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Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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SCHEDULE 14A

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Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

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Filed by the Registrant [✓]

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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

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Check the appropriate box:

[ ] | Preliminary Proxy Statement

[ ] | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

[✓] | Definitive Proxy Statement

[ ] | Definitive Additional Materials

[ ] | Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

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ArcBest Corporation

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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[✓] | No fee required.

[ ] | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[ ] | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a6(i)(1) and 0-11.

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1

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Our Company

ArcBest® is a multibillion-dollar integrated logistics company that leverages our technology and full suite of shipping and logistics solutions to meet our customers’ supply chain needs and help keep the global supply chain moving.

Using our technology, expertise and scale, we connect shippers with the solutions they need — from ground, air and ocean transportation to fully managed supply chain solutions — serving our customers as a single logistics resource.

We started in 1923 as a local Arkansas freight hauler. Today, we are a publicly traded logistics powerhouse with global reach and 14,000 employees across 250 campuses and service centers. This transformation is the result of organic growth, strategic acquisitions, visionary leadership and skilled, resilient people who are driven to find a way to get the job done.

ArcBest is a trusted advisor to some of the world’s largest and most recognizable brands. Our Vision is to be the leading logistics partner and innovator, working with customers to build better supply chains across the globe. We put ourselves in our customers' shoes, get to know their business, and constantly look for opportunities to optimize. The solutions and strategies we recommend align with their goals. And when the unexpected happens, we’re there to help them quickly pivot to overcome disruptions and keep their supply chain moving.

Our long history of innovation enriches these deep customer relationships. With innovation as a pillar of our strategy, we’re committed to helping our customers navigate their logistics challenges now, and in the future, and we encourage our employees to think creatively and challenge the status quo.

Our people are at the heart of our success, and we are deeply focused on a culture that is grounded in the company’s core values of Creativity, Integrity, Collaboration, Growth, Excellence and Wellness. We support employees by providing a workplace where all people can grow and make a lasting impact.

Welcome to ArcBest.

References in this Proxy Statement to “ArcBest,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” include ArcBest Corporation together with its subsidiaries.

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Our Values | Creativity |  | Integrity |  | Collaboration | ​
| ​ ​ We create solutions |  | ​ ​ We do the right thing |  | ​ ​ We work together | ​
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| Growth |  | Excellence |  | Wellness | ​
| ​ ​ We grow our people and our business |  | ​ ​ We exceed expectations |  | ​ ​ We embrace total health | ​
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Letter to our Stockholders from ArcBest Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

​ Judy R. McReynolds ArcBest Chairman & Chief Executive Officer March 14, 2025 ​ “Our teams remain focused on serving customers with excellence. In turn, our customers recognize they can rely on the premium services ArcBest delivers.” ​ ​ ​ $4.2 B TOTAL REVENUE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS ​ ​ $7.28 EARNINGS PER DILUTED SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS IN 2024 |  | Dear ArcBest Stockholders, In a year of market challenges and uncertainty, ArcBest’s long-term strategy — powered by our people, technology and integrated solutions — once again proved to be a significant strength. In 2024, despite headwinds, we maintained our leadership position in supply chain logistics, achieved customer growth, and introduced award-winning innovations that position ArcBest for continued growth and success. Our teams remain focused on serving customers with excellence. In turn, our customers recognize they can rely on the premium services ArcBest delivers. We are proud to share that ABF Freight® was once again recognized by Mastio for exceeding the industry benchmark standard, and MoLo® was named a Top 3PL by Food Logistics. We are committed to delivering outstanding service to help our customers achieve their goals and will continue investing in solutions to support current and future customers. Innovation is key to our strategy, and we’re developing solutions focused on meeting customers’ needs, enhancing employee efficiency and ensuring ArcBest is future-ready. This past year, we made significant advancements with improved shipment visibility and ETA calculation accuracy. We initiated the beta testing of ArcBest View™, our new digital platform, and we continued to responsibly and ethically leverage advanced technologies to improve efficiencies and enhance our operations and service. We also introduced Vaux Smart Autonomy™, our groundbreaking autonomous material handling technology. One of our top priorities is investing in our team members. We continued to oversee robust talent development programs to ensure we retain and prepare our employees for the demands of the future. We stay connected with employees and benefit from their insights and suggestions through our annual engagement survey, which in 2024 had 81% participation from our non-contractual workforce, with 80% favorability overall. The Board values stockholder feedback. In 2024, members of the ArcBest Board and management team engaged with investors representing 37% of shares outstanding to discuss our strategy, corporate governance, executive compensation and sustainability progress. In February 2025, the Board amended the Company’s bylaws to adopt a proxy access bylaw, providing stockholders a meaningful way to nominate candidates for election to the Board. The Board also amended ArcBest’s Code of Conduct to expand our commitment to maintaining and promoting fundamental human rights and our ethics policies, underscoring the seriousness with which the Board takes its oversight responsibilities. As we look ahead, we remain steadfast in our mission to connect and positively impact the world through solving logistics challenges and advancing our strategic pillars of growth, efficiency and innovation. On behalf of the Board of Directors and our 14,000 team members, thank you for your continued trust and support in ArcBest as we work to deliver long-term stockholder value. We respectfully ask for your support in voting for the proposals listed in the enclosed proxy statement. Sincerely,

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LETTER TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS FROM ARCBEST CHAIRMAN & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 3
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ARCBEST CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP 2024 HIGHLIGHTS | 5
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Environmental Sustainability | 5
Training and Employee Development | 5
Belonging | 6
Philanthropy | 6
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS | 7
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PROXY SUMMARY | 8
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PROPOSAL I. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | 13
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Director Nominees | 14
Board Skills Profile | 23
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GOVERNANCE OF THE COMPANY | 24
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Board Leadership Structure | 24
Director Independence | 25
How Directors are Selected | 25
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight | 26
CEO and Executive Leadership Succession Process | 27
Committees of the Board | 28
Attendance at Meetings | 29
Other Board Policies | 29
Code of Conduct and Corporate Governance Guidelines | 30
Certain Transactions and Relationships | 30
Insider Trading, Anti-Hedging and Pledging Policies | 30
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | 32
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Cash Compensation | 32
Equity-Based Awards | 32
Miscellaneous Compensation Items | 32
Stock Ownership Policy for Non-Employee Directors | 32
2024 Director Compensation Table | 33
2025 Director Compensation Changes | 33
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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY | 34
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | 37
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Compensation Discussion & Analysis | 37

Compensation Committee Report | 54
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation | 54

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Summary Compensation Table | 55
2024 Grants of Plan-Based Awards | 57
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Year-End | 58
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested | 59
2024 Equity Compensation Plan Information | 60
2024 Pension Benefits | 60
2024 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation | 62
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control | 63
CEO Pay Ratio | 67
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PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE | 68
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PROPOSAL II. ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | 73
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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE | 74
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PROPOSAL III. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | 76
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Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 77
Independent Auditor’s Fees and Services | 77
Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 78
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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT OWNERSHIP | 79
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Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports | 80
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING | 81
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Internet Availability of Proxy Materials | 81
Record Date | 81
Voting | 81
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OTHER MATTERS | 83
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Cost of Solicitation | 83
Stockholder Communication with the Board | 83
Electronic Delivery of Stockholder Communications | 83
Procedure for Submitting Stockholder Proposals and Nominations for 2026 Annual Meeting | 83
Householding of Proxy Materials | 84
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ARCBEST COR PORATE CITIZENSHIP

2024 HIGHLIGHTS

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Environmental Sustainability |  | 2024 was another year of steady progress for sustainability at ArcBest, with transparency and accountability remaining a priority. ​ Equipment One of the primary ways we drive efficiency and sustainability in our ABF Freight LTL operations is by maintaining a young fleet with modern features. In 2024, we replaced more than 700 older trucks with new Class 7 and 8 trucks, improving overall fuel efficiency and reducing GHG emissions. We also expanded our electric fleet with additional forklifts and yard tractors. ​ Facilities We made progress on our multi-year Facility Enhancement and Growth Roadmap, with more than 30 additional remodels and renovations of service centers. Upgrades include LED light replacements to reduce electricity consumption and more efficient fixtures to reduce water use, while improving safety and comfort for employees at these locations. ​ Reporting and Monitoring We completed the first two phases of implementation for Salesforce Net Zero Cloud, to help us further develop our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions calculations, management and disclosures. After completing the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition (SLoCT) course focused on Scope 3 GHG emissions in 2023, our Manager of Sustainability is taking part in the SLoCT course on target setting, which will be completed in early 2025. Each course provides expert training, insights and resources enabling us to progress in our sustainability journey. ​ Events and Initiatives In 2024, we continued our support of environmentally friendly practices through recycling and composting initiatives at a number of company events and our second annual Earth Day campus clean-up event at our two main campuses in Fort Smith, Arkansas
| IMPROVED TRUCK FLEET WITH OVER 700 NEW CLASS 7 & 8 TRUCKS | ​ |
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| EXPANDED ELECTRIC VEHICLE USE, ADDING 5 ELECTRIC YARD TRACTORS AND 9 ELECTRIC FORKLIFTS | ​ |
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| COMPLETED 30+ REMODELS AND RENOVATIONS AT ABF SERVICE CENTERS | ​ |
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Training and Employee Development |  | Throughout the year, we continued our commitment towards continuous learning and professional development. Employee Training Our online courses, live webinars and in-person sessions culminated in over 100,000 enrollments in training topics covering both job-specific skills and essential soft skills. Our commitment to excellence in training was acknowledged once again, with our 15th year on Training Magazine’s Training APEX awards list. In celebration of the 40-year anniversary of the ABF Quality Process, our training team provided over 15,000 hours of focused training to ensure our employees are equipped to effectively identify, fix and eliminate problems through our “5 Step Problem Elimination Process.” ​ Leadership Development Our leadership development programs nurtured over 200 employees through instructor-guided training sessions designed to enhance leadership and management capabilities. These programs support individual learning and align with our performance and succession planning processes to identify and develop future leaders at all levels. ​
| 100,000+ COURSE ENROLLMENTS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION | ​ |
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| OVER 15,000 TRAINING HOURS ON THE QUALITY PROCESS MARKING ITS 40TH YEAR | ​ |
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ArcBest / 2025 PROXY STATEMENT 5

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| OVER $200,000 IN EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR EMPLOYEES | ​ | Education Assistance Program Our Educational Assistance Program continued to support the development of our full-time employees by reimbursing a portion of the costs associated with educational courses. In 2024, we reimbursed over $200,000 to employees pursuing various educational programs, including bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and graduate certificates.
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Belonging |  | We remain committed to creating an inclusive environment where every culture, perspective and experience is valued. We believe that by investing in wellness and development programs, we enable our employees to realize their full potential and deliver innovative solutions. ​ Our employee resource groups (ERGs) continued to provide spaces for employee networking, mentorship and learning. Our ERGs, which are open to all employees, hosted a variety of events both in-person and virtually, totaling over 133 opportunities for connection – from volunteer opportunities to professional development and networking events. ArcBest also led proactive and strategic initiatives to engage a variety of talent pools in 2024 including a Company record 47 recruiting and career events at campuses including the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff and Texas A&M University, as well as programs such as military briefings and career fairs for returning civilians. ​
| NEARLY 1,000 MEMBERSHIPS ACROSS EMPLOYEE NETWORKS | ​ |
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| COMPANY RECORD NUMBER OF CAREER EVENTS ATTENDED | ​ |
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Philant hropy |  | In 2024, we continued supporting our three philanthropy pillars with strategic initiatives aimed at positively impacting the places where we live, work and operate. ■ Community — Supported communities across the country by partnering with disaster relief organizations and participating in community wellness initiatives including Diversified Foods, Inc., Toys for Tots, and Almost Home Shelter and Rescue. ■ Education — Continued participating in education programs, such as the Fort Smith Public Schools mentorship program. We also hosted events focused on safety and spreading awareness on STEM careers, such as our “Touch a Truck Event” and “ABTech School Days.” ■ People — Contributed to the wellbeing of people with unique needs through several safety, health and wellness events and philanthropic initiatives, including the 2024 Truck Convoy for Special Olympics Arkansas and the annual Safety Drive for a Cure. Our employees also raised funds for donation to Make-A-Wish® Foundation, dedicated to granting life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, impacting the lives of families in Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, Texas and Illinois. Our efforts to make a positive impact across the country continue to expand, reaching an increasing number of towns and cities. ​
| OVER 180 ORGANIZATIONS IMPACTED BY TOTAL PHILANTHROPIC GIVING | ​ |
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| AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS THROUGH EMPLOYEE DEPENDENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM | ​ |
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| 5 WISHES GRANTED THROUGH MAKE-A-WISH® IN COLLABORATION WITH ARCBEST LEADERSHIP ACADEMY CLASS OF 2023 | ​ |
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ArcBest / 2025 PROXY STATEMENT 6

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NOTICE of Annual Meeting
of Stockholders

DATE & TIME April 25, 2025 at 7:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time LOCATION ArcBest Headquarters 8401 McClure Drive Fort Smith, Arkansas 72916 RECORD DATE Stockholders of record at the close of business February 24, 2025 ​ ​ HOW TO VOTE: Please refer to the following proxy materials or the information forwarded by your bank, broker or other holder of record to see which voting methods are available to you. BY INTERNET www.proxyvote.com BY PHONE 1-800-690-6903 (automated line) BY MAIL If you received paper copies of your proxy materials, sign, date and return the proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. IN PERSON You can attend the Annual Meeting in person and vote, even if you gave a proxy in advance. |  | TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF ARCBEST CORPORATION: You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of ArcBest Corporation (the “Company”) on April 25, 2025, at 7:30 a.m. (CDT). You may attend in person at the principal offices of the Company located at 8401 McClure Drive, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72916. To obtain directions to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, contact the Company’s Investor Relations Department at toll-free telephone number 800-961-9744, email address invrel@arcb.com or through the Company’s website www.arcb.com. The annual meeting is being convened for the following purposes:
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| ​ | ❶ | To elect nine directors for a one-year term to expire at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;
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| ​ | ❷ | To conduct an advisory vote to approve executive compensation;
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| ​ | ❸ | To ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2025;
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| ​ | ❹ | To act upon such other matters as may properly be brought before the meeting affecting the business and affairs of the Company.
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| ​ | ​ | By Order of the Board of Directors, March 14, 2025.
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| ​ | Michael Johns Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
| ​ | RECORD DATE; PROXIES Only stockholders of record at the close of business February 24, 2025, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. Even if you plan to attend the meeting, please follow the instructions to vote by Internet or by telephone, or complete, sign, date and return your proxy card if you received one, as promptly as possible. It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting. For more information about how to attend the annual meeting, see “Information About the Meeting” on page 81 of this Proxy Statement. If you hold your shares in “street name” through a brokerage firm or bank, then your brokerage firm or bank is responsible for voting on your behalf based on your instructions. The Board of Directors urges you to contact the person responsible for your account today and instruct them to execute a proxy considering the recommendations of the Board, which are described in this Proxy Statement. If you hold your shares in street name and you wish to personally vote at the meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy issued in your name from the broker, bank or other nominee that holds your shares. For more information on how to vote, see “Information About the Meeting.”
| ​ | IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 25, 2025: The Proxy Statement and 2024 Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.
| ​ |  | If you wish to receive future proxy statements and annual reports electronically rather than receiving paper copies in the mail, please see page 83 for instructions. This approach can provide information to you more conveniently, while reducing the environmental impact of our annual meeting and helping to reduce our distribution costs.
​ | ​ | 8401 MCCLURE DRIVE / P.O. BOX 10048 / FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS 72917 / 479-785-6000

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ArcBest / 2025 PROXY STATEMENT 7

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PROXY SUMMARY

THIS SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS CERTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING AND THE COMPANY, WHICH IS DISCUSSED IN GREATER DETAIL IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT, AND DOES NOT CONTAIN ALL THE INFORMATION YOU SHOULD CONSIDER. YOU SHOULD READ THE ENTIRE PROXY STATEMENT BEFORE VOTING YOUR SHARES. FOR MORE COMPLETE INFORMATION REGARDING ARCBEST’S 2024 PERFORMANCE, PLEASE REVIEW OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024.

Annual Meeting Information

WHEN | WHERE | RECORD DATE
Friday, April 25, 2025, at 7:30 a.m. (CDT) | At the principal offices of the Company located at 8401 McClure Drive, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72916 | February 24, 2025

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Meeting Agenda

This Proxy Statement is furnished to the stockholders of the Company in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the ArcBest Board of Directors (the “Board”) to be voted at the Annual Meeting. The matters we will act upon at the Annual Meeting are:

Proposal |  | Board Voting Recommendation |  | Vote Required to Pass |  | Where to Find More Information
Elect nine directors for a one-year term |  | FOR all nominees |  | A nominee is elected by a majority of the votes cast* |  | Page 13
Approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation |  | FOR |  | The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of shares of Common Stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote |  | Page 73
Ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2025 |  | FOR |  | The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of shares of Common Stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote |  | Page 76

* | A majority of votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a director nominee’s election must exceed the number of shares voted “against” it.

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​ | What’s New?
■ In April 2024, we published our Sustainability Report for the calendar year 2023, marking the fifth year of reporting on our sustainability initiatives. Visit arcb.com/about-arcbest/sustainability to view the report.(1) ■ In July 2024, we announced the appointment of Seth Runser as ArcBest President and Matt Godfrey as ABF Freight President, a testament to our robust succession planning process. See page 27 for more information. ■ During fourth quarter 2024, we engaged with stockholders representing 37% of our outstanding shares, and we took action in response to their feedback on our governance practices. See page 12 for more information.

(1) | Documents referenced or hyperlinked in this proxy statement are not and will not be incorporated by reference unless expressly indicated otherwise. Such documents may contain information from various sources and our assumptions thereon and may also contain hypothetical or adverse scenarios and assumptions that may not necessarily be representative of current, actual or expected risks or results. You are cautioned not to place undue weight on such information.

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ArcBest / 2025 PROXY STATEMENT 8

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Director Nominees

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Name | Occupation | Age | Director Since | Independent | Other Public Directorships | Audit | Compensation | Nominating/Corporate Governance
Salvatore A. Abbate | Chief Executive Officer for Veritiv Corporation | 56 | Jan. 2023 |  |  |  |  |
Eduardo F. Conrado | President for Ascension | 58 | Nov. 2016 |  | 1 |  |  |
Fredrik J. Eliasson | Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Change Healthcare Inc. | 54 | Dec. 2019 |  | 1 | ​ |  |
Michael P. Hogan | Chief Development and Strategy Officer for Earned Wealth | 65 | Oct. 2016 |  |  |  |  |
Kathleen D. McElligott | Former Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer for McKesson Corporation | 69 | Jul. 2015 |  |  |  |  |
Judy R. McReynolds Chair | Chief Executive Officer for ArcBest | 62 | Jan. 2010 |  | 1 |  |  |
Dr. Craig E. Philip | Professor, Vanderbilt University | 71 | Aug. 2011 |  |  |  |  |
Steven L. Spinner Lead Independent Director | Operating Partner for MidOcean Partners | 65 | Jul. 2011 |  | 1 |  |  |
Janice E. Stipp | Former Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for Rogers Corporation | 65 | Oct. 2012 |  | 2 |  |  |

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| Member |  | Chair |  | Audit Committee Financial Expert

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Board Composition and Refreshment

Our nine nominees represent a broad range of backgrounds, attributes, experiences and skills, as summarized below.

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​ | ​ | AGE | TENURE ON THE BOARD

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RANGE OF SKILLS

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The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee is currently in the process of assessing the Board’s size, composition and current balance of skills and characteristics. As part of this assessment, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee has engaged a third-party search firm to assist it in identifying and evaluating potential candidates to join the Board.

