Arkansas best 4q profit falls.

Arkansas Best Corp. said fourth-quarter profit fell to $13.5 million, or 54 cents a share, compared to $14.2 million, or 56 cents a share during the same quarter last year.

The holding company said revenue increased to $459.3 million from $454.3 million.

The company also said it expected capital expenditures in 2008 to reach about $60 million to $70 million, down from $85 million last year.

"During a year when ABF operated through a challenging freight environment, Arkansas Best maintained its strong financial position and generated a full year 2007 After-Tax Return on Capital Employed of 9.5 percent," said Robert A. Davidson, president and chief executive officer.

For the full year of 2007, Arkansas Best reported income of $2.26 a share compared to $3.16 a common share in 2006.

Revenue for the full year was $1.84 billion compared to 2006 full year revenue of $1.88 billion.

ABF Freight System Inc., the less-than-truckload trucking company that is Arkansas Bests largest subsidiary, had fourth quarter 2007 revenue of $441.3 million, compared with fourth quarter 2006 revenue of $441.4 million.

"During the fourth quarter of 2006, we first experienced significant declines in year-over-year tonnage," said Davidson. "However, since October, our yearover-year tonnage trends have improved each month, with slight increases in December and January."