SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        Washington, D.C.  20549-1004

                                  FORM 8-K
                               CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the 
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934

          Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  August 17, 1995
                                                             (August 10, 1995)

                          ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           0-19969                  Delaware                   71-0673405
          (Commission   (State of other jurisdiction        (I.R.S. Employer
          File Number)  of incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)

           3801 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith, Arkansas     72903
          (Address of principal executive offices)         (Zip Code)

          Registrant's telephone number, including area code (501) 785-6000


          ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

                    The descriptions set forth in this report do
             not purport to be complete and this report is
             qualified in its entirety by reference to the
             documents described herein and attached as exhibits
             hereto, which are hereby incorporated herein by this
             reference.

                    (a)  On July 14, 1995, the tender offer (the
             "Offer") by ABC Acquisition Corporation, a North
             Carolina corporation (the "Purchaser") and a wholly
             owned subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation (the
             "Registrant"), to purchase all outstanding shares of
             Common Stock, par value $0.50 per share (the
             "Shares"), of WorldWay Corporation, a North Carolina
             corporation (the "Company"), at a purchase price of
             $11.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without
             interest, commenced.  The Offer expired at 12:00
             midnight New York City time on August 10, 1995 (the
             "Expiration Date").  There were validly tendered
             approximately 5,964,030 Shares pursuant to the Offer
             representing approximately 91% of the Shares
             outstanding as of the Expiration Date.  Pursuant to
             the Offer, immediately after the Expiration Date, on
             August 11, 1995, the Purchaser accepted for payment
             these Shares validly tendered according to the terms
             of the Offer.

                    The Offer was made pursuant to an Agreement and
             Plan of Merger, dated as of July 8, 1995 (the "Merger
             Agreement"), by and among the Company, the Purchaser
             and Registrant.  Pursuant to the Merger Agreement,
             the Purchaser will be merged with and into the
             Company (the "Merger"), with the Company continuing
             as the surviving corporation as a wholly owned
             subsidiary of Parent.  The Merger is subject to a
             number of conditions, including approval of the
             Merger Agreement by the holders of a majority of the
             Shares outstanding at that time as required by the
             North Carolina Business Corporation Act.  The
             Purchaser intends to vote all Shares purchased by it
             pursuant to the Offer in favor of the Merger.  In the
             Merger, each outstanding Share (other than Shares
             held by Registrant, the Purchaser or any subsidiary
             of Registrant or the Purchaser which Shares, by
             virtue of the Merger and without any action on the
             part of the holder thereof, shall be cancelled with
             no payment being made with respect thereto, and other
             than Shares, if any held by shareholders who are
             entitled to and who properly exercise dissenters'
             rights under North Carolina law) will, by virtue of
             the Merger and without any action by the holder
             thereof, be converted into the right to receive
             $11.00 per Share, payable to the holder thereof,
             without interest thereon, upon the surrender of the
             certificate formerly representing such Share.

                    The total cost of the acquisition was
             approximately $75,000,000.  The source of the funds
             used to finance the acquisition was made through a
             loan by  Registrant to the Purchaser.  Registrant
             obtained the funds for such loan pursuant to a Credit
             Agreement dated as of August 10, 1995 among
             Registrant, the banks parties thereto, Societe
             Generale, Southwest Agency, as Managing Agent and
             Administrative Agent, and NationsBank of Texas, N.A.,
             as Documentation Agent.

                    Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Messrs.
             Boggan, Carstarphen, Grace, Mapel, Martin, Richardson
             and Younger resigned from the Company's Board of
             Directors on August 11, 1995 and seven designees of
             Registrant, Messrs. Young, Neal, Cooper, Meyers,
             Slack, Marquard and Morris, were elected to the
             Company's Board of Directors.

          ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL
                   INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS. 

            (a)     Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired and 
                    (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information

               It is impracticable at this time for the Registrant
               to file, together with this Current Report, the
               required financial statements and pro forma
               financial information with respect to the Company. 
               Accordingly, the Registrant hereby undertakes to
               file such required statements by amendment to this
               Current Report on or prior to  October 16, 1995.

          (c)  Exhibits

               (2)       Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
                         July 8, 1995, among the Company, the 
                         Purchaser and Registrant (incorporated
                         herein by reference to Exhibit (c)(1) to
                         the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule
                         14D-1 filed with the Commission on July
                         14, 1995).