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2024 Performance

In 2024, the macroeconomic backdrop, particularly in the manufacturing sector, remained a challenge for many shippers who depended on ArcBest’s expertise as an integrated logistics solution to help them navigate market disruptions, rapidly changing market conditions and increased supply chain complexity. With 14,000 employees utilizing their industry knowledge while offering a breadth of solutions, ArcBest truly lived out its mission to connect and positively impact the world through solving logistics challenges. Our team continues to respond nimbly to evolving market dynamics in real time, pivoting quickly to profitably serve our customers. We continue to transform through innovation, investment, and an intense focus on quality. In 2024, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Quality Process, emphasizing the notion of “Doing it right the first time.”

| $244.4 M ​ OPERATING INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS |  | $7.28 ​ DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

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Compensation Highlights

Our executive compensation program strikes a balance between fixed and variable elements. As shown below, 79% of compensation for our CEO, and 65% of compensation (on average) for our other Named Executive Officers, was variable and at risk in 2024.

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ArcBest / 2025 PROXY STATEMENT 10

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Key Compensation Governance Policies

The Compensation Committee continually reviews the Company’s executive compensation program to ensure our practices promote stockholders’ best interests. Some of our key policies are summarized below.

What We Do: |  | What We Don’t Do:
| We tie pay to performance. The majority of executive pay is at risk. | ​ |  | NO tax gross-up payments for any amounts considered excess parachute payments.
| 60% of the long-term incentive value granted to Named Executive Officers is contingent on the Company’s performance over a 3-year period. | ​ |  | NO single-trigger payments upon a change in control.
| We use three-year ratable vesting for our restricted stock units to encourage retention and a long-term perspective. | ​ |  | NO excessive perquisites.
| Named Executive Officers and Directors are subject to significant stock ownership requirements. | ​ |  | NO hedging or pledging of Company stock.
| We have caps on both the annual incentive and long-term incentive payouts. | ​ |  | NO employment agreements with our Named Executive Officers.
| We have a robust clawback policy that goes beyond the minimum requirements under the Nasdaq listing standards. | ​ |  | NO re-pricing of stock options without stockholder approval.
| We conduct annual risk assessments of our compensation plans. | ​ |  | NO guaranteed bonuses.
| We have an independent Compensation Committee. | ​ | ​
| The Compensation Committee has an independent compensation consultant. | ​ | ​
| We benchmark our compensation practices to peers with which we compete for talent. | ​ | ​
| We proactively engage with our largest stockholders and consider their feedback. | ​ | ​

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ArcBest / 2025 PROXY STATEMENT 11

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Stockholder Engagement

Feedback from our stockholders is very important to us. The Company engages with stockholders through various means, including in-person meetings, investor conferences, one-on-one calls and our Annual Meeting. The objectives of our stockholder engagement program are to discuss our strategic priorities, corporate governance and executive compensation practices, among other topics; strengthen our relationships with our investors; address any concerns raised in prior engagements; ensure we meet evolving investor expectations; and convey our approach to maximizing stockholder value. The information and viewpoints gathered in our discussions with stockholders are critical to informing our priorities and strategies.

In 2024, in addition to our participation at investor conferences and non-deal roadshows, we proactively reached out to stockholders representing approximately 63% of our outstanding shares to discuss our business strategy, governance policies and practices, and other topics of interest to our investors. Of those stockholders we contacted, stockholders representing approximately 37% of our outstanding shares met with our management team. The Chair of our Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee also participated in certain engagement discussions.

| ​ | ​ |
Who We Contacted |  |  | Who We Spoke With
Stockholders Representing 63% of Outstanding Stock | ​ | ​ | Stockholders Representing 37% of Outstanding Stock

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Topics discussed during 2024 included our business strategy, human capital management, sustainability initiatives, executive compensation, corporate governance matters, and board composition and refreshment. We believe these meetings were productive and provided us with valuable insights and perspectives from our stockholders.

As a result of this constructive dialogue, and in response to feedback from our stockholders, in February 2025, the Board amended the Company’s bylaws to implement a “proxy access” right, which permits a stockholder (or a group of up to 20 stockholders) owning 3% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock continuously for at least three years to nominate and include in the Company’s proxy materials director nominees, subject to the eligibility, procedural and disclosure requirements set forth in our bylaws. The maximum number of director nominees nominated by all eligible stockholders that will be included in the Company’s proxy materials is the greater of two or 25% of the Board. Stockholders who wish to nominate directors for inclusion in our proxy statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders should follow the instructions under “Procedure for Submitting Stockholder Proposals and Nominations for 2026 Annual Meeting” in this Proxy Statement.

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ArcBest / 2025 PROXY STATEMENT 12

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PROPOSAL I.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Board recommends a vote “FOR” each of the nominees.

All of the nominees are currently serving as directors of the Company and were elected at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If elected, each nominee will serve until ArcBest’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2026 or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified or until the individual’s earlier death, resignation or removal from office.

Each nominee has indicated a willingness to serve as a member of the Board, if elected. If, for any reason, a nominee becomes unable to serve or will not serve, either the number of the Company’s directors will be reduced or the Board will designate a substitute nominee.

The Company’s bylaws provide that, in an uncontested election, directors are elected by a majority of the votes cast by stockholders, in person or by proxy, at a meeting at which a quorum is present. This means that the number of shares voted “for” a director nominee’s election must exceed the number of shares voted “against” it. In an uncontested election, a nominee who does not receive a majority of votes cast will not be elected, and the Company’s bylaws require that any incumbent director who does not receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast must promptly tender a resignation to the Board. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee will consider any resignation tendered under this policy and recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject it, and the Board will act on such resignation, taking into account such recommendation, within 90 days following the certification of the election results. The director who tenders his or her resignation under this policy will not vote with respect to recommending of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee or the decision of the Board with respect to the resignation.

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee in making its recommendation, and the Board in making its decision, may consider any information it deems appropriate, including any reasons given by stockholders for their votes against a director, the qualifications of the director, and the director’s contributions to the Board and the Company. The Board will promptly disclose its decision to accept or reject the resignation and, if rejected, the reasons for doing so. If a director’s resignation is not accepted by the Board, then such director will continue to serve. If a director’s resignation is accepted by the Board, then the Board, in its sole discretion, may fill any remaining vacancy or decrease the size of the Board.

Unless otherwise instructed, your proxy will be voted for the election of each of the nominees.

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ArcBest / 2025 PROXY STATEMENT 13

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Director Nominees

A biography of each Director nominee, current as of February 24, 2025, appears below. There are no family relationships among any of the nominees and executive officers of the Company or its subsidiaries.

SALVATORE A. ABBATE |
​ Age 56 ​ Director since: Jan. 2023 ​ INDEPENDENT ​ Committees: ■ Compensation ■ Nominating/ Corporate Governance |  | Key Skills and Experience: ■ Senior Leadership: CEO and member of the Board of Directors of Veritiv, a leading business-to-business specialty distribution solutions company. Remained as CEO after the company’s sale to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (“CDR”). Provided key leadership throughout the company’s efforts to focus on growth-oriented initiatives, operational efficiency and best-in-class technology implementation. Under Mr. Abbate’s leadership of Veritiv, the company stock rose from under $13.00 per share in October of 2020, to $170 per share on December 1, 2023, when its acquisition by CDR closed. Prior to this role, Mr. Abbate held senior leadership roles in corporate strategy, sales and marketing at Andersen Windows & Doors. ■ Value Creation and M&A: As CEO, led the execution of Veritiv’s $2.6 billion sale to CDR in 2023 at a significant premium. Prior to the company’s sale, Mr. Abbate executed several additional transformation transactions at Veritiv, including the divestitures of Veritiv’s logistics solutions and Canadian businesses that funded the company’s share repurchase program, debt repayment and growth initiatives. Adjusted EBITDA has more than tripled during Mr. Abbate’s tenure as CEO. Since going private, Veritiv has made five additional acquisitions in 2024, and the organization will continue its transformational organic and inorganic strategic execution. Additionally, Veritiv has won a number of awards, including being recognized two years in a row as a Fortune Magazine Most Admired Workplaces and a Most Loved Workplace by Newsweek Magazine. Additionally, the company received Best Places to Work accolades in Downey, CA, Cincinnati, OH, Atlanta, GA and Jacksonville, FL. ■ Logistics: At Veritiv, leads the largest business-to-business packaging distribution business in North America with approximately $7 billion in annual sales, 95 North American distribution centers (over 110 worldwide) and a truck fleet of approximately 600. ■ Corporate Strategy, Sales and Marketing: As Senior Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Andersen Windows & Doors, Mr. Abbate oversaw the implementation of multiple marketing campaigns and initiatives, leading to increased customer penetration to become one of the largest window and door manufacturers in North America. Prior to this role, Mr. Abbate led Global Sales and Marketing for the Performance Film Division at Solutia, overseeing over $290 million in net sales across multiple geographic regions in 2011.
|  | Career Highlights: ■ Veritiv Corporation ■ Chief Executive Officer (2020 – Present) ■ Chief Operating Officer (2020 – 2020) ■ Senior Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer (2018 – 2019) ■ Andersen Windows & Doors ■ Senior Vice President & Chief Sales & Marketing Officer (2013 – 2018) ■ Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing (2011 – 2013) ■ Solutia Inc. ■ Vice President (Global Sales and Marketing of the Performance Films Division) (2009 – 2011)
|  | Board Experience: ■ Veritiv (Private) (2020 – Present) | Education: ■ B.S. (Industrial Engineering), Georgia Institute of Technology; M.B.A., Northwestern University

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EDUARDO F. CONRADO |
​ Age 58 ​ Director since: Nov. 2016 ​ INDEPENDENT ​ Committees: ■ Compensation ■ Nominating/ Corporate Governance (Chair) |  | Key Skills and Experience: ■ Senior Leadership: Currently serves as President at Ascension, one of the largest private healthcare systems in the United States operating more than 2,600 health care sites and 120 hospitals, with a workforce of over 300,000. Prior to this role, Mr. Conrado served in various senior management positions at Motorola Solutions across the company’s corporate and international businesses in a range of consumer and commercial segments. ■ Corporate Strategy: Brings over 30 years of strategy implementation and execution across the healthcare and technology sector. At Ascension, Mr. Conrado led critical tactical initiatives aligning the company’s portfolio and investments to better serve its patients. At Motorola, Mr. Conrado oversaw the company’s growth strategy and drove innovation across the company’s products, services and software divisions. ■ Value Creation and M&A: While at Motorola and Ascension, Mr. Conrado oversaw the acquisition strategy of multiple companies, providing significant growth and expansion of the services offerings.
|  | Career Highlights: ■ Ascension ■ President (2023 – Present) ■ Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer (2019 – 2023) ■ Executive Vice President & Chief Digital Officer (2018 – 2019) ■ Motorola Solutions ■ Executive Vice President, Chief Innovation Officer & Chief Strategy Officer (2015 – 2018) ■ Senior Vice President & Chief Innovation Officer (2014 – 2015) ■ Senior Vice President (Marketing & IT) (2013 – 2014) ■ Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer (2010 – 2013) ■ Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer (Enterprise Mobility Solutions, Home and Network Business and Broadband Mobility Solutions Businesses) (2009 – 2010)
|  | Board Experience: ■ Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV, 2023 – Present) | Education: ■ B.S. (Industrial Engineering), Texas Tech University; M.B.A., ESADE; M.I.M., Thunderbird School of Global Management

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FREDRIK J. ELIASSON |
​ Age 54 ​ Director since: Dec. 2019 ​ INDEPENDENT ​ Committees: ■ None |  | Key Skills and Experience: ■ Senior Leadership: Served as Executive Vice President and CFO of Change Healthcare, a leading provider of revenue and payment cycle management for the U.S. healthcare system. Oversaw over $2 trillion in annual claims and led the company during its initial public offering and sale to Optum. Prior to this role, Mr. Eliasson served in multiple senior management roles, including both CFO and Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing, at CSX Corporation, one of the largest rail-based freight transportation and logistics companies in the United States. ■ Value Creation and M&A: Led Change Healthcare through its IPO in 2019 and eventual $13 billion sale to Optum in October 2022. As a member of senior management at CSX, Mr. Eliasson helped transform the company’s business focus, drove revenue and earnings growth and increased stockholder value substantially, with CSX’s value more than doubling during his tenure. ■ Capital Markets: CFO of Change Healthcare during its IPO in 2019. Played an integral role in the organization of financial, corporate governance, risk and investor relation materials, among others.
|  | Career Highlights: ■ Change Healthcare ■ Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (2018 – 2022) ■ CSX Corporation ■ Executive Vice President & Chief Sales & Marketing Officer (2015 – 2017) ■ Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (2012 – 2015) ■ Vice President - Sales & Marketing (Chemicals and Fertilizer) (2011 – 2012) ■ Vice President (Emerging Markets) (2009 – 2011)
|  | Board Experience: ■ Gates Industrial Corporation (NYSE: GTES, 2022 – Present) ■ Envision Healthcare (Private) (2023 – Present) ■ Copeland (Private) (2023 – Present) | Education: ■ B.A.(Finance), Virginia Commonwealth University; M.B.A., Virginia Commonwealth University

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MICHAEL P. HOGAN |
​ Age 65 ​ Director since: Oct. 2016 ​ INDEPENDENT ​ Committees: ■ Compensation ■ Nominating/ Corporate Governance |  | Key Skills and Experience: ■ Senior Leadership: Serves as Chief Development & Strategy Officer at Earned Wealth. Mr. Hogan was part of the founding team at Earned Wealth, the first financial advisory firm created specifically to serve physicians, where he has served as Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Growth Officer, and Head of Corporate Development. Prior to this role, Mr. Hogan served as President of Tax-Smart Innovation at Blucora and as Executive Vice President, Strategic Business & Brand Development for GameStop Corporation. ■ Corporate Strategy: At Earned Wealth, Mr. Hogan has transformed the company into a leading provider of wealth services and tax planning, reaching clients in 24 states. At GameStop, he oversaw the company’s successful diversification and transformation, including over 40 acquisitions producing $1 billion plus businesses in Retail Technology, Digital Gaming, and Licensed Products. At Blucora, he created the “Tax-Smart Investing” business unit, which has delivered $300 million plus in client tax savings.
|  | Career Highlights: ■ Earned Wealth (previously Forme Financial) ■ Chief Development & Strategy Officer (2022 – Present) ■ Blucora ■ President (Tax-Smart Innovation) (2018 – 2020) ■ GameStop Corporation ■ Executive Vice President (2012 – 2018) ■ Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer (2008 – 2012) ■ Strategic Frameworking ■ Principal (2002 – 2007) ■ Dean Foods Company ■ Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer (1998 – 2001) ■ Frito-Lay ■ Vice President (International Marketing) (1985 – 1998)
|  | Education: ■ B.S. (Economics), Northern Illinois University; M.B.A. (Finance and Marketing), Northwestern University

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KATHLEEN D. MCELLIGOTT |
​ Age 69 ​ Director since: Jul. 2015 ​ INDEPENDENT ​ Committees: ■ Compensation (Chair) ■ Nominating/ Corporate Governance |  | Key Skills and Experience: ■ Senior Leadership: Served as Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer for McKesson Corporation before retiring in February 2020. Oversaw critical and transformational strategic initiatives in technology, supply chain and commercialization services in North America and Europe. Prior to this role, Ms. McElligott served in numerous senior leadership roles at Emerson Electric and GE Aircraft Engines. ■ Value Creation and M&A: During her tenure at McKesson, Emerson Electric and GE, Ms. McElligott engaged in multiple acquisition processes from due diligence through integration, yielding improved growth and operational efficiency. Additionally, Ms. McElligott served as a director during Forescout’s $1.9 billion sale to Advent, achieving an approximately 30% share price premium and positioning the company for continued innovation and delivery of cybersecurity products and solutions. ■ Logistics: Brings over 30 years of experience in technology, logistics and supply chain management through senior leadership roles at McKesson, Emerson Electric and GE Aircraft Engines. At McKesson, Ms. McElligott oversaw the technology for a network of 30 distribution centers servicing retail national accounts, independent retail pharmacies and institutional healthcare providers with critical pharmaceutical drugs and healthcare-related products. ■ Technology and Cybersecurity: Ms. McElligott brings significant experience in technology and cybersecurity across multiple senior roles at McKesson, Emerson Electric and GE Aircraft Engines. As CIO and CTO of McKesson, Ms. McElligott oversaw all technology initiatives and provided support and guidance for the development of the company’s healthcare technology products and application development processes. During her tenure as CIO of Emerson, Ms. McElligott managed the company’s information technology strategy, operations, governance and information security for its global operations, including hardware, software and services, as well as its telecommunications and data center infrastructure.
|  | Career Highlights: ■ McKesson Corporation ■ Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer & Chief Technology Officer (2015 – 2020) ■ Emerson Electric Company ■ Vice President & Chief Information Officer (2010 – 2015) ■ Vice President, Industrial Automation Business (2003 – 2010) ■ Vice President, Power Transmission (2000 – 2003) ■ GE Aerospace (formerly GE Aircraft Engines) ■ Chief Information Officer, Supply Chain (1997 – 2000)
|  | Board Experience: ■ Forescout Technologies (NASDAQ: FSCT, 2019 – 2020) | Education: ■ B.A. (Computer Science), Kent State University; M.B.A., Xavier University

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JUDY R. MCREYNOLDS |
​ Age 62 ​ Director since: Jan. 2010 ​ Chairman of the Board since: 2016 ​ Committees: ■ None |  | Key Skills and Experience: ■ Senior Leadership: Serves as Chairman and CEO of ArcBest, overseeing significant growth and value creation across all verticals. Ms. McReynolds joined ArcBest in 1997 and has served as President; Senior Vice President, CFO and Treasurer; Vice President - Controller; and Director of Corporate Accounting. Ms. McReynolds has been the driving force behind diversifying ArcBest into a logistics powerhouse with a full suite of logistics solutions that meet customers’ supply chain needs. Individually, Ms. McReynolds has been recognized for numerous awards in leadership and business, including Forbes 50 Over 50 and Women Inc. Most Influential Corporate Board Directors. ■ Value Creation and M&A: Guides ArcBest M&A strategy, leading the company during its $235 million acquisition of MoLo Solutions, adding scale to its full truckload solution and enabling the achievement of $5 billion in revenue in 2022, a significant milestone. Optimized the business through the approximately $100 million sale of FleetNet America to Cox Automotive Mobility Solutions in 2023. In 2012, Ms. McReynolds oversaw ArcBest’s $180 million acquisition of what is now called Panther Premium Logistics®, bolstering the company’s end-to-end logistics solutions. ■ Finance and Accounting: A Certified Public Accountant, Ms. McReynolds brings over 31 years of public and private finance experience in senior roles at ArcBest (including CFO), P.A.M. Transportation Services and Ernst and Young. ■ Logistics: Ms. McReynolds guides ArcBest with over 31 years of experience in the transportation and logistics industry, including 28 years with the company. Under her leadership, ArcBest has evolved into a multibillion-dollar integrated logistics company — leading the way with cutting-edge technology and customized solutions that help keep the global supply chain moving.
|  | Career Highlights: ■ ArcBest Corporation ■ Chairman (2016 – Present) ■ Chief Executive Officer (2010 – Present) ■ President (2010 – 2024) ■ Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer & Treasurer (2006 – 2010) ■ Vice President & Controller (2000 – 2006) ■ Controller (1998 – 1999) ■ Director (Corporate Accounting) (1997 – 1998) ■ P.A.M. Transportation Services ■ Director (Financial Reporting and Taxation) (1995 – 1997) ■ Ernst & Young ■ Senior Manager (1990 – 1995)
|  | Board Experience: ■ OGE Energy Group (NYSE: OGE, 2011 – Present) ■ First Bank Corp (Private) (2011 – Present) ■ First National Bank of Fort Smith (Private) (2011 – Present) ■ American Trucking Association (Private) (2010 – 2022; 2024 – Present) ■ American Transportation Research Institute (2010 – 2022) | Education: ■ B.B.A. (Accounting), University of Oklahoma
|  | Select Awards ■ The Stevie® Awards for Women in Business: 2024 Gold Winner, Female Executive of the Year – Business Services, 2,500+ Employees ■ Women Business Collaborative’s Women CEOs in America list (2023) ■ Women’s Foundation of Arkansas Top 100 Women of Impact (2023) ■ Arkansas Business Hall of Fame Class of 2023 ■ Arkansas’ 250 Most Influential Leaders (2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019 and 2018) ■ Arkansas Business Executive of the Year (2022) ■ Forbes 50 Over 50 (October 2022) ■ Gartner CEO Talent Champion (October 2022) ■ Comparably Best CEOs for Women and Best CEO (2023, 2022, and 2021) ■ Global Trade Magazine Top Ten Women in Logistics (July 2021 and July 2020) ■ Women Inc. Most Influential Corporate Board Directors (December 2019) ■ Recognized “Female Executives Advancing in Trucking Industry” by Transport Topics (June 2019) ■ Women in Trucking Association Distinguished Woman in Logistics (April 2019) ■ The CEO Connection Top 25 Most Influential Women in the Mid-Market (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015)

