Robert A. Davidson

Robert Davidson

2014

Robert A. Davidson

BSIE '70

President and CEO(retired)

Arkansas Best Corporation

Bob began working for Arkansas Best Corporation as an economic analyst in 1972. He became director of economic analysis and then vice president of pricing of its principal subsidiary, ABF Freight System. Bob became vice president for marketing and pricing for ABF Freight, where he continued to help the company keep up with changing times, developing new markets and spearheading the creation of a website that was recognized as premier in the industry. In 2006, Bob and two of his colleagues were awarded a patent for a web-based electronic shipment planner. Bob became president and CEO of ABF and joined the board of directors of publicly-traded Arkansas Best the following year. In 2005, he was named president and COO of Arkansas Best and became its CEO in 2006. He remained president and CEO of Arkansas Best and ABF Freight until he retired at the end of 2009. Under Bob’s leadership, ABF has been consistently recognized for best-in-class performance in productivity, safety, damage prevention, yield discipline and market innovation.