- ing ABF’s financial health and helping
“Arkansas Best was the most profession- surer, vice president and treasurer and align its expenses with its major com-
ally run company that I experienced. regional vice president of sales. Slagle’s petitors in the LTL landscape.
I knew what the company was like in early years with the company included “Here was a company that was
1997 when I walked in (chairman and a variety of field operations positions in clearly really struggling,” Carlton
CEO) Robert Young III’s office and he Ohio and Pennsylvania as well. explained. “It was rough. We all could
had a sign on his desk that read: ‘No Together, McReynolds and Slagle see it.
Surprises.’ are in the midst of transforming ABF “But they focused on the market
“Robert wanted to do it the from strictly a long-haul LTL carrier to a essentials, which is service for their
right way, in way he had control,” company capable of handling most any customers. They didn’t lose touch with
McReynolds added. “His approach to transportation solution. their customers as they were struggling
people is he put good people in place This work has been achieved by a with large, macro problems, not the
where they would make a difference strong effort toward diversification of least of which was their labor issues
and let them do the job.” its parent company as well. ABF once with IBT. It’s not yet resolved, but
provided as much as 95 percent of the they’ve made tremendous progress.”
thRoUGh the RaNKs revenue of its parent. Today, that figure
From 2006-2010, McReynolds is around 80 percent. meNtoRs aloNG the Way
served as senior vice president and Like nearly every other LTL car- Slagle said recently that through his
CFO for Arkansas Best, directing the rier and holding company, the Great 35 years at ABF he has come in contact
treasury, accounting and executive com- Recession battered Arkansas Best as ABF with so many great people, including
pensation functions for the company, coped with a sharp dropoff in freight former chairmen Robert Young Jr. and
as well as shareholder and investor rela- volumes as well as a fierce LTL price war Robert Young III: “We just celebrated
tions. She ascended to the chairman designed to try and force some large LTL our 90th anniversary at ABF,” he said.
and CEO posts three years ago carriers out of business. “When we celebrate our 110th, 120th
“What I see from Judy is she is Arkansas Best’s share price on the anniversaries, hopefully I will have paid
clearly head and shoulders above her New York Stock Exchange, once in the back the people who preceded me.”
competition in the world of financial single digits, has nearly tripled in the McReynolds says what drives her is
management and focus on balance past year. It recently closed on a $180 that feeling of accomplishment when a
sheet and income statements,” the NIT million purchase of expedited carrier problem is solved or a customer is satis-
League’s Carlton said. “The trucking Panther Expedited Services in 2012, fied.
company is just one part of Arkansas a significant acquisition that allows “I am driven to work hard and
Best’s portfolio. She has a solar system Arkansas Best to compete in the lucra- accomplish things,” she said. “At the
of companies she’s responsible for keep- tive expedited freight market place. end of day, if I haven’t accomplished
ing going during these difficult times.” On the labor front, Slagle and something, I’m a frustrated person.
Slagle has held virtually every sig- McReynolds oversaw a 6.5 percent “I look to make a difference,”
nificant job in sales, operations and wage concession through negotiations McReynolds added. “That’s what our
management in his 35 years at ABF. covering 7,500 of its Teamsters-covered
Currently ABF president and CEO since employees. That wage concession, 

32 arKansas trucKing report | issue 5 2013