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DR. CRAIG E. PHILIP |
​ Age 71 ​ Director since: Aug. 2011 ​ INDEPENDENT ​ Committees: ■ Audit |  | Key Skills and Experience: ■ Senior Leadership: Former CEO of Ingram Barge, a leading provider of domestic marine transportation services. During his 30-year career with Ingram Barge, starting as Vice President Strategic Planning, he led an aggressive acquisition program that transformed Ingram Barge into the third largest for-hire river carrier in the United States. Dr. Philip began his career at Consolidated Rail Corporation and later joined Southern Pacific Railroad where he was Vice President of the Intermodal Division as it became one of the first to deploy doublestack container railcars and the first purpose-built intermodal terminal for such railcars adjacent to the ports of LA/Long Beach. ■ Logistics: Brings over 40 years of logistics experience in intermodal operations, maritime shipping and railroad marketing. Dr. Philip is currently the Director of the Vanderbilt Center for Transportation and Operational Resiliency (VECTOR), a research institute with a focus on the integration of transportation infrastructure systems with funding from both public and private sponsors. Recognizing his contributions to Information Technology and Management Innovation, Dr. Philip was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2014. ■ Risk Management: One of Dr. Philip’s key research areas at VECTOR is the application of risk management tools to transportation systems, carrier safety management, and transport policy and regulation. At Ingram Barge, he oversaw and championed the company’s “Zero Harm” safety initiatives, and as chair of the industry’s main trade association, led efforts with federal regulators to modernize the required safety inspection and regulatory oversight regimes.
|  | Career Highlights: ■ Vanderbilt University ■ Research Professor & Director of Vanderbilt Center for Transportation and Operational Resiliency (2015 – Present) ■ Ingram Barge Company (Division of Ingram Industries) ■ Chief Executive Officer (1999 – 2014) ■ President (1994 – 1999) ■ Southern Pacific Railroad Company ■ Vice President (Intermodal Division) (1987 – 1991)
|  | Board Experience: ■ Transportation Research Board (Research Non-Profit) ■ Marine Board (2016 – 2024) (Chairman 2022-2024) ■ Executive Committee (2020 – Present) ■ Multiple National and Regional Advocacy, Social Service and Academic Non-Profits | Education: ■ B.S.E (Civil Engineering), Princeton University; M.S.E and Ph.D. (Civil Engineering), Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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STEVEN L. SPINNER |
​ Age 65 ​ Director since: Jul. 2011 ​ INDEPENDENT ​ Lead Independent Director since: 2022 ​ Committees: ■ Audit |  | Key Skills and Experience: ■ Senior Leadership: Former President, CEO and Chairman of United Natural Foods (UNFI), North America’s premier grocery wholesaler. Mr. Spinner retired in 2021, and his contributions over 12 years catalyzed UNFI to new heights, increasing annual sales from $3 billion to over $26 billion. Prior to this role, Mr. Spinner served as President and CEO of Performance Food Group, overseeing significant strategy and scaling initiatives. ■ Value Creation and M&A: Oversaw over $3 billion worth of transactions during his tenure at UNFI, including the company’s transformative $2.8 billion acquisition of Supervalu. The acquisition of Supervalu accelerated UNFI’s “build out the store” strategy, diversified its customer base, enhanced cross-selling opportunities, expanded market reach and scale and led to significant cost savings and accelerated growth. ■ Logistics: Brings over 25 years of logistics experience in the wholesale distribution business through numerous executive management positions. At UNFI, Mr. Spinner oversaw the company’s national network of multi-tiered logistics distribution centers. In 2021, the company offered nearly 300,000 products across all grocery verticals and operated over 57 distribution centers and warehouses representing approximately 30 million square feet of warehouse space. Mr. Spinner’s transformative growth efforts and logistical innovations made UNFI the premier North American coast-to-coast wholesale distributor with customers in all fifty states as well as all ten provinces in Canada.
|  | Career Highlights: ■ MidOcean Partners ■ Operating Partner (2021 – Present) ■ Boxcar Partners ■ General Partner (2021 – Present) ■ United Natural Foods, Inc. ■ President, CEO and Chairman (2008 – 2021) ■ Performance Food Group ■ President & CEO (2006 – 2008) ■ President & COO (2005 – 2006) ■ Senior Vice President & Division Chief Executive, Broadline (2002 – 2005)
|  | Board Experience: ■ GP-Act III Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: GPAT, 2024 – Present) ■ United Natural Foods (NYSE: UNFI, 2008 – 2021) ■ Performance Food Group (NYSE: PFGC, 2006 – 2008) | Education: ■ Bachelor’s (Business Administration), Albright College

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JANICE E. STIPP |
​ Age 65 ​ Director since: Oct. 2012 ​ INDEPENDENT ​ Committees: ■ Audit (Chair) |  | Key Skills and Experience: ■ Senior Leadership: Former Senior Vice President, CFO & Treasurer of Rogers Corporation, a developer, manufacturer and seller of high-performance and high reliability engineered materials and components to over 5,000 customers worldwide. Ms. Stipp’s leadership played a pivotal role in accelerating organic and inorganic sales, gross margins and operating income. Prior to this role, Ms. Stipp served as Executive Vice President, CFO and Treasurer at Tecumseh Products Company, a publicly traded global leader in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry. Additional experience includes work in the manufacturing, technology and automotive industries with publicly traded, global corporations and private equity firms. ■ Value Creation and M&A: Brings significant transaction and integration experience in both public and private companies. Oversaw the acquisitions of DeWall Industries, Diversified Silicone Products and Grinswold during her tenure at Rogers resulting in more than $800 million in sales. ■ Finance and Accounting: Brings over 36 years of financial and accounting experience including as CFO of both public and private companies. She is a Certified Public Accountant, a Chartered Global Management Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Ms. Stipp is a designated financial expert.
|  | Career Highlights: ■ Rogers Corporation ■ Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer (2017 – 2018) ■ Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer & Treasurer (2015 – 2017) ■ Tecumseh Products Company ■ Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary & Treasurer (2011 – 2015) ■ Revstone Industries ■ Chief Financial Officer (2011 – 2011) ■ Acument Global Technologies ■ Chief Financial Officer (2007 – 2011) ■ GDX Automotive ■ Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (2005 – 2007)
|  | Board Experience: ■ Diploma PLC (LSE: DPLM, 2024 – Present) ■ Rotork (LSE: ROR, 2020 – Present) (Safety and Sustainability Committee, Member) ■ Sappi Limited (JSE: SAP, 2019 – 2022) ■ Commercial Vehicle Group (NASDAQ: CVGI, 2019 – 2021) ■ NN, Inc. (NASDAQ: NNBR, 2019 – 2019) | Education: ■ B.A. (Accounting), Michigan State University; M.B.A, Wayne State University

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Board Skills Profile

We believe the Board’s membership should represent a diversity of backgrounds, experiences and skills. To that end, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee periodically reviews the qualifications and attributes of our directors. Our current board members represent a broad range of viewpoints, backgrounds and attributes, including experience in corporate governance, strategic planning, marketing, M&A transactions and public company management. In addition, our directors bring to the Board the following skills and expertise that we believe are of particular importance for our Company:

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Skills/Expertise | Abbate | Conrado | Eliasson | Hogan | McElligott | McReynolds | Philip | Spinner | Stipp
| Audit Knowledge or experience in auditing functions, including financial audits and testing of internal controls. | ​ | ​ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ●
| Cybersecurity Experience in the management of information security or cybersecurity risks at companies. | ​ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
| Environmental Sustainability/Corporate Social Responsibility Knowledge or experience in the areas of environmental impact, ethics and responsibility, or strategies to develop long-term stockholder value. | ● | ● | ​ | ​ | ​ | ● | ​ | ● | ●
| Executive Compensation Knowledge or experience in executive compensation strategy, trends, and pay practices that align executive and stockholder interests to drive company performance and long-term value creation. | ● | ● | ● | ​ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ​
| Finance/Capital Markets Experience in corporate finance and capital markets, including through management experience as a principal financial or accounting officer or oversight of capital markets transactions, that contributes to our Board’s understanding of financial markets and to effective oversight of our capital structure and financial reporting. | ● | ​ | ● | ● | ​ | ● | ​ | ● | ●
| HR/Labor Experience in the area of human capital management, human resources practices or union workforce dynamics. | ● | ● | ● | ​ | ​ | ● | ​ | ● | ●
| Legal/Regulatory/Government Relations Understanding of the complex regulatory and governmental environment in which our business operates. | ​ | ​ | ● | ​ | ​ | ● | ● | ● | ​
| Risk Management Knowledge and experience with risk management and compliance matters relevant to our business. | ​ | ​ | ● | ​ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ●
| Technology Background in technology, including through experience in technology-related businesses, bringing critical understanding of our industry and the technological trends and innovation that shape our products, services, and strategy. | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ​
| Transportation/Logistics Knowledge or experience in or understanding of transportation, logistics, or supply chain, including the operational and economic factors that drive efficiencies and demand for services. | ● | ​ | ● | ​ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ​
| Senior Executive Experience as a Chief Executive Officer or Senior Executive at a publicly traded company. | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ●
| Corporate Governance Demonstrated understanding of current corporate governance standards and best practices at public companies. | ● | ● | ​ | ​ | ● | ● | ● | ​ | ●
| Mergers and Acquisitions Knowledge or experience in overseeing and executing strategic mergers, acquisitions and other corporate development activities as a senior executive or Board member. | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ●
| Digital Strategy/Transformation Knowledge or experience in overseeing, managing and/or implementing enterprise-wide digital strategy or transformation initiatives. | ● | ● | ​ | ● | ● | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​

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ArcBest / 2025 PROXY STATEMENT 23

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GOVERNANCE OF THE COMPANY

Board Leadership Structure

The Board has determined that a leadership structure with Ms. McReynolds serving in a combined Chairman and Chief Executive Officer role with an independent director serving as the Lead Independent Director is in the best interests of ArcBest and its stockholders.

The Board recognizes that there are many viewpoints concerning a board’s optimal leadership structure and considered all options in making its decision. The Board reviewed trends in board practices, best practices for corporate governance, and the board practices of the Company’s peers. The Board also considered the advantages of having a combined Chairman and Chief Executive Officer role. Among other things, a person serving in this combined role can quickly identify company concerns and communicate this information to other Board members, providing superior information due to his or her unique insights into the Company’s day-to-day operations.

Chairman of the Board

In deciding to adopt the current leadership structure, the Board considered: Ms. McReynolds’ leadership qualities, management capability, and knowledge of ArcBest’s business and the transportation and logistics industry; the long-term, strategic perspective she has exhibited as the Chief Executive Officer; and her focus on growing long-term stockholder value. The Board also considered Ms. McReynolds’ tenure with the Company. The Board believes that serving as both Chairman and Chief Executive Officer enables Ms. McReynolds to more effectively and efficiently execute the Company’s strategic initiatives and respond to key business issues and risks that she encounters in daily operations.

Lead Independent Director

The Board believes that an executive Chairman should be balanced by a strong Lead Independent Director with a clearly defined and dynamic leadership role in the governance of the Board. The Company’s bylaws provide that if the Chairman is not an independent Director, the independent Directors must annually elect a Lead Independent Director. The bylaws assign to the Lead Independent Director extensive authority and responsibilities relating to the Board’s governance and functions, including:

■ | calling and chairing meetings of independent Directors, and setting agendas for such meetings;

■ | liaising between the independent Directors and the Chairman and communicating with the Chairman after each meeting of independent Directors to provide feedback;

■ | chairing all Board meetings where the Chairman is not present;

■ | reviewing, advising on, and approving Board meeting agendas and meeting schedules;

■ | being available for consultation and direct communication with stockholders, when appropriate; and

■ | participating in the annual performance evaluation of individual members of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer (in consultation with the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee).

The Lead Independent Director’s authority and responsibilities generally correspond to those performed by an independent Chairman.

Mr. Spinner has been the Lead Independent Director since October 2022, and the Board believes he provides a meaningful balance to the executive Chairman. In the Board’s view, Mr. Spinner possesses the characteristics and qualities necessary to fulfill the Lead Independent Director’s important role of guiding and facilitating the independent Directors’ participation in the Company’s governance. During his more than 13 years on our Board, Mr. Spinner has demonstrated a thorough understanding of the Board’s oversight role and leading corporate governance practices. Supplementing the Lead Independent Director are Board committees composed entirely of independent Directors.

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Management and Outside Advisors

The Company’s leadership structure includes an experienced management team, upon whose advice, reports and opinions the Board relies. Regularly scheduled management reports and presentations, based on operational, financial, talent, legal and risk management aspects of the Company’s operations, provide vital information to the Board. The independent Directors have complete access to, and direct contact with, members of senior management. The Board also relies on the advice of counsel, accountants, executive compensation consultants, auditors, strategic planning consultants, risk management consultants, and other expert advisors.

Director Independence

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee has determined that all members of the Board except Ms. McReynolds are independent pursuant to applicable independence standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”). The independent Directors met in executive session four times in 2024. Mr. Spinner, as Lead Independent Director, presided over those meetings.

In connection with its evaluation of director independence, the Board of Directors considered the following:

| ■ | Mr. Abbate is the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Veritiv Corporation. In 2024 and 2025 (through the February 24 record date), Veritiv Corporation made payments to one or more ArcBest subsidiaries for ordinary course of business transportation and other services in the aggregate amount of $759,004, which was immaterial to either companies’ revenues or operations in the last three fiscal years.

| ■ | As previously disclosed on the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 7, 2025, the Company became aware that Mr. Eliasson’s brother-in-law was a partner of Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”), the Company’s former auditor, which resulted in Mr. Eliasson not qualifying as independent. Following the Company becoming aware of this relationship, Mr. Eliasson promptly tendered his resignation as a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Eliasson’s brother-in-law has never worked on the audit of the Company’s financial statements or performed any other services for the Company. Following the dismissal of EY, as further discussed in “Proposal III. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”, the Board re-assessed Mr. Eliasson’s independence and affirmatively determined that Mr. Eliasson is independent pursuant to applicable independence standards of Nasdaq.

How Directors are Selected

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for identifying and recommending potential Board members based on any specific criteria the Board may specify from time to time and such other factors as it deems appropriate. Relevant considerations include:

■ | special training or skill;

■ | experience with businesses and other organizations that are similar to the Company in size and type;

■ | experience with or knowledge of businesses or organizations or technical expertise that is particularly relevant to the Company’s current or future business plans;

■ | financial expertise;

■ | advanced studies and certifications;

■ | specific industry or transportation experience; and

■ | personal characteristics that bring diversity to the Board.

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee also considers the interplay of a candidate’s experience with the experience of the other Directors, whether the candidate has sufficient time to devote to the responsibilities of a director, and whether the candidate is free from conflicts of interest or legal issues. There is currently no set of specific minimum qualifications that must be met by a nominee recommended by the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, as different factors may assume greater or lesser significance at particular times, and the needs of the Board may vary in light of its composition and the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee’s perceptions about future issues and needs. However, the Board has found the skills and experiences described above in the section titled “Board Skills Profile” to be particularly relevant and desirable.

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The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee believes that to best evaluate matters the Board oversees, the Board needs a mix of business and personal backgrounds. For that reason, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee periodically reviews a listing of the qualifications and attributes of our current Directors and potential candidates. While the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee does not have a formal policy on diversity with regard to consideration of director nominees, diversity is taken into account when determining how a candidate’s qualities and attributes would complement the other Directors’ backgrounds.

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee may identify potential candidates from the pool of individuals known by members of the Board and individuals recommended by management, and/or engage a third-party search firm to help identify appropriate candidates.

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee may consider director candidates recommended by stockholders. Recommendations should be sent to the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee at the address provided in the section titled “Stockholder Communication with the Board”. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee does not have a specific policy regarding the consideration of stockholder recommendations for director candidates because the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee would evaluate stockholder recommendations in the same manner as it evaluates director candidates recommended by other sources, using the process and criteria described above.

Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

Board of Directors
The Board believes the Company’s current management structure facilitates risk oversight by combining experienced leadership with independent review by the Board and its committees. Potential risk factors that are monitored through this structure include financial, operational, technological, disaster, environmental, social, cybersecurity, talent, legal and regulatory, fraud/corruption, employment practices, executive compensation, and reputational and legislative issues. The Board’s committees assist with risk oversight within their respective areas of responsibility, and the Board is regularly informed about each committee’s activities.

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​ | ​ |  | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | Board Committees | ​ | ​
Audit Committee The Audit Committee directly oversees risk management relating to financial reporting and public disclosure and the steps management has taken to monitor and control those exposures. In addition, the Audit Committee is responsible for the oversight of general financial risk matters, significant risk exposures, including ESG-related risks, and the Company’s policies for risk assessment and risk management. The Audit Committee also fulfills oversight responsibilities related to compliance with the Company’s Code of Conduct, as well as compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Board recognizes the critical importance of cybersecurity in protecting our business and is committed to maintaining a robust cybersecurity risk management program and implementing a comprehensive strategy to mitigate cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. The Audit Committee oversees risk management related to cybersecurity risks. For additional information regarding our cybersecurity risk management program, see Item 1C of the Company’s 2024 Annual Report. The Audit Committee meets regularly with financial management, including the Chief Financial Officer, the Vice President–Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, and the Vice President–Internal Audit, as well as our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also reviews the activities of the Company’s Risk Management Committee, which consists of several members of senior management. Compensation Committee The Compensation Committee is responsible for oversight of risk relating to the Company’s compensation policies and practices for all employees and officers. In addition to regular reviews of the Company’s compensation programs, the Compensation Committee reviews the risk assessment performed by the Company’s Risk Management Committee to evaluate whether the Company’s compensation policies and practices, including our incentive plans, are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. For more information, see “Compensation Discussion & Analysis—Compensation Risk Assessment.”

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Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing risks associated with corporate governance, social and environmental issues, and the Company’s CEO succession process. In connection with this responsibility, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee annually reviews the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and their implementation and oversees our ESG and sustainability strategy, ESG practices and policies.

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​ | ​ |  | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | Management | ​ | ​
Management periodically makes presentations to the Board on the Company’s overall enterprise risk management program, including reports on the Company’s top existing risks, how the risks have been trending, and how they are addressed by Company strategy; mitigating activities; emerging risks and circumstances; and the effectiveness of the security, back-up, and contingency provisions of the Company’s information systems. Management also evaluates the Company’s compensation policies and practices on an annual basis to determine whether any create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The risk assessment, including the conclusions of the Company’s Risk Management Committee, is discussed with the Compensation Committee. At least annually, management provides the Board with an overview of key talent metrics, growth and development programs and employee engagement activities.