               (20)      Press release issued by the Company on August
                         11, 1995 announcing the expiration of the Offer
                         at 12:00 midnight New York City time, August
                         10, 1995, is incorporated herein by reference
                         from Exhibit (a)(12) to Amendment No. 2 (Final
                         Amendment and Schedule 13D) dated August 11,
                         1995 to the Schedule 14D-1.

               (99)      Offer to Purchase dated July 14, 1995 by
                         the Purchaser to purchase all outstanding
                         shares of Common Stock, par value $0.50
                         per share of the Company is incorporated
                         herein by reference from Exhibit (a)(1) to
                         the Schedule 14D-1.



                                 SIGNATURE

                    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
          Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this
          report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
          hereto duly authorized.

          Dated:  August 17, 1995

                                         ABC Acquisition Corporation

                                         By:  /s/  DONALD L. NEAL  
                                              _____________________________  
                                               Name: 
                                               Title: Senior Vice President --
                                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                         Arkansas Best Corporation

                                         By:  /s/  DONALD L. NEAL  
                                              ________________________________
                                               Name: 
                                               Title: Senior Vice President and
                                                      Chief Financial Officer


                                EXHIBIT INDEX

          Exhibit
          Number    Exhibit

            (c)     Exhibits

               (2)  Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July
                    8, 1995, among the Company, the Purchaser and
                    Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to
                    Exhibit (c)(1) to the Tender Offer  Statement
                    on Schedule 14D-1 filed with the Commission on
                    July 14, 1995).

               (20) Press release issued by the Company on August
                    11, 1995 announcing the expiration of the Offer
                    at 12:00 midnight New York City time, August
                    10, 1995, is incorporated herein by reference
                    from Exhibit (a)(12) to Amendment No. 2 (Final
                    Amendment and Schedule 13D) dated August 11,
                    1995 to the Schedule 14D-1.

               (99) Offer to Purchase dated July 14, 1995 by
                    the Purchaser to purchase all outstanding
                    shares of Common Stock, par value $0.50
                    per share of the Company is incorporated
                    herein by reference from Exhibit (a)(1) to
                    the Schedule 14D-1.
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 9857}]
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        Washington, D.C.  20549-1004

                                  FORM 8-K
                               CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the 
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934

          Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  August 17, 1995
                                                             (August 10, 1995)

                          ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           0-19969                  Delaware                   71-0673405
          (Commission   (State of other jurisdiction        (I.R.S. Employer
          File Number)  of incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)

           3801 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith, Arkansas     72903
          (Address of principal executive offices)         (Zip Code)

          Registrant's telephone number, including area code (501) 785-6000

          ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

                    The descriptions set forth in this report do
             not purport to be complete and this report is
             qualified in its entirety by reference to the
             documents described herein and attached as exhibits
             hereto, which are hereby incorporated herein by this
             reference.

                    (a)  On July 14, 1995, the tender offer (the
             "Offer") by ABC Acquisition Corporation, a North
             Carolina corporation (the "Purchaser") and a wholly
             owned subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation (the
             "Registrant"), to purchase all outstanding shares of
             Common Stock, par value $0.50 per share (the
             "Shares"), of WorldWay Corporation, a North Carolina
             corporation (the "Company"), at a purchase price of
             $11.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without
             interest, commenced.  The Offer expired at 12:00
             midnight New York City time on August 10, 1995 (the
             "Expiration Date").  There were validly tendered
             approximately 5,964,030 Shares pursuant to the Offer
             representing approximately 91% of the Shares
             outstanding as of the Expiration Date.  Pursuant to
             the Offer, immediately after the Expiration Date, on
             August 11, 1995, the Purchaser accepted for payment
             these Shares validly tendered according to the terms
             of the Offer.