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CEO and Executive Leadership Succession Process

The Board ensures that ArcBest has a strong bench of well-prepared internal candidates, who align with the defined leadership competencies but have diverse strengths, to fill both planned and unplanned vacancies with limited disruption. Another critical part of the succession planning strategy is the executive team’s regular, data-driven review of the organizational structure, retention, culture, compensation, and talent development practices that support the execution of ArcBest’s strategic business goals. The Board, Talent Review Committee and management share responsibility for management development and succession planning.

| ​ | ​ |  | ​ | ​ |
| ​ | ​ |  | ​ | ​ |
Board | ​ | ​ | Talent Review Committee | ​ | ​ | Management
■ A key responsibility of the Board is succession planning for the Chief Executive Officer, including identification and evaluation of potential successors. ■ The Board also annually reviews succession planning for other executive officers, including successor strengths and development opportunities and strategic talent metrics. | ​ | ​ | ■ This committee, led by the CEO and primarily composed of the CEO’s and President’s direct reports, conducts annual reviews of succession plans for critical roles, as well as strategic talent data, with a focus on maintaining a values-driven culture in which career development for current and future leaders is critical to driving employee and organizational growth. | ​ | ​ | ■ The Chief Human Resources Officer and senior Talent leaders work with functional leaders across ArcBest in developing and implementing programs to attract, assess, develop, engage, and retain leaders at all levels of the organization. ​

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As reported in July 2024, Seth Runser was appointed as President of the Company, succeeding Ms. McReynolds in that role, while Ms. McReynolds retained her role as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Matt Godfrey was appointed to succeed Mr. Runser as ABF Freight President. Additionally, as reported in September 2024, Dennis Anderson was appointed to succeed Michael Newcity as Chief Innovation Officer following Mr. Newcity’s retirement in December 2024. These appointments were the products of our succession process in action, promoting continuity, strength and depth of knowledge across critical leadership roles for the Company.

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Committees of the Board

The Board has established Audit, Compensation, Nominating/Corporate Governance, and Qualified Legal Compliance Committees to devote attention to specific subjects and to assist in the discharge of its responsibilities. These committees are described below. The charters for all four committees are available on our website, arcb.com, in the “Invest—Corporate Governance” section.

AUDIT COMMITTEE
Ms. Stipp (Chair), Mr. Spinner and Dr. Philip ​ Meetings in 2024: 6 |  | The Audit Committee assists the Board by fulfilling oversight responsibilities relating to: ​ ■ the integrity of financial reports and related financial information provided by the Company to the public and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”); ■ the Company’s systems of internal controls regarding finance, accounting and compliance with policies, including ethics policies; ■ the performance of the Company’s internal audit, accounting and financial reporting functions; ■ the Company’s risk management policies and processes for identifying, monitoring, and managing significant risk exposures, including cybersecurity and ESG-related risks; and ■ the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
​ | ​ | The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee has determined that each current member of the Audit Committee meets all applicable SEC and Nasdaq independence standards and financial literacy requirements that apply to audit committee members. The Board has determined that Ms. Stipp is an audit committee financial expert as defined under applicable SEC rules.

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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Ms. McElligott (Chair), Messrs. Abbate, Conrado, and Hogan ​ Meetings in 2024: 5 |  | The Compensation Committee is responsible for: ​ ■ reviewing and approving executive officer compensation and has authority to make and administer employee awards under the ArcBest Corporation Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan and the Amended and Restated ArcBest Corporation Ownership Incentive Plan (the “Ownership Incentive Plan”), including setting performance goals and determining the extent to which those goals were achieved; ■ reviewing and approving the Company’s peer group; ■ evaluating the need for, and provisions of, contracts and severance arrangements for executive officers; ■ monitoring compliance by Executive Officers with the Company’s stock ownership guidelines; and ■ overseeing the Company’s anti-hedging and pledging policy and the Company’s clawback policy.
​ | ​ | The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee has determined that each current member of the Compensation Committee meets applicable Nasdaq independence standards and non-employee director requirements of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

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NOMINATING/CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
Mr. Conrado (Chair), Ms. McElligott and Messrs. Abbate and Hogan ​ Meetings in 2024: 5 |  | The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee’s responsibilities include: ​ ■ identifying individuals believed to be qualified to become Directors; ■ selecting and recommending to the Board for its approval the nominees to stand for election as Directors or, if applicable, to be appointed to fill vacancies on the Board; ■ determining appropriate compensation for Directors; ■ recommending any changes regarding size, structure, composition, processes and practices of the Board; ■ reviewing the independence of Directors and assessing whether members are meeting the applicable independence standards for service on the various Board committees; ■ working with the Board to identify, evaluate and make recommendations regarding potential successors for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer; ■ reviewing the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines; ■ monitoring compliance by Directors with the Company’s stock ownership guidelines; ■ providing oversight with respect to the Company’s ESG and sustainability strategy, practices, and policies and as appropriate provide updates and make recommendations to the Board; ■ monitoring emerging trends, best practices and regulatory developments related to ESG and other sustainability matters; and ■ overseeing the annual Board evaluation and CEO evaluation.
​ | ​ | The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee has determined that each current member of the committee is independent, as defined in applicable Nasdaq independence standards.
QUALIFIED LEGAL COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE
Ms. Stipp (Chair), Mr. Spinner and Dr. Philip |  | The Qualified Legal Compliance Committee is responsible for confidentially receiving, retaining and considering any report of evidence of a material violation of securities law, a material breach of fiduciary duty, or a similar material violation of any federal or state law by the Company or by any officer, director, employee or agent of the Company that is made or referred to the Committee by the Chief Executive Officer or the Company’s Chief Legal Officer or legal advisors. The Audit Committee serves as the Qualified Legal Compliance Committee.

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Attendance at Meetings

The Board has five regularly scheduled meetings each year to review significant developments affecting the Company and to act on matters requiring Board approval. The Board holds special meetings when action is required between regular meetings. The Board met five times during 2024. All members of the Board participated in all scheduled Board and applicable committee meetings held during the year during the period in which he or she served on the Board or an applicable committee.

It is the Company’s policy that all members of the Board attend the annual meeting of stockholders, except when illness or other personal matters prevent such attendance. All members of the Board attended the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Other Board Policies

The Board has imposed a mandatory retirement age for all Directors. No Director may seek re-election to the Board after attaining age 75. Because we recognize the commitment of time and energy that a public company board requires, no Director is permitted to serve on the boards of more than two other public companies while serving on the ArcBest Board, unless he or she has obtained approval from the ArcBest Board.

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Code of Conduct and Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Board has adopted a Code of Conduct that applies broadly to all Directors, officers, employees, representatives, agents, sub-contractors, vendors, and suppliers of the Company. The Code of Conduct incorporates the UN Global Compact’s ten principles in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption.

The Company will post on its website any amendment to, or waiver of, a provision of the Code of Conduct that applies to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Controller, or any person performing similar functions and that relates to any of the following elements of the Code of Conduct: honest and ethical conduct; disclosure in reports or documents filed with the SEC and other public communications; compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; prompt internal reporting of code violations; and accountability for adherence to the Code of Conduct. As reported in November 2024, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board approved and adopted an amendment and restatement of the Company’s Code of Conduct, the full text of which is available in the Investors section of the Company’s website, arcb.com. No waiver of the Code of Conduct has occurred.

Acting on the recommendation of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, the Board developed and adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to promote the functioning of the Board and its committees and to set forth a common set of expectations as to how the Board should fulfill its responsibilities. Among other things, the Corporate Governance Guidelines address the composition of the Board, including independence standards; the selection, term and expectations for Directors; the conduct of meetings and executive sessions; and the composition and primary objectives of the Board’s committees. The full text of the Corporate Governance Guidelines is posted in the Investors section of the Company’s website, arcb.com.

Certain Transactions and Relationships

Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, requires that the Company disclose certain “related party transactions” with the Company’s Directors and executive officers, among others.

In 2024, Brian Beasley, the brother of J. Matthew Beasley, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, served as Senior Innovation and Strategy Manager for ArcBest Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company. For the fiscal year ended 2024, he earned $162,295 in total compensation.

There were no other commercial transactions between related parties and the Company that required disclosure in this Proxy Statement.

Annually, as part of the Company’s proxy preparation, all Directors and executive officers who are subject to related party transaction disclosure are instructed to report in writing any such transactions to the Company, and to report to the Company any such transactions that may be planned or that occur during the year. As set forth in the Audit Committee’s charter, in determining whether to approve or ratify a related party transaction, the Audit Committee considers all the relevant facts and circumstances available, including (if applicable): (i) whether there is an appropriate business justification for the transaction; (ii) the benefits that accrue to the Company as a result of the transaction; (iii) the terms available to unrelated third parties entering into similar transactions; (iv) the impact of the transaction on a director’s independence (in the event the related party is a director, an immediate family member of a director, or an entity of which a director is a partner, stockholder or executive officer); (v) the availability of other sources for comparable products or services; (vi) whether it is a single transaction or a series of ongoing, related transactions; and (vii) whether entering into the transaction would be consistent with the Company’s Code of Conduct.

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with the members of its Board. Under these agreements, the Company is obligated to indemnify its Directors to the fullest extent permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments and settlement amounts incurred by them in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as a Director. The Company believes that these agreements are helpful in attracting and retaining qualified Directors. The Company’s Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and the bylaws also provide for indemnification of the Company’s officers and Directors to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Insider Trading, Anti-Hedging and Pledging Policies

The Company has adopted an Insider Trading Policy governing the purchase, sale, and/or other dispositions of the Company’s securities by all of the Company’s directors, officers and employees, that is reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations.

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All Company officers, including Named Executive Officers, and certain other employees, as well as non-employee Directors, are subject to the provisions of the Insider Trading Policy which prohibit certain transactions in the Company’s securities, including: purchase or sale of puts, calls, options or other derivative securities based on the Company’s securities; monetization transactions, such as forward sale contracts (in which a stockholder continues to own the underlying security without having all the risks or rewards of ownership, executes a short-sale of Company securities, or “sells against the box”—failing to deliver sold securities), and any other hedging or pledging transaction involving the Company’s securities. This policy does not include ArcBest stock options exercised in accordance with the terms of the Company’s equity plan. The Company does not have any outstanding stock option awards.

A copy of the policy was filed as an exhibit to ArcBest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Although the Insider Trading Policy does not apply to Company stock repurchases, it is the Company’s practice to only engage in repurchase transactions during open window periods or pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 plans.

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing and awarding compensation to the non-employee Directors and has retained Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC, an independent compensation consultant, to assist in fulfilling that responsibility. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee sets the levels and forms of non-employee Director compensation based on its experience, review of the compensation paid to directors of comparable publicly traded companies, and Meridian’s advice.

We offer a combination of cash and stock-based compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on the Board.

Cash Compensation

The following table shows the standard cash compensation for non-employee Directors for 2024. Retainers are cumulative, meaning that each non-employee Director receives a “Member Retainer” plus the appropriate retainer fee for any other positions held.

​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Annual Retainers (Paid in Monthly Installments) |  |  | ​
Member | ​ | $ | 95,000
Lead Independent Director | ​ |  | 30,000
Audit Committee Chair | ​ |  | 25,000
Compensation Committee Chair | ​ |  | 20,000
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee Chair | ​ |  | 15,000

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Actual cash compensation paid to Directors in 2024 is reflected in the “2024 Director Compensation Table.”

Equity-Based Awards

The target equity grant value for non-employee Directors in 2024 was $145,000. Awards were made in the form of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) in an amount determined by dividing the target grant value by the closing price of ArcBest Common Stock on the date of grant and rounding to the nearest multiple of 25 shares. Equity grants for the non-employee Directors typically are approved during the Board’s second-quarter meeting with an effective grant date that is five business days following the Company’s quarterly earnings release, unless a different date is approved by the Board.

RSU awards granted to non-employee Directors vest one year from the date of grant. All of the RSU awards are subject to accelerated vesting in the event of a Director’s death or disability or a change in control of the Company. Accelerated vesting for RSUs also occurs if a director retires from the Board after the age of 65 with at least five years of service as a Director.

Vested RSU awards are paid in shares of ArcBest Common Stock on the earlier to occur of the normal vesting date applicable to the award or the Director’s qualifying termination of service with the Company, unless payment is deferred by the Director under the provisions of the Ownership Incentive Plan.

Miscellaneous Compensation Items

We typically provide transportation for Directors to attend Board meetings, pay for their hotel stays, and provide meals. We also cover the cost of a director education and resource subscription. Upon request, we may reimburse some or all of the cost of an educational conference and related travel.

Stock Ownership Policy for Non-Employee Directors

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee believes that the Directors should maintain a level of equity holdings in the Company that will further align their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders. The Board adopted a Stock Ownership Policy requiring Directors to own a minimum value of stock in the Company. For 2024, Directors were required to own shares with a total value equal to five times their total annual retainers. Directors are not permitted to sell any shares of Company stock (except to pay the taxes generated as a result of the vesting of equity grants) until they satisfy the stock ownership requirement, and then may only sell the shares that exceed the stock ownership requirement. RSUs (including

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unvested RSUs and RSUs that have vested but are deferred or subject to transfer restrictions) and stock owned outright count toward the stock ownership requirements.

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee reviews ownership levels annually. As of the review completed in 2024, all of the Directors have met their ownership requirements, except for Mr. Abbate who joined the Board in 2023 and must retain shares in accordance with the Stock Ownership Policy until he satisfies the stock ownership requirement.

2024 Director Compensation Table

The table below summarizes the compensation paid by the Company to non-employee Directors for the year ended December 31, 2024.

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | Fees Earned or |  | Stock |  | All Other |  | ​ | ​
Name(1) | ​ | Paid in Cash | ​ | Awards(2,3) | ​ | Compensation | ​ | Total
Salvatore A. Abbate | ​ | $ | 95,000 | ​ | $ | 145,800 | ​ | $ | — | ​ | $ | 240,800
Eduardo F. Conrado(4) | ​ |  | 110,000 | ​ |  | 145,800 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 255,800
Fredrik J. Eliasson | ​ |  | 95,000 | ​ |  | 145,800 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 240,800
Michael P. Hogan | ​ |  | 95,000 | ​ |  | 145,800 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 240,800
Kathleen D. McElligott(4) | ​ |  | 115,000 | ​ |  | 145,800 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 260,800
Craig E. Philip | ​ |  | 95,000 | ​ |  | 145,800 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 240,800
Steven L. Spinner(5) | ​ |  | 125,000 | ​ |  | 145,800 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 270,800
Janice E. Stipp(4) | ​ |  | 120,000 | ​ |  | 145,800 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 265,800

(1) | Judy R. McReynolds, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is not included in this table since she is an employee of the Company and thus received no compensation for her service as a Director. The compensation received by Ms. McReynolds as an officer of the Company is shown in the Summary Compensation Table on page 55.

(2) | Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of RSU awards made during 2024, computed using the grant date fair value ($116.64 per share), in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“FASB ASC Topic 718”) determined without regard to estimated forfeitures and adjusted for present value of dividends (to reflect that dividend equivalents are not paid with respect to unvested RSU awards). All non-employee Directors received an award of 1,250 RSUs under the Ownership Incentive Plan on May 7, 2024 (computed using a stated annual value of $145,000 and the grant date closing stock price of $117.10 per share, rounded to the nearest multiple of 25 shares). No dividends or dividend equivalents are paid to non-employee Directors on RSUs, except for RSUs that vest but are deferred by the Director under the terms of the plan. See Note L to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2024 Annual Report for additional detail on share-based compensation.

(3) | As of December 31, 2024, each non-employee Director had the following aggregate number of RSUs outstanding, although only the value of the 2024 RSU award is provided in the Stock Awards column above.

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​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | Vested but Subject to Transfer |  | ​ |  | Total RSUs
Name | ​ | Restrictions(i) | ​ | Unvested | ​ | Outstanding
Salvatore A. Abbate |  | — |  | 1,250 |  | 1,250
Eduardo F. Conrado |  | 20,900 | ​ | 1,250 |  | 22,150
Fredrik J. Eliasson |  | 1,300 |  | 1,250 |  | 2,550
Michael P. Hogan |  | 3,800 |  | 1,250 |  | 5,050
Kathleen D. McElligott |  | 1,600 |  | 1,250 |  | 2,850
Craig E. Philip |  | — |  | 1,250 |  | 1,250
Steven L. Spinner |  | — |  | 1,250 |  | 1,250
Janice E. Stipp |  | — |  | 1,250 |  | 1,250

| (i) | The balance in the Vested but Subject to Transfer Restrictions column includes shares deferred under the terms of the equity plan.

(4) | Committee Chairpersons during 2024: Ms. Stipp, Audit Committee and Qualified Legal Compliance Committee; Ms. McElligott, Compensation Committee; and Mr. Conrado, Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee.

(5) | Lead Independent Director during 2024: Mr. Spinner.

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2025 Director Compensation Changes

In October 2024, Meridian conducted a review of director compensation, including compensation paid to directors of the Company’s executive compensation peer group as well as compensation paid to directors of similarly sized general industry companies. Following the review, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee increased the target equity grant value from $145,000 to $160,000. The increase was made to align the Company’s director compensation with the 50th percentile of our peer group and similarly sized general industry companies. For more information about our peer group, see “Peer Group” on page 43.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

We would like to introduce the current executive officers of the Company and its subsidiary, ABF Freight System, Inc. There are no family relationships among Directors and executive officers of the Company or its subsidiaries.

JUDY R. MCREYNOLDS |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |  | Age: 62 Career Highlights: Ms. McReynolds is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company. Her full biography appears above under “Proposal I. Election of Directors.”

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SETH K. RUNSER |
President, ArcBest |  | Age: 40 Career Highlights: Mr. Runser was named President in August 2024 after serving as President of ABF Freight since July 2021. He previously served the Company as ABF Vice President - Linehaul Operations from August 2019 to February 2021 and as Chief Operating Officer from February through June 2021. Prior to that he served as Regional Vice President - Operations from March 2016 to July 2019. Mr. Runser joined the company in 2007, as a management trainee and served in various roles including operations supervisor, regional training specialist and service center manager prior to his promotion to Regional Vice President - Operations in 2016. Education: ■ B.B.A. (Marketing), Kent State University.

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CHRISTOPHER A. ADKINS |
Chief Strategy Officer |  | Age: 35 Career Highlights: Mr. Adkins was named Chief Strategy Officer in February 2025, after serving as Vice President - Yield Strategy and Management since June 2023. Previously, he served as Vice President - Yield Strategy and Analytics from January 2022 to June 2023, and Director of Yield Strategy from October 2020 to December 2021. He joined the company in 2012 as a Pricing Analyst and has served in various leadership roles, including Manager of Engineering and Technology, before becoming Director of Yield Strategy. Education: ■ B.S. (Industrial Engineering), University of Arkansas.

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DENNIS L. ANDERSON II |
Chief Innovation Officer |  | Age: 44 Career Highlights: Mr. Anderson assumed the role of Chief Innovation Officer in January 2025, after serving as Chief Strategy Officer from March 2023 to December 2024, and Chief Customer Officer from April 2020 to March 2023. Prior to that, he was Chief Customer Experience Officer from January 2017 through March 2020. Mr. Anderson was Vice President - Strategy from February 2014 through December 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Anderson served as Director of Strategy from June 2011 through January 2014. For ABF Freight, Mr. Anderson was Senior Pricing Analyst for three years and Manager of Pricing after that. Education: ■ B.S. (Industrial Engineering), University of Arkansas.

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J. MATTHEW BEASLEY |
Chief Financial Officer |  | Age: 46 Career Highlights: Mr. Beasley was named Chief Financial Officer in May 2023. Mr. Beasley joined the Company in 2022 and served as Vice President and Treasurer until his promotion in May 2023. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Beasley served at Enable Midstream Partners and its predecessor companies from 2007 to 2021, including in senior-level finance roles. Mr. Beasley is a CFA charterholder. Education: ■ B.S. (Finance and Management Information Systems), University of Tulsa; M.B.A., St. Edward’s University.

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ERIN K. GATTIS |
Chief Human Resources Officer |  | Age: 50 Career Highlights: Ms. Gattis has been Chief Human Resources Officer since July 2016. She previously served as Vice President - Human Resources from October 2011 through June 2016, Chief of Staff from January 2010 through September 2011, and Manager of Retirement Services & Executive Compensation from August 2006 through December 2009. She joined the Company in 1999 and between 1999 and 2006 worked for both the Company and ABF Freight as a Retirement Specialist, Benefits Analyst, Supervisor of Executive Compensation and Manager of Executive Compensation. Ms. Gattis has a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM-SCP certification. Education: ■ B.S. (Economics and Finance), Arkansas Tech University.

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MATTHEW R. GODFREY |
President, ABF Freight |  | Age: 42 Career Highlights: Mr. Godfrey has been President of ABF Freight since August 2024. He joined the company in 2004 as an ABF Management Trainee. Since that time, he has gained extensive knowledge and experience serving in various pivotal roles, including operations supervisor, account manager, service center manager and regional vice president, before being promoted to Vice President of Engineering in 2021. Education: ■ B.S. (Business Logistics), Penn State.

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MICHAEL R. JOHNS |
Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary |  | Age: 66 Career Highlights: Mr. Johns has been Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary since January 2023, a title he assumed after serving as Vice President - General Counsel and Corporate Secretary from April 2007 to December 2022. For sixteen years before joining the Company, he was a partner in the law firm of Dover Dixon Horne PLLC in Little Rock, Arkansas. Mr. Johns was a practicing attorney in two other Little Rock law firms for seven years, including Rose Law Firm, prior to 1991. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Bar Association, Sebastian County Bar Association, and Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants. Education: ■ J.D., Southern Methodist University; B.S. (Business Administration), University of Arkansas.

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STEVEN C. LEONARD |
Chief Operating Officer, Asset-Light Logistics |  | Age: 50 Career Highlights: Mr. Leonard assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer - Asset-Light Logistics in February 2025 after serving as Chief Commercial Officer and President, Asset-Light Logistics since March 2023, and Chief Sales and Customer Engagement Officer from April 2020 to March 2023. Mr. Leonard previously served as Vice President - Customer Solutions from January 2017 through March 2020. Prior to that, he served as Vice President - Global Forwarding for the Company’s subsidiary, Panther Premium Logistics®, from November 2014 through December 2016. Mr. Leonard joined the Company in 2001 as a quotation analyst for ArcBest brand U Pack® and has held positions that include Manager of Quotation Services, Manager of TimeKeeper Pricing, Director of Strategic Planning, and Divisional Vice President. Education: ■ B.S. (Business Administration), University of Arkansas.

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​ ​ |  | ​ ​ ​ B.S. (Business Administration), University of Arkansas. ​
R. EDWARD SORG |
Chief Commercial Officer |  | Age: 53 Career Highlights: Mr. Sorg was named Chief Commercial Officer in February 2025. He joined the company in 1995 as a Pricing Analyst. Since that time, he has served in a variety of leadership roles including ABF Director of Revenue Accounting, ABF Director of Pricing, Vice President of Yield Management, and most recently Chief Operating Officer - Asset-Light Logistics. Education: ■ B.S. (Industrial Engineering), University of Arkansas.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS | 37 | ​ | Roles and Responsibilities in Determining Executive Compensation | 42
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Executive Summary | 38 | ​ | Determining Appropriate Pay Levels | 43
Overview of Our Compensation Program | 39 | ​ | Components of Compensation | 44
Compensation Program Changes for 2024 | 39 | ​ | Compensation Risk Assessment | 49
2024 At Risk vs. Fixed Compensation | 40 | ​ | Compensation Program Changes for 2025 | 50
Alignment of Cash Incentive Payouts with Operating Income | 40 | ​ | Other Compensation Policies | 50
Key Compensation Governance Policies | 41 | ​ | Employment Agreements and Change in Control Provisions | 53
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives | 41 | ​ | Tax Considerations | 53
Response to 2024 Say on Pay Vote | 42 | ​ | ​ | ​

​

Compensation Discussion & Analysis

This Compensation Discussion & Analysis (“CD&A”) describes our executive compensation programs and the compensation decisions made during the year regarding our Named Executive Officers. The Board’s Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee” or “Committee”) determines compensation and reviews, approves, and oversees the administration of plans and programs for our Named Executive Officers. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the compensation tables and other disclosures that begin on page 55.

The Named Executive Officers for 2024 were:

Name |  | Title
Judy R. McReynolds |  | ArcBest Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Seth K. Runser(1) |  | ArcBest President
J. Matthew Beasley |  | ArcBest Chief Financial Officer
Dennis L. Anderson II |  | ArcBest Chief Strategy Officer
Michael E. Newcity(2) |  | Former ArcBest Chief Innovation Officer and ArcBest Technologies President

| (1) | As previously reported on July 18, 2024, Mr. Runser, formerly ABF Freight President, was appointed to serve as President of the Company effective August 1, 2024.

| (2) | As previously reported on September 26, 2024, Mr. Newcity informed the Company that he would retire effective December 31, 2024. His responsibilities were assumed by Mr. Anderson in his new role as Chief Innovation Officer in January 2025.

​

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Executive Summary

Company Performance

The table below summarizes our key 2024 and 2023 financial results.

​

In 2024, we faced a challenging logistics environment, but we stayed focused on our customers, business, and innovation. Our people were the key to our success, as they delivered best-in-class customer experience and leading-edge solutions. Here are some highlights from the year:

| ■ | We maintained our Asset Based operating ratio despite annual increases in union wages, through strategic pricing and cost-reduction initiatives while improving service quality and providing transportation solutions for our customers amid market disruption.

| ■ | We grew our Asset Light shipment volume through our managed solutions and improved our productivity metrics.

| ■ | We invested over $288 million for capital expenditures, including revenue equipment and real estate, as well as service center renovations.

| ■ | We returned over $85 million to stockholders through dividends and share repurchases.

In 2024, our consolidated revenues from continuing operations totaled $4.2 billion, a decrease of 5.6% from 2023. Revenues of our Asset-Based segment totaled $2.8 billion, a per-day decrease of 4.6% from 2023, and revenues of our Asset-Light segment were $1.6 billion, a per-day decrease of 8.0% from 2023. The revenue decline is primarily attributable to a decrease in tons per day, driven by the industry-wide lower weight per shipment versus 2023. The pricing environment remains rational, with billed revenue per hundredweight increasing in the Asset-Based segment due to lower tonnage. Additionally, the softer market environment, characterized by excess capacity, has kept the Asset-Light revenue per shipment low, as market rates for shipping and logistics services remained depressed throughout 2024. Our operating ratio, expressed as a percentage of revenues from continuing operations, was 94.2%, an improvement of 1.9 percentage points as compared to 2023, primarily driven by reduced operating expenses due to the change in fair value of contingent consideration and cost-saving measures implemented to align costs with the market environment.

Executive Compensation Relative to Company Performance

Our executive compensation program provides a strong relationship between pay and Company performance. The annual cash incentive for 2024 was based on operating income (adjusted) (“Adjusted Operating Income”) and Return on Capital Employed (adjusted) (“Adjusted ROCE”). As outlined further in “Annual Cash Incentive Compensation” on the following pages, Adjusted Operating Income was below the threshold performance amount in 2024, and Adjusted ROCE was between the threshold and target performance amounts in 2024, resulting in a payout of 33.52% of the target incentive opportunity and a decrease in total cash compensation for our Named Executive Officers in 2024 compared to 2023.

Our performance over the long term also reflects the strong pay-for-performance structure of our incentive compensation program for our executives. The 2022-2024 cash long-term incentive compensation plan (“C-LTIP”) was based on Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) compared to our peer group and pre-established Adjusted ROCE goals. Actual Company performance generated a payout of 172.4% of the target incentive opportunity under the 2022-2024 plan, as outlined further

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below in “Long-Term Incentive Compensation.” For more information regarding our pay-for-performance philosophy, we encourage you to review the remainder of our CD&A, including the sections titled “Compensation Philosophy and Objectives” and “Alignment of Cash Incentive Payouts with Operating Income”, as well as our “Pay Versus Performance” table on page 68, which we are providing as required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K.

Overview of Our Compensation Program

The primary elements of direct compensation awarded to the Named Executive Officers are shown below.

​

​ | Compensation Element | How Paid | Performance Metrics | Rationale
Fixed | Base salary | Cash | N/A | Ensures that an executive receives a minimum level of pay irrespective of Company performance, which is important for retention and risk reduction. Reviewed annually and reflects executive’s experience, the scope and complexity of the executive’s position, current objectives and responsibilities, internal equity, the executive’s performance, retention needs, and market factors.
At-Risk (Variable) | Annual incentive (AIP) | Cash | Annual goals for Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted ROCE | Designed to encourage our management to focus on profitability and the attainment of Company financial goals, on an annual basis, that we believe will lead to our long-term success and promote retention of our executive talent.
At-Risk (Variable) | Long-term incentive | Cash (C-LTIP) (60% of target) | Three-year goals for relative TSR and Adjusted ROCE | Designed to reward management and drive performance with respect to the Company’s key financial metrics. The three-year performance cycle encourages a long-term perspective incentivizing sustainable value creation along with profitability and capital efficiency. Using cash-based awards also mitigates the dilutive effect of solely offering long-term equity compensation.
|  | Time-based RSUs (40% of target) | Vest pro-rata over three years following grant date | Aligns interest of management with stockholders, focuses our executives on stockholder valuation creation over a multi-year period, helps to retain key talent and discourages inappropriate short-term behaviors.

​

We use Adjusted ROCE in our annual and long-term cash incentive compensation plans to ensure our leadership team maintains a consistent focus on key performance measures that align with the Company’s strategic goals. Adjusted ROCE is important in both the short and long term because it measures how efficiently the Company creates value through the deployment of its capital to generate profitable returns.

Compensation Program Changes for 2024

The Committee monitors and reviews the Company’s executive compensation programs on an ongoing basis. In December 2023, with the assistance of Meridian, the Committee evaluated the incentive plan structure, including program objectives, market comparisons, and compensation philosophy. Based on this review, the Committee approved the following adjustments to the Company’s executive incentive compensation plans beginning in 2024, to provide for increased focus on long-term performance and to further align with market practice:

■ | Revised the performance metric weighting utilized in our AIP to 60% Adjusted Operating Income and 40% Adjusted ROCE (from equal weighting in 2023) and harmonized the maximum payout percentages for each performance metric to 250% (from 200% and 300%, respectively);

■ | Revised the long-term incentive compensation weighting to 60% performance-based C-LTIP and 40% time-vested RSUs (from equal weighting in 2023) to enhance the overall performance-based focus of the program; and

■ | Revised the performance metric weighting utilized in our C-LTIP to 60% three-year average Adjusted ROCE and 40% Relative TSR (from equal weighting in 2023) and harmonized the maximum payout percentages for each performance metric to 250% (from 300% and 200%, respectively).

These changes are further described in the sections that follow.

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2024 At Risk vs. Fixed Compensation

One of the primary considerations in implementing our compensation philosophy and objectives is striking the proper balance between fixed and at-risk (variable) compensation. Fixed compensation ensures that an executive receives a minimum level of pay irrespective of Company performance, which is important for retention and risk reduction. Variable compensation ties the executive’s compensation to Company performance, aligning the executive’s interests with those of the Company’s stockholders. The following charts show the significant portion of the Named Executive Officers’ 2024 target compensation that was variable and at risk based on either reaching certain performance goals or the value of the Company’s Common Stock.

​

​

Alignment of Cash Incentive Payouts with Operating Income

Our executive compensation program aims to achieve a strong relationship between pay and Company performance. In establishing compensation for our Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee reviews the historical trend of the average annual incentive payout and long-term incentive payout in a given year, as compared to the Company’s GAAP-reported operating income. The following charts illustrate the respective trends of average annual incentive payouts and long-term incentive payouts to Named Executive Officers as compared to GAAP-reported operating income over a ten-year period. However, payouts under the Company’s cash incentive plans may not correlate exactly to operating income as reported in our financial statements because, for example, a key metric of our annual cash incentive opportunity is Adjusted Operating Income, which may differ from GAAP operating income as a result of certain adjustments as discussed below in “Annual Cash Incentive Compensation.” In 2024, Adjusted Operating Income was lower than GAAP operating income, primarily due to a change in fair value of contingent consideration related to a prior acquisition, which resulted in lower payouts under the Company’s annual cash incentive opportunity. For more information regarding pay for performance, see our “Pay Versus Performance” table on page 68, which we are providing as required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K.

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Key Compensation Governance Policies

The Compensation Committee continually reviews the Company’s executive compensation program to ensure our practices promote stockholders’ best interests. Some of our key policies are summarized below.

What We Do: |  | What We Don’t Do:
| We tie pay to performance. The majority of executive pay is at risk. | ​ |  | NO tax gross-up payments for any amounts considered excess parachute payments.
| 60% of the long-term incentive value granted to Named Executive Officers is contingent on the Company’s performance over a 3-year period. | ​ |  | NO single-trigger payments upon a change in control.
| We use three-year ratable vesting for our restricted stock units to encourage retention and a long-term perspective. | ​ |  | NO excessive perquisites.
| Named Executive Officers and Directors are subject to significant stock ownership requirements. | ​ |  | NO hedging or pledging of Company stock.
| We have caps on both the annual incentive and long-term incentive payouts. | ​ |  | NO employment agreements with our Named Executive Officers.
| We have a robust clawback policy that goes beyond the minimum requirements under the Nasdaq listing standards. | ​ |  | NO re-pricing of stock options without stockholder approval.
| We conduct annual risk assessments of our compensation plans. | ​ |  | NO guaranteed bonuses.
| We have an independent Compensation Committee. | ​ | ​
| The Compensation Committee has an independent compensation consultant. | ​ | ​
| We benchmark our compensation practices to peers with which we compete for talent. | ​ | ​
| We proactively engage with our largest stockholders and consider their feedback. | ​ | ​

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Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

The primary objectives of the Company’s executive compensation program are to:

■ | attract and retain highly qualified executives;

■ | motivate the Company’s leaders to work together as a team to deliver superior business performance;

■ | encourage balance between short-term results and the long-term strategic decisions needed to ensure sustained business performance over time; and

■ | ensure that the interests and risk tolerance of the Company’s leaders are closely aligned with those of our stockholders.

As discussed in the sections that follow, we use a variety of compensation vehicles to reflect this compensation philosophy and meet the Company’s objectives. The Compensation Committee does not prescribe a targeted allocation for the various compensation components. Both internal and external influences on our compensation program fluctuate periodically, and we believe it is in the best interest of the Company, our stockholders, and the Named Executive Officers for the Committee to have the flexibility to design a compensation program appropriate for the current market environment and the Company’s goals.

Our compensation program is designed to retain and secure the continued leadership of our existing managerial talent as well as to attract future leaders for the Company. The majority of our Named Executive Officers are long-term employees of the Company resulting in a management team that is very knowledgeable about the Company and the transportation industry. This experience is extremely valuable, and our executives can be targets for recruitment by other companies, especially in the transportation and logistics industry. Other factors we consider when determining executive compensation include scope and complexity of the position, current objectives and responsibilities, internal equity, relative compensation within the peer group, the Company’s results, and the executive’s performance.

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Response to 2024 Say on Pay Vote

In 2024, the Company held its fourteenth annual stockholder advisory vote on the compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers, earning approximately 97% support. The Committee considered this strong support by stockholders as well as many other factors in evaluating the Company’s executive compensation programs. These factors include the alignment of our compensation programs with our corporate business objectives, evaluations of our programs by external consultants, and review of data from a select group of peers. Based on these considerations, the Committee did not make any changes to our executive compensation program, policies or pay levels as a result of the 2024 say on pay advisory vote. The Committee and Company value feedback from our stockholders, and we will continue to consider this feedback when evaluating decisions regarding our executive compensation programs in the future.

Roles and Responsibilities in Determining Executive Compensation

Role of the Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing and approving compensation levels and incentive plans for the Named Executive Officers. The Compensation Committee has determined and reviewed the value and forms of compensation for Named Executive Officers and other officers based on Committee members’ knowledge and experience, competitive market compensation information, periodic review and analysis from an independent compensation consultant, and management recommendations. The Committee approves salary levels, incentive plan performance metrics, performance goals, payout opportunities, equity award levels and terms, and the peer group used for market benchmarking and total shareholder return relative comparisons. The Committee also evaluates the need for, and the provisions of, severance arrangements for the Named Executive Officers, reviews risks associated with compensation plans and administers the Company’s clawback policy.

Role of the Independent Compensation Consultant

The Compensation Committee directly engages Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC (“Meridian”) as its independent executive compensation consultant. Meridian provided ongoing consulting assistance to the Compensation Committee throughout the year on areas such as compensation design, proxy disclosure, market trends, corporate governance practices, technical considerations and other matters. In particular, Meridian assisted the Committee by evaluating the Company’s compensation programs and award levels, participating in Committee meetings when requested, and reviewing Committee materials.

Other than executive and director compensation consulting to the Board, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, Meridian does not provide any other services to the Company. The Compensation Committee has the final authority to hire and terminate the independent compensation consultant and evaluates the consultant periodically. The Chair of the Compensation Committee approves the fees paid to the consultant. The Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of Meridian under SEC rules and concluded that Meridian’s work for the Board, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee does not raise any conflict of interest.

The Company has retained Mercer LLC (“Mercer”) to provide additional consulting services at the request of management and to assist with management’s recommendations for selecting our peer group and executive compensation levels and program design. Mercer primarily assists management with market analysis and proxy disclosure review. The Company has assessed the independence of Mercer under SEC rules and concluded that Mercer’s work for management does not raise any conflict of interest. At the Company’s request, Mercer conducted a compensation review for Named Executive Officers in July 2023 and in July 2024. These studies helped inform compensation decisions for 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Role of Management

The Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, and Chief Human Resources Officer are routinely invited to attend Compensation Committee meetings to provide analysis and recommendations on compensation issues and other matters the Committee is considering. At certain meetings, Ms. McReynolds presents pay recommendations for her direct reports. Ms. McReynolds does not make recommendations regarding her own compensation. No executive participates in discussions concerning his or her own pay or attends Committee executive sessions, except to the extent requested by the Committee.

Management formulates its recommendations on executive compensation with assistance from Mercer. The Committee considers management recommendations and discusses proposals with Meridian before making decisions on

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compensation awarded to the executives. The Committee believes these discussions provide valuable insight, but the Committee is solely responsible for approving all pay decisions for the Named Executive Officers.

The Compensation Committee delegates to management the implementation and record-keeping functions related to the various elements of compensation it has approved, to the extent permissible. The Committee may not and does not delegate its authority to review and determine the form or value of compensation for Named Executive Officers.

​

Determining Appropriate Pay Levels

Total direct compensation for the Named Executive Officers is divided into two general categories: short-term cash compensation and long-term incentive compensation.

​

Although the Committee also reviews retirement, perquisites, and other benefits such as the 401(k) plan and health and welfare benefits, these benefits are not referenced against market data or used in determining direct compensation levels. For more information, see “Retirement and Other Benefits” and “Perquisites” in this CD&A.

Peer Group

The Committee compares the Company’s compensation levels with the compensation of executives at similar entities in our industry to determine whether our compensation is competitive. The peer group is also used to gauge the Company’s performance for relative TSR in the C-LTIP for opportunities awarded before 2025.

The peer group includes the companies with which we compete in the transportation and logistics industry and for executive talent. Each year, with input from Meridian, the Committee reviews our current peer group using criteria such as market capitalization and revenues. Management also makes recommendations for our peer group.