                    The Offer was made pursuant to an Agreement and
             Plan of Merger, dated as of July 8, 1995 (the "Merger
             Agreement"), by and among the Company, the Purchaser
             and Registrant.  Pursuant to the Merger Agreement,
             the Purchaser will be merged with and into the
             Company (the "Merger"), with the Company continuing
             as the surviving corporation as a wholly owned
             subsidiary of Parent.  The Merger is subject to a
             number of conditions, including approval of the
             Merger Agreement by the holders of a majority of the
             Shares outstanding at that time as required by the
             North Carolina Business Corporation Act.  The
             Purchaser intends to vote all Shares purchased by it
             pursuant to the Offer in favor of the Merger.  In the
             Merger, each outstanding Share (other than Shares
             held by Registrant, the Purchaser or any subsidiary
             of Registrant or the Purchaser which Shares, by
             virtue of the Merger and without any action on the
             part of the holder thereof, shall be cancelled with
             no payment being made with respect thereto, and other
             than Shares, if any held by shareholders who are
             entitled to and who properly exercise dissenters'
             rights under North Carolina law) will, by virtue of
             the Merger and without any action by the holder
             thereof, be converted into the right to receive
             $11.00 per Share, payable to the holder thereof,
             without interest thereon, upon the surrender of the
             certificate formerly representing such Share.

                    The total cost of the acquisition was
             approximately $75,000,000.  The source of the funds
             used to finance the acquisition was made through a
             loan by  Registrant to the Purchaser.  Registrant
             obtained the funds for such loan pursuant to a Credit
             Agreement dated as of August 10, 1995 among
             Registrant, the banks parties thereto, Societe
             Generale, Southwest Agency, as Managing Agent and
             Administrative Agent, and NationsBank of Texas, N.A.,
             as Documentation Agent.

                    Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Messrs.
             Boggan, Carstarphen, Grace, Mapel, Martin, Richardson
             and Younger resigned from the Company's Board of
             Directors on August 11, 1995 and seven designees of
             Registrant, Messrs. Young, Neal, Cooper, Meyers,
             Slack, Marquard and Morris, were elected to the
             Company's Board of Directors.

          ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL
                   INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS. 

            (a)     Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired and 
                    (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information

               It is impracticable at this time for the Registrant
               to file, together with this Current Report, the
               required financial statements and pro forma
               financial information with respect to the Company. 
               Accordingly, the Registrant hereby undertakes to
               file such required statements by amendment to this
               Current Report on or prior to  October 16, 1995.

          (c)  Exhibits

               (2)       Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
                         July 8, 1995, among the Company, the 
                         Purchaser and Registrant (incorporated
                         herein by reference to Exhibit (c)(1) to
                         the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule
                         14D-1 filed with the Commission on July
                         14, 1995).

               (20)      Press release issued by the Company on August
                         11, 1995 announcing the expiration of the Offer
                         at 12:00 midnight New York City time, August
                         10, 1995, is incorporated herein by reference
                         from Exhibit (a)(12) to Amendment No. 2 (Final
                         Amendment and Schedule 13D) dated August 11,
                         1995 to the Schedule 14D-1.

               (99)      Offer to Purchase dated July 14, 1995 by
                         the Purchaser to purchase all outstanding
                         shares of Common Stock, par value $0.50
                         per share of the Company is incorporated
                         herein by reference from Exhibit (a)(1) to
                         the Schedule 14D-1.

                                 SIGNATURE

                    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
          Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this
          report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
          hereto duly authorized.

          Dated:  August 17, 1995

                                         ABC Acquisition Corporation

                                         By:  /s/  DONALD L. NEAL  
                                              _____________________________  
                                               Name: 
                                               Title: Senior Vice President --
                                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                         Arkansas Best Corporation

                                         By:  /s/  DONALD L. NEAL  
                                              ________________________________
                                               Name: 
                                               Title: Senior Vice President and
                                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                EXHIBIT INDEX

          Exhibit
          Number    Exhibit

            (c)     Exhibits

               (2)  Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July
                    8, 1995, among the Company, the Purchaser and
                    Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to
                    Exhibit (c)(1) to the Tender Offer  Statement
                    on Schedule 14D-1 filed with the Commission on
                    July 14, 1995).

               (20) Press release issued by the Company on August
                    11, 1995 announcing the expiration of the Offer
                    at 12:00 midnight New York City time, August
                    10, 1995, is incorporated herein by reference
                    from Exhibit (a)(12) to Amendment No. 2 (Final
                    Amendment and Schedule 13D) dated August 11,
                    1995 to the Schedule 14D-1.

               (99) Offer to Purchase dated July 14, 1995 by
                    the Purchaser to purchase all outstanding
                    shares of Common Stock, par value $0.50
                    per share of the Company is incorporated
                    herein by reference from Exhibit (a)(1) to
                    the Schedule 14D-1.