Our 2024 peer group for market comparison is the same peer group used in 2023 (as disclosed in the 2023 proxy statement), except that RXO, Inc. and XPO, Inc. were added for 2024. Both RXO, Inc. and XPO, Inc. are of similar size (by revenue and market capitalization) and directly compete with the Company, making them appropriate additions to our peer group. Our peer group for 2024 is listed in the table below:

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | Ticker |  | Revenue in 2024 |  | Market Cap(1)
Company Name | ​ | Symbol | ​ | ($ millions) | ​ | ($ millions)
ArcBest Corporation |  | ARCB | ​ | 4,179 | ​ | 2,160
Covenant Logistics Group, Inc. |  | CVLG | ​ | 1,131 | ​ | 724
Forward Air Corporation |  | FWRD | ​ | 2,474 | ​ | 960
Hub Group, Inc. |  | HUBG | ​ | 3,946 | ​ | 2,741
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. |  | JBHT | ​ | 12,087 | ​ | 17,067
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc. |  | KNX | ​ | 7,410 | ​ | 8,591
Landstar System, Inc. |  | LSTR | ​ | 4,819 | ​ | 6,069
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. |  | ODFL | ​ | 5,815 | ​ | 37,493
RXO, Inc. | ​ | RXO | ​ | 4,550 | ​ | 3,894
Saia, Inc. | ​ | SAIA | ​ | 3,209 | ​ | 12,135
Schneider National, Inc. |  | SNDR | ​ | 5,291 | ​ | 5,138
TFI International Inc. |  | TFII | ​ | 8,397 | ​ | 11,403
Werner Enterprises, Inc. |  | WERN | ​ | 3,030 | ​ | 2,222
XPO, Inc. |  | XPO | ​ | 8,072 | ​ | 15,376

(1) | Approximate based on the product of the closing price of each company’s stock at December 31, 2024 and recently reported outstanding share count.

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Peer Group and Industry Comparisons

Target total compensation and each pay component are designed to approximate the 50th percentile of the peer group, with actual pay outcomes that vary based on company performance. Although the Committee considers these market benchmarks, compensation for a given executive may further vary from market based on the executive’s experience, the scope and complexity of the executive’s position, the executive’s current objectives and responsibilities, internal equity, the executive’s performance, and retention needs.

Components of Compensation

Base Salary

Base salary is a fixed component of compensation paid for performing specific job duties and functions. Base salary is an important component of compensation and is crucial to our ability to attract and retain key talent. The Compensation Committee reviews base salaries for Named Executive Officers and the other executive officers annually, considering the following:

■ | the Company’s compensation philosophy and objectives, including consideration of the executive’s experience, the scope and complexity of the executive’s position, the executive’s current objectives and responsibilities, internal equity, the executive’s performance, and retention needs;

■ | market analysis;

■ | input from the Committee’s independent compensation consultant;

■ | economic and inflationary factors;

■ | the Company’s recent and historical financial performance;

■ | the Company’s strategic plans;

■ | the Company’s resources; and

■ | the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer’s and President’s recommendations (regarding executives other than themselves).

The Committee does not assign a specific weighting to any of these factors. In considering any increase in base salary, the Committee takes into account the effect such an increase would have on the Named Executive Officer’s potential annual incentive, because compensation under that award is calculated based on a percentage of the individual’s base salary.

Based on the Committee’s annual review and the strong performance of the Named Executive Officer team, the Committee increased base salary levels for Ms. McReynolds and Messrs. Runser, Beasley, and Newcity effective January 1, 2024 to generally reflect the 50th percentile of the peer group. Mr. Anderson’s base salary was unchanged from 2023 due to a change in scope of his responsibilities following internal realignment of certain business functions. The following chart sets forth the base salaries for each Named Executive Officer for 2023 and 2024.

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | Base Salary at December 31, 2023 |  | Base Salary at December 31, 2024
Judy R. McReynolds | ​ | ​ | $ 900,000 | ​ | ​ | $ 927,000
Seth K. Runser(1) | ​ |  | 475,000 | ​ |  | 575,000
J. Matthew Beasley | ​ |  | 450,000 | ​ |  | 463,500
Dennis L. Anderson II | ​ |  | 430,301 | ​ |  | 430,301
Michael E. Newcity | ​ |  | 432,012 | ​ |  | 444,972

(1) | Mr. Runser became President in August 2024. His salary at December 31, 2024, reflects the annualized base salary resulting from his mid-year role change. The amount of base salary actually earned by Mr. Runser, taking into account the mid-year role change, is reported in the “Salary” column of the “Summary Compensation Table.”

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Annual Cash Incentive Compensation

PERFORMANCE METRICS

The annual cash incentive opportunity is designed to encourage our management to focus on profitability and the attainment of Company financial goals, on an annual basis, which we believe will lead to our long-term success and promote retention of our executive talent. The performance metrics for the 2024 annual cash incentive award are set forth in the chart below. As discussed above, to provide for sustained focus on long-term performance and to further align with market practice, beginning with the 2024 awards, the Committee revised the performance metric weighting utilized in our AIP to 60% Adjusted Operating Income and 40% Adjusted ROCE (from equal weighting in 2023). The Committee also harmonized the maximum payout percentages for each performance metric to 250% (from 200% and 300%, respectively).

Performance Measure | Weighting | Rationale
Adjusted Operating Income | 60% | The use of Adjusted Operating Income reinforces the Company’s emphasis on profitable growth.
Adjusted ROCE | 40% | Adjusted ROCE measures the efficient use of corporate assets to create profitable growth and aligns executives’ interest with our profitability and appropriate employment of capital, which increases the value of the Company to its stockholders. We use a historical average ROCE of the S&P 500, typically over a period of at least ten years, so the performance target does not reflect short-term market volatility. We believe the S&P 500 is an appropriate performance benchmark because it is a broad-based group of U.S. companies in leading industries and reflects the risk and return characteristics of the broader market on an ongoing basis. While the S&P 500 primarily includes companies that are larger than the Company, the performance of these companies reflects stable, well-managed organizations. The Committee believes that performance at or above the level of the S&P 500 companies is acceptable performance and worthy of performance-based incentive payments.

​

Adjusted Operating Income represents operating income as reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements, adjusted (if applicable to the covered period) to (i) add back (a) certain annual or long-term incentive compensation expenses, including AIP and C-LTIP, and (b) direct third-party acquisition expenses, and (ii) exclude (a) all revenue and expenses for businesses acquired during the measurement period, (b) any expenses resulting directly from reorganization and restructuring that are publicly disclosed, (c) any increases or decreases from certain extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring item as approved by the Compensation Committee, (d) any increases or decreases resulting from changes in accounting principles, (e) any losses from a discontinued operation, (f) any goodwill, other intangible asset, and lease-related impairment charges, and (g) any settlement and termination expenses (including withdrawal liabilities) relating to pension plans.

Adjusted ROCE represents net income divided by average adjusted debt plus average equity for the measurement period, with net income, debt and equity adjusted (if applicable to the covered period) to (i) add back (a) certain after-tax annual or long-term incentive compensation expenses, including expenses related to the AIP and C-LTIP, and (b) after-tax direct third-party acquisition expenses, interest expense, and amortization of intangibles, and (ii) exclude (a) all revenue, expenses, and taxes from, and debt attributable to, businesses acquired during the measurement period, (b) any decreases in net income resulting directly from reorganization and restructuring expenses that are publicly disclosed, (c) any increases or decreases to ROCE resulting from any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items as approved by the Compensation Committee, (d) any increases or decreases in net income resulting from changes in accounting principles, (e) any losses from a discontinued operation, (f) the effect of changes in federal income tax law or regulations affecting reported results during the measurement period, (g) any goodwill, other intangible asset, and lease-related impairment charges, (h) any after-tax income from cash and short-term investments attributable to any reduction in average debt, and (i) any after-tax settlement and termination expenses (including withdrawal liabilities) relating to pension plans.

TARGET AWARDS

Each Named Executive Officer’s target annual incentive opportunity is expressed as a percentage of base salary earned during the plan year. The following table shows the incentive targets for 2024. The annual incentive opportunities (as a percentage of base salary) for Ms. McReynolds and Messrs. Beasley and Newcity were unchanged from 2023, but the opportunity for Mr. Anderson decreased from 65% to 60% to generally reflect the change in scope of his responsibilities

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following internal realignment of certain business functions. Mr. Runser’s annual incentive opportunity was increased from 75% to 80% in connection with his appointment as President in August 2024.

​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | Annual Target Incentive (% of Base Salary)(1)
Judy R. McReynolds |  | 110 | %
Seth K. Runser(2) |  | 80 | %
J. Matthew Beasley |  | 65 | %
Dennis L. Anderson II |  | 60 | %
Michael E. Newcity |  | 65 | %

(1) | The maximum total payout potential is 250% of the target incentive, assuming Company performance is at or above the maximum goal levels for Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted ROCE.

(2) | Mr. Runser became President in August 2024. His annual target incentive (as a percentage of base salary) reported in this table reflects only the target resulting from his mid-year role change. However, his actual target opportunity and payout amount, as reported in the “Performance Results” section below and the “Summary Compensation Table”, were calculated based on 75% of base salary earned for the period of January 1 through July 31, 2024, and 80% of base salary earned for the period of August 1 through December 31, 2024.

​

PERFORMANCE GOALS

The following tables show the goals and associated payouts for the two performance metrics utilized for the 2024 annual incentive.

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | Payout* (% of target earned) | ​
Measure | 0% | 50% Threshold | 100% Target | 250% Maximum | Weighting
Adjusted Operating Income |  | 60%
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | Payout* (% of target earned) | ​
Measure | 0% | 50% Threshold | 100% Target | 250% Maximum | ​
Adjusted ROCE % Achieved |  | 40%

* | The payout earned for performance at levels between those indicated is calculated using straight-line interpolation, except that no payout is earned for performance below the Threshold performance levels.

​

PERFORMANCE RESULTS

Actual Adjusted Operating Income achieved for 2024 as measured under the annual cash incentive plan was $208.9 million, falling below the threshold performance amount, resulting in no payout for the Adjusted Operating Income portion of the annual incentive. Adjusted ROCE for the year was 12.38%, falling between the threshold and target performance amounts, resulting in a payout of 83.8% for the Adjusted ROCE portion of the annual incentive. Combining the two payouts, weighted 60% and 40% for Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted ROCE, respectively, produced a total payout of 33.52% of the target incentive opportunity. Actual payouts for 2024 performance are shown below:

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | 2024 Target Annual Incentive Opportunity |  | 2024 Actual Annual Incentive Plan Payout
Judy R. McReynolds | ​ | $ | 1,019,700 | ​ | $ | 341,803
Seth K. Runser(1) | ​ |  | 406,953 | ​ |  | 135,988
J. Matthew Beasley | ​ |  | 301,275 | ​ |  | 100,987
Dennis L. Anderson II | ​ |  | 258,181 | ​ |  | 86,542
Michael E. Newcity | ​ |  | 289,232 | ​ |  | 96,950

(1) | Mr. Runser’s 2024 target opportunity reflects the sum of his AIP opportunities before and after he became President based on his annual target incentive (as a percentage of base salary) and base salary in effect during such periods.

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Long-Term Incentive Compensation

TARGET AWARDS

Our long-term compensation target incentive opportunity consists of two components: (i) a three-year cash incentive opportunity (“C-LTIP”), and (ii) a time-vested RSU award. As discussed above, beginning in 2024, the Committee revised the weighting of these components to 60% performance-based C-LTIP and 40% time-vested RSUs (from equal weighting in 2023) to enhance the overall performance-based focus of the program. The Committee also revised the performance metric weighting utilized in our C-LTIP to 60% three-year average Adjusted ROCE and 40% Relative TSR (from equal weighting in 2023) to put more emphasis on a metric that management controls directly, and harmonized the maximum payout percentages for each performance metric to 250% (from 300% and 200%, respectively).

The following table shows the total target for long-term incentive compensation for each Named Executive Officer and opportunities awarded in 2024 for the 2024-2026 C-LTIP and the 2024 RSU award.

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | Total Long-Term Compensation |  | 2024-2026 |  | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | Target Incentive Opportunity | ​ | C-LTIP | ​ | 2024 RSU
​ | ​ | (Fixed Dollar Amount) | ​ | Target Value | ​ | Grant Value
Judy R. McReynolds | ​ | $ | 2,500,000 | ​ | $ | 1,500,000 | ​ | $ | 1,000,000
Seth K. Runser(1) | ​ |  | 680,000 | ​ |  | 408,000 | ​ |  | 272,000
J. Matthew Beasley | ​ |  | 600,000 | ​ |  | 360,000 | ​ |  | 240,000
Dennis L. Anderson II | ​ |  | 450,000 | ​ |  | 270,000 | ​ |  | 180,000
Michael E. Newcity | ​ |  | 540,000 | ​ |  | 324,000 | ​ |  | 216,000

(1) | Mr. Runser’s 2024-2026 C-LTIP target value award reflects the value awarded for Mr. Runser’s role prior to his becoming President in August 2024.

The value of the long-term target incentive opportunity established for each Named Executive Officer was based, in large part, on the respective officers’ positions within the Company. Because 40% of the target award is delivered in the form of RSUs, the Committee also considers the number of shares available for grant, the number of previously granted awards currently outstanding, the burn rate, and potential stockholder dilution.

CASH LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION

The Committee has awarded cash long-term incentive opportunities since 2006. We have observed that these awards, which are exclusively performance-based, appropriately reward management and drive performance with respect to key financial metrics. The three-year performance period encourages a long-term perspective, and using cash-based awards mitigates the dilutive effect of solely offering long-term equity compensation. In February 2024, the Committee granted a three-year cash incentive award for the performance period from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2026, using the performance metrics set forth below.

​

Performance Measure | Weighting | Rationale
Adjusted ROCE | 60% | Adjusted ROCE measures the efficient use of corporate assets to create profitable growth and aligns executives’ interest with our profitability and appropriate employment of capital. As previously discussed, Adjusted ROCE is measured against a historical average ROCE of the S&P 500 over a period of time. The Committee and management believe that using the Adjusted ROCE metric for the three-year performance period keeps participants focused on the profitable use of Company resources over the longer period, which increases the value of the Company to its stockholders.
Relative TSR | 40% | The Company uses TSR relative to our industry peer group to more directly align the cash long-term incentive plan with stockholder value creation. Relative TSR rewards participants when the Company outperforms our peer group and directly aligns executives’ interests with stockholder value creation relative to our peers.

​

Adjusted ROCE

For purposes of the 2024-2026 C-LTIP, Adjusted ROCE is defined substantially the same as Adjusted ROCE for the AIP, except that (i) after-tax annual incentive compensation expenses are not added back, and (ii) certain additional adjustments are made to reflect the multi-year performance period.

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Relative TSR is based on the percentile rank of the Compounded Annual Growth Rate (“CAGR”) of our TSR relative to our peer group over the three-year measurement period. For these purposes, we calculate TSR as the annualized rate of return reflecting price appreciation between the beginning 60-day average share price (ending December 31 of the year immediately prior to the beginning of the measurement period) and the ending 60-day average share price (ending December 31 of the final year of the measurement period), adjusted for dividends paid and the compounding effect of reinvested dividends and any stock dividend on, dividend of or stock split or stock combination of, or any like change in, stock of the same class, for any change in the capital structure of the Company or a peer group company, or to exclude any peer group company that is no longer publicly traded. CAGR converts the total return into a value that indicates what the return was on an annual basis for the three-year period. For information on the performance peer group for the relative TSR component of the 2024-2026 cash long-term incentive plan, refer to page 43.

The tables below show the goals and associated payout potential for the two performance metrics utilized for the 2024-2026 C-LTIP. Payments for the 2024-2026 C-LTIP, if any, will be made in early 2027. The maximum total payout potential is 250% of the target incentive, assuming Company performance is at or above the maximum goal levels for Relative TSR and Adjusted ROCE.

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | Payout Earned for Relative TSR |  | ​ |  | Payout Earned for Adjusted ROCE
Relative TSR | ​ | (% of target earned)* | ​ | Adjusted ROCE % Achieved | ​ | (% of target earned)*
<25th percentile |  | 0% | ​ | <9% | ​ | 0%
25th percentile (threshold) |  | 25% | ​ | 9% (threshold) | ​ | 50%
50th percentile |  | 100% | ​ | 14% | ​ | 100%
≥75th percentile |  | 250% | ​ | ≥19% | ​ | 250%

* | The payout earned for performance at levels between those indicated is calculated using straight-line interpolation, except there is no payout for performance below the threshold level.

​

LONG-TERM EQUITY INCENTIVE COMPENSATION

The Company grants RSU awards to help align the executives’ interests with those of our stockholders. In 2024, Named Executive Officers were granted time-vested RSUs as shown in the table below.

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Named Executive Officer |  | RSU Target Grant Value |  | RSUs Granted in 2024(1)
Judy R. McReynolds | ​ | $ | 1,000,000 |  | 8,550
Seth K. Runser | ​ |  | 272,000 |  | 2,325
J. Matthew Beasley | ​ |  | 240,000 |  | 2,050
Dennis L. Anderson II | ​ |  | 180,000 |  | 1,525
Michael E. Newcity | ​ |  | 216,000 |  | 1,850

(1) | The number of RSUs granted is based on the target award value established by the Committee divided by the closing stock price of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant and rounded to the nearest multiple of 25 units.

​

The Committee believes the award of RSUs with time-based vesting aligns the interest of management with stockholders by focusing our executives on stockholder value creation over a multi-year period, helps to retain key talent and discourages inappropriate short-term behaviors. Additionally, the use of equity-based awards supports the objectives of our Stock Ownership Policy and provides meaningful stock ownership opportunities for our executives. RSUs granted in 2024 are subject to three-year ratable vesting, with one-third of the awards vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date. Stock will be issued in settlement of the RSUs on the vesting dates, or earlier if the Named Executive Officer experiences a qualifying termination of employment. No dividends or dividend equivalents are paid to Named Executive Officers on RSUs. See “Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Year-End” for additional information regarding these awards.

​

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C-LTIP Awards for the 2022-2024 Performance Period

The performance period for the 2022-2024 C-LTIP ended on December 31, 2024. The Company’s actual TSR percentile rank was 31.6th, falling between the threshold and target performance levels, and three-year average Adjusted ROCE was 23.46%, above the maximum performance level, resulting in an aggregate payout of 172.4% of the target incentive opportunity, as reflected in the table below. The individual incentive targets were expressed as a fixed dollar value based, in large part, on the respective officers’ positions within the Company. The original performance payout targets for the 2022-2024 awards can be found in our proxy statement for our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | 2022-2024 Target C-LTIP Opportunity |  | 2022-2024 Actual C-LTIP Payout
Judy R. McReynolds | ​ | $ | 1,250,000 | ​ | $ | 2,155,000
Seth K. Runser(1) | ​ |  | 325,000 | ​ |  | 560,300
J. Matthew Beasley(2) | ​ |  | 90,000 | ​ |  | 150,850
Dennis L. Anderson II | ​ |  | 275,000 | ​ |  | 474,100
Michael E. Newcity | ​ |  | 270,000 | ​ |  | 465,480

(1) | Mr. Runser was ABF Freight President at the time of the 2022-2024 C-LTIP award, and his target incentive opportunity was based on his position at that time.

(2) | Mr. Beasley was a project executive at the time of the 2022-2024 C-LTIP award, and his target incentive opportunity was based on his position at that time.

​

Compensation Risk Assessment

Management has evaluated our compensation policies and practices, including our incentive plans, to determine whether any create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The primary responsibility for this evaluation is assigned to the Company’s Risk Management Committee, which is made up of several members of senior management. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s compensation policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. Management’s evaluation, including the conclusions reached by the Risk Management Committee, was discussed with the Compensation Committee.

The information used by management and the Risk Management Committee and provided to the Compensation Committee included a framework of potential risk factors for certain compensation plans and identified how the Company’s existing processes and compensation programs mitigate those risks. Mitigating factors for potential risks included:

■ | a combination of short- and long-term compensation;

■ | a combination of equity- and cash-based compensation;

■ | multiple performance metrics;

■ | relative performance metrics;

■ | robust financial control policies and audit practices;

■ | caps for potential amounts earned under annual and long-term incentive plans;

■ | a robust clawback policy that goes beyond the minimum requirements under the Nasdaq listing standards;

■ | a prohibition against hedging transactions or pledging of shares;

■ | multi-year vesting periods for equity awards;

■ | stock ownership requirements for executive officers;

■ | retention of an independent compensation consultant to advise the Compensation Committee;

■ | approval of performance criteria and performance results by the Compensation Committee, which consists of only independent Directors; and

■ | review of peer groups by an independent compensation consultant and the Compensation Committee.

The most recent risk management evaluation was provided to the Compensation Committee in January 2025. Based on the information provided and the Compensation Committee’s knowledge of the Company’s compensation policies and practices, the Compensation Committee agreed with management’s conclusion that the risks arising from our compensation plans and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

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Compensation Program Changes for 2025

The Committee monitors and reviews the Company’s executive compensation programs on an ongoing basis. In January 2025, with the assistance of Meridian, the Committee evaluated the incentive plan structure, including program objectives, market comparisons, and compensation philosophy. Based on this review, the Committee approved the expansion of the Company’s peer group for purposes of the Relative TSR component of its cash long-term incentive compensation plans beginning with awards granted in 2025, to mitigate the impact of market volatility on Relative TSR performance results. As a result of this change, the Company will utilize a larger peer group for purposes of the Relative TSR performance metric of the 2025-2027 C-LTIP plan, as set forth below:

​

2025 Market Compensation Peer Group |  | 2025-2027 C-LTIP Relative TSR Peer Group
|  | Ticker |  |  |  | Ticker
Company Name |  | Symbol |  | Company Name |  | Symbol
ArcBest Corporation |  | ARCB |  | ArcBest Corporation |  | ARCB
Covenant Logistics Group, Inc. |  | CVLG |  | C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. |  | CHRW
Forward Air Corporation |  | FWRD |  | Covenant Logistics Group, Inc. |  | CVLG
Hub Group, Inc. |  | HUBG |  | CSX Corporation |  | CSX
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. |  | JBHT |  | Expeditor's International of Washington, Inc. |  | EXPD
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc. |  | KNX |  | FedEx Corporation |  | FDX
Landstar System, Inc. |  | LSTR |  | Forward Air Corporation |  | FWRD
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. |  | ODFL |  | Hub Group, Inc. |  | HUBG
RXO, Inc. |  | RXO |  | J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. |  | JBHT
Saia, Inc. |  | SAIA |  | Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc. |  | KNX
Schneider National, Inc. |  | SNDR |  | Landstar System, Inc. |  | LSTR
TFI International Inc. |  | TFII |  | Norfolk Southern Corporation |  | NSC
Werner Enterprises, Inc. |  | WERN |  | Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. |  | ODFL
XPO, Inc. |  | XPO |  | RXO, Inc. |  | RXO
|  |  |  | Ryder System, Inc. |  | R
|  |  |  | Saia, Inc. |  | SAIA
|  |  |  | Schneider National, Inc. |  | SNDR
|  |  |  | TFI International Inc. |  | TFII
|  |  |  | Union Pacific Corporation |  | UNP
|  |  |  | United Parcel Service, Inc. |  | UPS
|  |  |  | Werner Enterprises, Inc. |  | WERN
|  |  |  | XPO, Inc. |  | XPO

​

Other Compensation Policies

Ownership and Retention Policy

The Committee believes the Named Executive Officers should maintain meaningful equity holdings in the Company to align their interests with those of the Company’s other stockholders. The Board adopted a Stock Ownership Policy that requires Named Executive Officers to own stock with a value equal to or greater than a multiple of their base salary, as shown in the table below.

​ | ​ | ​
Position Title |  | Stock Ownership Multiple
ArcBest Chairman and CEO |  | 5 x base salary
Other Named Executive Officers |  | 3 x base salary

​

Participants are prohibited from selling any Company stock (except to pay the taxes generated by an equity grant vesting) until the ownership requirement is attained. Stock owned in a Company-sponsored retirement plan, RSUs, and stock owned outright all count toward the ownership requirement. Vested or unvested stock options or stock appreciation rights, unearned performance shares, and shares beneficially owned by the family members of the Named Executive Officers do not count toward the ownership requirement. The Committee reviews ownership levels annually. As of the most recent review in April 2024, all Named Executive Officers have met or exceeded their ownership multiple requirement, except for Mr. Beasley who became Chief Financial Officer in 2023 and must retain shares in accordance with the Stock Ownership Policy until he satisfies the stock ownership requirement.

​

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The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee administers the Stock Ownership Policy and considers changes related to employees as recommended by the Committee. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee reserves the right to amend or terminate this policy at any time or waive the restrictions for any individual in its sole discretion.

Pursuant to the Ownership Incentive Plan, any shares issued in the future upon exercise of a stock option or stock appreciation right (should any be granted under the plan) may not be sold before the earlier of (i) twelve months following the date of exercise and (ii) the date of termination of the applicable employee’s employment.

Equity Award Practices and Timing

The Company’s policy for granting equity awards states:

■ | the Compensation Committee is responsible for granting equity-based compensation for employees;

■ | the Compensation Committee establishes a fixed dollar value for each grant recipient;

■ | the award dates for each grant are five business days following the Company’s applicable quarterly earnings release, unless a different date is approved by the Board;

■ | the number of shares/units awarded will be based on the fixed dollar value established by the Compensation Committee divided by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the specified award date and rounded to the nearest multiple of 25 shares, unless otherwise approved by the Board; and

■ | any award that does not conform to these policy requirements must be approved by the Board.

It is the Compensation Committee’s general practice to review and approve annual equity grants to eligible employees (including the executive officers) on a pre-determined schedule at its regularly scheduled meeting in the second quarter of each year, which typically occurs in April. At such meeting, the Compensation Committee approves a fixed-dollar value for each equity grant, and the grant date of the approved awards occurs on the fifth business day following the release of the quarterly earnings that occurs after the Compensation Committee’s approval (unless a different date is approved by the Board). The Compensation Committee does not time the granting of equity awards (including stock option awards) in relation to the release of, or otherwise take into account, material nonpublic information when determining the timing or terms of our equity awards. Instead, the timing of equity awards follows the regular annual compensation cycle in accordance with Company’s policy for granting equity awards. The Company has not timed the disclosure of material nonpublic information for the purpose of affecting the value of executive compensation. During the last completed fiscal year, the Company did not grant stock options to any Named Executive Officer.

CLAWBACKS

The Committee has implemented a policy for the “clawback” of any covered compensation awarded to any executive officer, including a Named Executive Officer, under the circumstances described below. “Covered compensation” is broadly defined in this policy to include any cash, equity or equity-based award or payment, including incentive compensation, that is granted, awarded, vested, made to, received or earned by an executive officer.

Effective October 2, 2023, the Committee amended the clawback policy to comply with the new Nasdaq listing standards that implement the SEC rules under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and applies to our executive officers. In accordance with these new rules, the policy requires the recoupment, reimbursement or forfeiture of any erroneously awarded incentive compensation (as defined in the policy and the new SEC rules) received by an executive officer if, regardless of any misconduct or fault, we are required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under applicable securities laws.

In addition, the clawback policy allows for the recovery of covered compensation in the event of (i) an overpayment as the result of an error, including errors in determination of performance metric results or in the calculation of an officer’s covered compensation; or (ii) an act of misconduct by the officer. Under the policy, an “act of misconduct” means the officer (i) has committed an act of (a) gross misconduct or fraud in the performance of the officer’s duties to the Company or any Subsidiary, (b) embezzlement, fraud or dishonesty, (c) material theft or misappropriation of Company or subsidiary property, (d) nonpayment of any obligation owed to the Company or any subsidiary, (e) breach of fiduciary duty, or (f) violation of Company ethics policy or Code of Conduct, deliberate disregard of Company or subsidiary policies; (ii) is convicted of or enters into a guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere with regard to any felony or act of moral turpitude; (iii) makes an unauthorized disclosure of any Company or subsidiary trade secret or confidential information; (iv) solicits any employee or service provider to leave the employ or cease providing services to the Company or any subsidiary; (v) breaches any intellectual property or assignment of inventions covenant; (vi) engages in any conduct constituting unfair competition or breaches any non-competition agreement; (vii) induces any Company or subsidiary customer to breach a contract with the Company or any subsidiary or to cease doing business with the Company or any subsidiary; or (viii) induces any principal

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for whom the Company or any subsidiary acts as agent to terminate such agency relationship. In the event of an act of misconduct, the Committee can effect the cancellation of unvested or outstanding compensation previously granted or awarded to an executive officer.

Retirement and Other Benefits

The Named Executive Officers are eligible to participate in retirement and benefit programs as described below. The Committee believes the benefits provided by these programs continue to be important factors in attracting and retaining the overall officer group, including the Named Executive Officers.

Prior to 2009, the Company provided Named Executive Officers with the predominant portion of their long-term compensation through post-employment payments under the Supplemental Benefit Plan (the “SBP”) and Deferred Salary Agreements (“DSA”) described on page 61. All benefits under these plans have been frozen, and officers now receive a significant portion of their long-term compensation through the long-term incentive cash and equity compensation previously described. Ms. McReynolds is the only Named Executive Officer with a frozen SBP or DSA benefit. The other Named Executive Officers were promoted or hired after the freeze and therefore are not participants in those plans.

The following are the various benefit programs in which the Named Executive Officers have either active or frozen participation.

ACTIVE PLANS

401(k) and DC Retirement Plan

The Company maintains the ArcBest 401(k) and DC Retirement Plan for eligible non-contractual employees. The Named Executive Officers can participate in this plan on the same basis as all other eligible employees. The Company matches 50% of each employee’s contributions up to a maximum of 6% of the employee’s eligible earnings, subject to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) annual compensation limit.

The Company also makes Discretionary Defined Contributions under the 401(k) and DC Retirement Plan, which are determined annually based on the Company’s operating results. The amount of the Discretionary Defined Contribution is based on a percentage of annual eligible compensation (as defined under the plan).

Health and Welfare Plans

The Company provides medical, dental, vision, life insurance and disability benefits to all eligible non-contractual employees. The Named Executive Officers can participate in these benefit plans on the same basis as all other eligible non-contractual employees.

Officer Life Insurance

Corporate officers and certain other subsidiary officers, including the Named Executive Officers, are provided with life insurance coverage of $1 million in the event they suffer accidental death while traveling on Company business.

FROZEN PLANS

Supplemental Benefit Plan

Prior to 2010, the Company maintained a noncontributory, unfunded supplemental pension benefit plan (“SBP”) that supplemented benefits under the Company’s legacy Pension Plan. Under the SBP, the Company paid sums in addition to amounts payable under the Pension Plan to eligible officers, including eligible Named Executive Officers. The SBP has been frozen since December 31, 2009. Ms. McReynolds has a frozen benefit under the SBP. See “2024 Pension Benefits” for more information.

Deferred Salary Agreements

The Company has unfunded, noncontributory DSAs with certain of its officers. No Named Executive Officers are active participants in a DSA, but Ms. McReynolds has a frozen benefit under a DSA. See “2024 Pension Benefits” for more information.

​

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Post-Employment Supplemental Medical Policy (“Executive Medical Policy”)

Certain corporate officers and certain other subsidiary officers, including certain of the Named Executive Officers, and their eligible dependents have lifetime health coverage under the Company’s Executive Medical Policy following their termination of employment after age 55 with 10 years of service. The health coverage is provided through a fully insured third party-provided health plan. Eligible retired officers from age 55 to 60 pay a premium to the Company, equivalent to the then-current COBRA rate applicable to qualifying former employees. From age 60 to 65, a retired officer is required to reimburse the Company an amount equivalent to $250 per individual covered per month, up to a maximum of $500 per month. For retired officers age 65 and over, reduced premiums are charged by the Company for continued retiree coverage. New participants have not been added to the plan since 2017, when it was closed to new participants. All of our current Named Executive Officers (other than Mr. Beasley) are eligible participants.

The Executive Medical Policy provides that coverage will be forfeited if the officer becomes an employee, consultant or director of, or has an ownership interest in, any competitor of the Company.

PERQUISITES

Perquisites provided by the Company are generally limited to situations where there is some related business benefit to the Company, such as personal travel cost associated with spousal attendance at Company or industry events. See the “Summary Compensation Table” for a listing of the reportable perquisites for the Named Executive Officers.

Employment Agreements and Change in Control Provisions

None of our Named Executive Officers is party to an employment agreement with the Company. However, the Named Executive Officers do participate in the Amended and Restated 2012 Change in Control Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Change in Control Plan”) for certain senior officers of the Company. The Committee believes this plan serves the best interests of our stockholders since it is designed to help retain executives during uncertain times leading up to and immediately following a change in control. By providing fair compensation in the event of termination following a change in control, the Change in Control Plan is designed to allow the executives to reasonably evaluate potential actions without concern over how it may impact them financially.

The benefits under the Change in Control Plan are intended to provide the officer participants with a reasonable severance package that is based on the value the officers have created and is realized by the Company’s stockholders in the event of a change in control. The Company does not gross up for taxes a Named Executive Officer may owe on change in control benefits, including any excise taxes under Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 4999. Under the terms of the Change in Control Plan, a best-net calculation will be performed to determine whether change in control benefits due to the Named Executive Officers should be reduced (so no excise tax will be imposed) or should be paid in full (with any resulting excise taxes to be paid in full by the Named Executive Officer). See “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” for additional information regarding the provisions of the Change in Control Plan.

Tax Considerations

Deductibility of Executive Compensation

Section 162(m) of the IRC limits the tax deductibility of annual compensation paid to certain executives to $1 million. As a result, the Company will not receive a federal income tax deduction for any compensation paid to its Named Executive Officers in excess of $1 million except to the extent awards, if any, are “grandfathered” under applicable exceptions. The Committee believes that stockholder interests are best served by not restricting its flexibility in structuring compensation programs, even if those programs result in non-deductible compensation expenses.

IRC Section 280G applies to payments made to executives of a company in connection with a change in control and prohibits the deduction of any “excess parachute payment.” Benefits payable under the Change in Control Plan, as well as accelerated vesting of equity awards and annual and long-term cash incentives, could result in “excess parachute payments” that are not deductible by the Company. For more information regarding amounts payable and benefits available upon the occurrence of certain changes in control, see “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

The Company designs and operates its nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements in a manner that is intended to be exempt or compliant with Section 409A of the IRC and the final regulations issued thereunder.

​

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Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion & Analysis with management, and based on the review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that it be included in the Company’s 2024 Annual Report and the Company’s 2025 Proxy Statement.

| Committee Members |
| Kathleen D. McElligott, Chair Salvatore A. Abbate Eduardo F. Conrado Michael P. Hogan |

​

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of the Compensation Committee members is an officer or employee or former officer or employee of the Company. No executive officer of the Company serves as a member of the board of directors of any other entity, or the compensation committee of any other entity, that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of the Company’s Board or Compensation Committee. Ms. McElligott and Messrs. Abbate, Conrado and Hogan served on the Compensation Committee in 2024.

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Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth compensation paid for the years indicated for our 2024 Named Executive Officers.

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Change in Pension | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Value and Non- | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Non-Equity | ​ | Qualified Deferred | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Stock | ​ | Incentive Plan | ​ | Compensation | ​ | All Other | ​ | ​ | ​
Name and | ​ | ​ | ​ | Salary | ​ | Awards | ​ | Compensation | ​ | Earnings | ​ | Compensation | ​ | Total
Principal Position |  | Year |  | ($) |  | ($)(1) |  | ($)(2) |  | ($)(3) |  | ($)(4) |  | ($)
Judy R. McReynolds |  | 2024 | ​ | $ | 927,000 | ​ | $ | 989,748 | ​ | $ | 2,496,803 | ​ | $ | 10,032 | ​ | $ | 72,115 | ​ | $ | 4,495,698
ArcBest Chairman |  | 2023 | ​ |  | 900,000 | ​ | ​ | 1,227,732 | ​ | ​ | 4,111,225 | ​ | ​ | 9,464 | ​ | ​ | 66,687 | ​ | ​ | 6,315,108
and CEO |  | 2022 | ​ |  | 848,720 | ​ |  | 1,230,566 | ​ |  | 4,271,800 | ​ |  | 16,127 | ​ |  | 63,680 | ​ |  | 6,430,893
Seth K. Runser |  | 2024 | ​ |  | 526,535 | ​ |  | 269,142 | ​ |  | 696,288 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 24,333 | ​ |  | 1,516,298
ArcBest President |  | 2023 | ​ |  | 475,000 | ​ |  | 319,902 | ​ |  | 1,204,797 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 28,060 | ​ |  | 2,027,759
​ |  | 2022 | ​ |  | 437,750 | ​ |  | 321,358 | ​ |  | 1,191,062 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 29,648 | ​ |  | 1,979,818
J. Matthew Beasley |  | 2024 | ​ |  | 463,500 | ​ |  | 237,308 | ​ |  | 251,837 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 20,700 | ​ |  | 973,345
ArcBest CFO |  | 2023 | ​ |  | 395,926 | ​ |  | 293,964 | ​ |  | 374,125 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 23,100 | ​ |  | 1,087,115
​ |  | 2022 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | —
Dennis L. Anderson II |  | 2024 | ​ |  | 430,301 | ​ |  | 176,534 | ​ |  | 560,642 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 26,539 | ​ |  | 1,194,016
ArcBest Chief |  | 2023 | ​ |  | 430,301 | ​ |  | 268,026 | ​ |  | 1,142,705 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 28,218 | ​ |  | 1,869,250
Strategy Officer |  | 2022 | ​ |  | 413,751 | ​ |  | 266,492 | ​ |  | 1,197,345 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 29,763 | ​ |  | 1,907,351
Michael E. Newcity |  | 2024 | ​ |  | 444,972 | ​ |  | 214,156 | ​ |  | 562,430 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 23,222 | ​ |  | 1,244,780
Former ArcBest Chief Innovation Officer & |  | 2023 | ​ |  | 432,012 | ​ |  | 268,026 | ​ |  | 1,132,014 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 23,280 | ​ |  | 1,855,332
ArcBest Technologies President |  | 2022 | ​ |  | 415,396 | ​ |  | 266,492 | ​ |  | 1,337,518 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 24,580 | ​ |  | 2,043,986

(1) | The amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of RSU awards granted to the Named Executive Officers on May 7, 2024, under the Ownership Incentive Plan, computed using the grant date fair value ($115.76 per share), in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, determined without regard to estimated forfeitures and adjusted for present value of dividends (to reflect that dividend equivalents are not paid with respect to employee RSU awards). The actual value realized by the officer as a result of these awards will vary based on a number of factors, including the Company’s performance, stock price fluctuations and applicable vesting. No dividends or dividend equivalents are paid to Named Executive Officers on RSUs. See Note L to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2024 Annual Report for additional detail regarding share-based compensation.

(2) | Reflects cash compensation earned during 2024 from the annual incentive plan (“2024 AIP”), and cash compensation earned from the 2022-2024 cash long-term incentive plan (“2022-2024 C-LTIP”), each of which were paid in January 2025, as shown in the table below. AIP and C-LTIP awards earned are generally paid as soon as administratively practicable following the date the awards are calculated and approved, but no later than 75 days after the end of the measurement period to which the performance goals relate. See the “2024 Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table and the CD&A for additional information on the 2024 AIP and the 2022-2024 C-LTIP.

​

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | McReynolds |  | Runser |  | Beasley |  | Anderson |  | Newcity
2024 AIP | ​ | $ | 341,803 | ​ | $ | 135,988 | ​ | $ | 100,987 | ​ | $ | 86,542 | ​ | $ | 96,950
2022-2024 C-LTIP | ​ |  | 2,155,000 | ​ |  | 560,300 | ​ |  | 150,850 | ​ |  | 474,100 | ​ |  | 465,480
Total | ​ | $ | 2,496,803 | ​ | $ | 696,288 | ​ | $ | 251,837 | ​ | $ | 560,642 | ​ | $ | 562,430

​

​

ArcBest / 2025 PROXY STATEMENT 55

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(3) | Reflects the increase in actuarial present value during 2024 of each Named Executive Officer’s accumulated benefit under the Company’s legacy SBP and DSAs. The values reported are determined using the same assumptions as used by the Company for financial reporting purposes for the Company’s SBP and DSAs, except the payment date is assumed to be age 60 for the SBP rather than age 65. See “2024 Pension Benefits” for additional information on these plans. The 2024 change in actuarial present value by plan is as follows:

​

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | McReynolds |  | Runser |  | Beasley |  | Anderson |  | Newcity
Supplemental Benefit Plan | ​ | $ | — | ​ | $ | — | ​ | $ | — | ​ | $ | — | ​ | $ | —
Deferred Salary Agreement | ​ |  | 10,032 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | —
Total Increase | ​ | $ | 10,032 | ​ | $ | — | ​ | $ | — | ​ | $ | — | ​ | $ | —

​

Earnings with respect to outstanding vested RSUs are not above market and are not included in this column. See “2024 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation” for additional information on outstanding vested RSUs.

​

(4) | All Other Compensation for 2024 consists of the following:

​

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | McReynolds |  | Runser |  | Beasley |  | Anderson |  | Newcity
401(k) Company Match | ​ | $ | 10,350 | ​ | $ | 10,350 | ​ | $ | 10,350 | ​ | $ | 10,350 | ​ | $ | 10,350
DC Contribution | ​ |  | 10,350 | ​ |  | 10,350 | ​ |  | 10,350 | ​ |  | 10,350 | ​ |  | 10,350
24-Hour Accidental Death Premiums(i) | ​ |  | 180 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 180 | ​ |  | 180
Perquisites(ii) | ​ |  | 38,938 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | —
Gross-Ups(iii) | ​ |  | 12,297 | ​ |  | 3,633 | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 5,659 | ​ |  | 976
Retirement Gift(iv) | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 1,366
Total Increase | ​ | $ | 72,115 | ​ | $ | 24,333 | ​ | $ | 20,700 | ​ | $ | 26,539 | ​ | $ | 23,222

| (i) | The 24-hour accidental death benefit was closed to new participants before Messrs. Runser and Beasley were promoted to eligible roles; therefore, they do not receive this benefit.

| (ii) | The perquisites value for Ms. McReynolds includes expenses for spousal travel to Company or industry events (including accommodations, transportation, and other travel-related items) and any related Company lost tax deduction resulting from the spouse accompanying the Named Executive Officer on a Company airplane for such events. Ms. McReynolds’ perquisite value also includes limited personal use of Company aircraft and a Christmas gift from the Company. The Company also provides a Christmas gift to each of the other Board members.

Executive officers’ spouses are permitted to occasionally accompany them on business trips, including use of Company aircraft, when appropriate for business purposes or when space is available. Executive officers are also permitted limited use of Company aircraft for personal, non-entertainment purposes. The aggregate incremental costs, including tax effect, associated with Ms. McReynolds’ personal and spousal travel on Company aircraft in 2024 were $31,395. The Company determines the aggregate incremental cost of personal and spousal use of Company aircraft using variable aircraft operating costs and total flight hours, plus the resulting lost tax deduction, if any, based on the Company’s incremental effective income tax rate.

No other Named Executive Officer received perquisites in excess of $10,000 during 2024, and therefore no value is reported.

| (iii) | Tax gross-ups for Ms. McReynolds and Messrs. Runser, Anderson and Newcity are for gifts related to the Company’s annual President’s Club event, conference fees and expenses for a spouse accompanying the officer, personal travel on a Company airplane for non-entertainment purposes, spousal travel on a Company airplane to a Company or industry event, and apparel items in connection with industry events.

(iv) The retirement gift for Mr. Newcity consisted of the value of a retirement award granted upon his retirement in December 2024.

​

ArcBest / 2025 PROXY STATEMENT 56

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2024 Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The following table provides information related to non-equity and equity-based awards made to the Named Executive Officers for 2024.

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | All Other Stock Awards
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Number of | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity | ​ | Shares of | ​ | Grant Date
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Incentive Plan Awards(2,3) | ​ | Stock or | ​ | Fair Value of
​ | ​ | Award | ​ | Approval | ​ | Grant | ​ | Threshold | ​ | Target | ​ | Maximum | ​ | Units | ​ | Stock
Name |  | Type(1) |  | Date(2,3,4) |  | Date |  | ($) |  | ($) |  | ($) |  | (#) |  | Awards ($)(4)
Judy R. McReynolds | ​ | AIP | ​ | 2/21/2024 | ​ | 2/21/2024 | ​ | $ | 509,850 | ​ | $ | 1,019,700 | ​ | $ | 2,549,250 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | C-LTIP |  | 2/21/2024 |  | 2/21/2024 | ​ |  | 600,000 | ​ | ​ | 1,500,000 | ​ | ​ | 3,750,000 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | RSU |  | 4/25/2024 |  | 5/7/2024 | ​ |  | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | 8,550 | ​ | $ | 989,748
Seth K. Runser |  | AIP |  | 2/21/2024 |  | 2/21/2024 | ​ |  | 203,476 | ​ | ​ | 406,953 | ​ | ​ | 1,017,382 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | C-LTIP |  | 2/21/2024 |  | 2/21/2024 | ​ |  | 163,200 | ​ | ​ | 408,000 | ​ | ​ | 1,020,000 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | RSU |  | 4/25/2024 |  | 5/7/2024 | ​ |  | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | 2,325 | ​ | ​ | 269,142
J. Matthew Beasley |  | AIP |  | 2/21/2024 |  | 2/21/2024 | ​ |  | 150,638 | ​ | ​ | 301,275 | ​ | ​ | 753,188 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | C-LTIP |  | 2/21/2024 |  | 2/21/2024 | ​ |  | 144,000 | ​ | ​ | 360,000 | ​ | ​ | 900,000 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | RSU |  | 4/25/2024 |  | 5/7/2024 | ​ |  | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | 2,050 | ​ | ​ | 237,308
Dennis L. Anderson II |  | AIP |  | 2/21/2024 |  | 2/21/2024 | ​ |  | 129,090 | ​ | ​ | 258,181 | ​ | ​ | 645,452 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | C-LTIP |  | 2/21/2024 |  | 2/21/2024 | ​ |  | 108,000 | ​ | ​ | 270,000 | ​ | ​ | 675,000 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | RSU |  | 4/25/2024 |  | 5/7/2024 | ​ |  | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | 1,525 | ​ | ​ | 176,534
Michael E. Newcity |  | AIP |  | 2/21/2024 |  | 2/21/2024 | ​ |  | 144,616 | ​ | ​ | 289,232 | ​ | ​ | 723,079 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | C-LTIP |  | 2/21/2024 |  | 2/21/2024 | ​ |  | 129,600 | ​ | ​ | 324,000 | ​ | ​ | 810,000 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | RSU |  | 4/25/2024 |  | 5/7/2024 | ​ |  | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | 1,850 | ​ | ​ | 214,156

(1) | Award Types:

AIP = annual incentive compensation under the ArcBest Corporation Executive Incentive Compensation Plan

RSU = restricted stock units granted under the Ownership Incentive Plan

C-LTIP = three-year cash long-term incentive compensation plan (2024-2026 performance period)

(2) | The performance criteria for the 2024 AIP award were approved by the Committee on February 21, 2024. Amounts shown in the “Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards” column with respect to the 2024 AIP award represent the threshold, target and maximum payment levels of the 2024 AIP. The target amount reflected is calculated based on base salary earned in 2024, provided that Mr. Runser’s target amount is the sum of his 2024 AIP opportunities before and after he became President based on his annual target incentive (as a percentage of base salary) and base salary in effect during such periods. Awards under the annual incentive plan are described in greater detail in “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Components of Compensation — Annual Cash Incentive Compensation.” The actual amount of the AIP award paid for 2024 performance with respect to each Named Executive Officer is included in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the “Summary Compensation Table.”

(3) | The performance criteria for the 2024-2026 C-LTIP award were approved by the Committee on February 21, 2024. Amounts shown in the “Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards” column represent the threshold, target and maximum payment levels with respect to C-LTIP awards granted in 2024. Awards under the cash long-term incentive compensation plan are described in greater detail in “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Components of Compensation — Long-Term Incentive Compensation.”

(4) | The RSU award was approved by the Committee on April 25, 2024. As provided in the equity award policy, the grant date for the award was five business days following the first quarter’s earnings release. The value shown reflects the grant date fair value ($115.76 per share) of RSU awards made under the Ownership Incentive Plan on May 7, 2024, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, determined without regard to forfeitures and adjusted for present value of dividends (which are not payable with respect to RSUs granted to Named Executive Officers). The 2024 RSUs are subject to three-year ratable vesting, with one-third of the awards vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date, subject to early vesting if the participant experiences a qualifying termination from employment with the Company. The 2024 RSUs are described in greater detail in “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Components of Compensation — Long-Term Incentive Compensation.”

​

ArcBest / 2025 PROXY STATEMENT 57

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Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Year-End

The following table provides information related to any equity-based awards outstanding for the Named Executive Officers, as of December 31, 2024:

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Stock Awards
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Number of Shares or Units of | ​ | Market Value of Shares or Units of
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Stock that | ​ | Stock that
​ |  | ​ |  | Have Not Vested |  | Have Not Vested
Name | ​ | Grant Date | ​ | (#) | ​ | ($)(1)
Judy R. McReynolds |  | 05/06/2022 | (2)​ | 5,234 | ​ | $ | 488,437
​ |  | 05/05/2023 | (3)​ | 9,467 | ​ |  | 883,460
​ |  | 05/07/2024 | (4)​ | 8,550 | ​ |  | 797,886
Seth K. Runser |  | 05/06/2022 | (2)​ | 1,367 | ​ | $ | 127,568
​ |  | 05/05/2023 | (3)​ | 2,467 | ​ |  | 230,220
​ |  | 05/07/2024 | (4)​ | 2,325 | ​ |  | 216,969
J. Matthew Beasley |  | 05/06/2022 | (2)​ | 367 | ​ | $ | 34,248
​ | ​ | 05/05/2023 | (3)​ | 2,267 | ​ | ​ | 211,556
​ |  | 05/07/2024 | (4)​ | 2,050 | ​ | ​ | 191,306
Dennis L. Anderson II |  | 05/06/2022 | (2)​ | 1,134 | ​ | $ | 105,825
​ |  | 05/05/2023 | (3)​ | 2,067 | ​ |  | 192,892
​ |  | 05/07/2024 | (4)​ | 1,525 | ​ |  | 142,313
Michael E. Newcity(5) |  | — | ​ | — | ​ | ​ | —

(1) | Reflects the value of unvested RSUs as of December 31, 2024, awarded under the Ownership Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, based on the closing market price of the Common Stock of $93.32 on December 31, 2024.

(2) | These RSU awards vest in three equal installments. The first and second installments vested and settled on May 6, 2023 and May 6, 2024, respectively, and the final installment will fully vest on May 6, 2025.

(3) | These RSU awards vest in three equal installments. The first installment vested and settled on May 5, 2024 and the remaining two installments will fully vest on May 5, 2025 and May 5, 2026.

(4) | These RSU awards vest in three equal installments on May 7, 2025, May 7, 2026, and May 7, 2027.

(5) | Mr. Newcity retired from the Company effective December 31, 2024, and accordingly, his RSUs that were not already vested at that time as a result of his retirement eligibility were forfeited. See “2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested” for information on his RSUs that vested in 2024.

​

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2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table provides information related to RSUs that vested during 2024 for the Named Executive Officers. None of our Named Executive Officers held stock option awards during 2024.

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | Stock Awards
​ | ​ | Number of Shares | ​ | Value Realized
​ | ​ | Acquired on Vesting | ​ | on Vesting
Name |  | (#)(1,2) |  | ($)(3)
Judy R. McReynolds |  | 14,758 | ​ | $ | 1,768,969
Seth K. Runser |  | 14,700 | ​ |  | 1,723,442
J. Matthew Beasley |  | 1,500 | ​ |  | 173,427
Dennis L. Anderson II |  | 18,766 | ​ |  | 2,201,163
Michael E. Newcity |  | 18,566 | ​ |  | 2,177,683

(1) | The 2020 and 2021 RSU awards fully vested and settled on May 12, 2024 and May 11, 2024, respectively. One-third of the 2022 and 2023 RSU awards vested and settled on May 6, 2024 and May 5, 2024, respectively. All of the shares issued for the 2020 and 2021 RSU awards at final vesting, and the pro-rata shares issued for the 2022 and 2023 RSU awards, are free of vesting and ownership restrictions. All shares owned by executive officers are subject to company-imposed restrictions that limit trading during periods when officers have material nonpublic information as well as the Company’s policy related to minimum stock ownership for executive officers, as discussed in the CD&A.

(2) | RSUs held by Ms. McReynolds granted prior to 2022 were subject to monthly pro rata vesting in 2024 because Ms. McReynolds had attained early retirement eligibility under the terms of the prior RSU awards. Awards that vested on a pro rata basis due to attainment of early retirement eligibility were not settled until the earlier of the original vesting date (four years from the grant date for awards in 2020, and three years from the grant date for awards in 2021) or the date of a qualifying termination of employment. The table below includes RSU awards granted prior to 2022 that were subject to monthly pro rata vesting in 2024 due to early retirement eligibility, as well as the first and second tranches of Ms. McReynolds’ 2023 and 2022 RSUs, respectively, that vested in 2024:

​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | McReynolds
​ | ​ | Vested in 2024
2020 RSU Award |  | 3,525
2021 RSU Award |  | 1,267
2022 RSU Award (second tranche of three-year ratable vesting) |  | 5,233
2023 RSU Award (first tranche of three-year ratable vesting) |  | 4,733
Total vesting in 2024 |  | 14,758

(3) | Value realized on RSU vesting is equal to the closing market price of the Common Stock on the date of vesting multiplied by the number of shares that vest on that date.

​

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ArcBest / 2025 PROXY STATEMENT 59

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2024 Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2024, with respect to the Company’s compensation plans under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance:

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | ​ | ​ | ​ |  | Number of Securities
​ | ​ | ​ |  | ​ | ​ | Remaining Available for
​ | ​ | Number of Securities to | ​ | Weighted-Average | ​ | Future Issuance Under
​ | ​ | be Issued Upon Exercise | ​ | Exercise Price of | ​ | Equity Compensation
​ | ​ | of Outstanding Options, | ​ | Outstanding Options, | ​ | Plans (Excluding
​ | ​ | Warrants and | ​ | Warrants and | ​ | Securities Reflected in
​ | ​ | Rights | ​ | Rights | ​ | Column (a))
Plan Category | ​ | (a) | ​ | (b) | ​ | (c)
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders |  | 242,462 | (1)​ | — |  | 1,515,256
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved By Security Holders |  | — |  | — |  | —
Total |  | 242,462 |  | — |  | 1,515,256

(1) | This amount reflects outstanding RSU awards under the Ownership Incentive Plan, which provides for the award of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock, RSUs and performance award units. The Ownership Incentive Plan does not permit reload options. Pursuant to the Second Amendment to the Ownership Incentive Plan, approved by the Company’s stockholders on April 29, 2021, the aggregate number of shares that have been reserved for issuance pursuant to awards under the Ownership Incentive Plan is 4,874,500. No options have been granted under the Ownership Incentive Plan. The Compensation Committee administers the Ownership Incentive Plan.

​

2024 Pension Benefits

The following table illustrates the present value of the accumulated benefit as of December 31, 2024, under the SBP and DSA for the Named Executive Officers.

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | ​ |  | Number of Years |  | Present Value of |  | Payments During
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Credited Service | ​ | Accumulated Benefit | ​ | Last Fiscal Year
Name | ​ | Plan Name | ​ | (#) | ​ | ($)(3) | ​ | ($)
Judy R. McReynolds(1) |  | Supplemental Benefit Plan (SBP) |  | 10.7 | ​ | $ | 424,470 |  | —
​ |  | Deferred Salary Agreement (DSA) |  | 10.7 | ​ |  | 177,235 |  | —
Seth K. Runser(2) |  | ​ | ​ | — |  | ​ | — |  | —
J. Matthew Beasley(2) |  | ​ | ​ | — |  | ​ | — |  | —
Dennis L. Anderson II(2) |  | ​ | ​ | — |  | ​ | — |  | —
Michael E. Newcity(2) |  | ​ | ​ | — |  | ​ | — |  | —

(1) | Ms. McReynolds elected to cease participation in the SBP and DSA, and the benefits were frozen effective January 31, 2008. Number of Years of Credited Service for the SBP and DSA was frozen based on her service as of the January 31, 2008 freeze date.

(2) | Messrs. Runser, Beasley, Anderson and Newcity were promoted to eligible roles after the SBP and DSA were closed to new entrants and therefore are not eligible to participate in the SBP or DSA.

(3) | The actuarial present value of the accumulated benefits disclosed above is determined using the same assumptions as used by the Company for financial reporting purposes except the payment date is assumed to be age 60 for the SBP rather than age 65. The frozen DSA benefit was calculated under the plan provisions with a reduction for early retirement as of the date the benefit was frozen, with the DSA benefit equal to 35% of the participant’s monthly base salary in effect as of the date the benefit was frozen. The benefit is paid monthly for 120 months. An interest rate of 6% was used to calculate the present value of the frozen benefit as of January 31, 2008. Benefit payments commence in the month following termination, except to the extent a portion of the benefit must be delayed for six months as required by Section 409A of the IRC. DSA benefits are paid from the general assets of the Company. The earliest date a benefit can be paid with no benefit reduction under the SBP is age 60. The payment date is assumed to be age 65 for the DSA, which is the earliest date a benefit can be paid with no benefit reduction.

​

ArcBest / 2025 PROXY STATEMENT 60

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Supplemental Benefit Plan (frozen)

The SBP supplements benefits under the Company’s legacy non-contractual defined benefit pension plan (“Pension Plan”), which was terminated effective December 31, 2017, and fully liquidated as of December 31, 2019. The SBP was designed to replace benefit reductions (i) from various IRC limits and (ii) from reductions in the rate of benefit accruals from the Company’s 1985 pension formula. The SBP takes into account all eligible earnings under the Pension Plan without regard to IRC limitations. Participation in the SBP was generally limited to officers of the Company or ABF Freight, including Ms. McReynolds. No new participants were permitted in the SBP after December 2005, and caps have been placed on the maximum benefits payable. Benefit accruals in the SBP were frozen for all remaining participants effective December 31, 2009.

Benefits under the SBP were calculated as an annuity and then converted to a lump sum. The Pension Plan benefit was then subtracted from the resulting lump sum to determine the SBP benefit.

The annuity formula for the ArcBest Supplemental Benefit Plan is:

1.0% x $400 x years of service + 2.0% x (FAP–$400) x years of service

Early retirement eligible participants (age 55 with 10 years of service) are subject to a benefit reduction of 6% per year for each year he or she retires prior to age 60.

Upon termination of employment, benefits are paid in a lump sum as soon as administratively feasible. Certain benefits must be delayed for six months for key employees as required by Section 409A of the IRC. Benefits are paid from the general assets of the Company.

Deferred Salary Agreements (frozen)

The Company has unfunded, noncontributory DSAs with certain of their officers, including Ms. McReynolds. No DSA has been entered into since December 2005, and the Company does not intend to enter into these agreements in the future. For the existing DSAs, upon normal retirement (age 65), death or disability as defined in “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control,” the DSA benefit is equal to 35% of the participant’s final monthly base salary paid monthly for 120 months. Upon termination of employment prior to age 65, the monthly benefit is equal to the participant’s years of service (with a maximum of 25 years) times 3% times 35% of the participant’s final monthly base salary. Benefit payments commence in the month following termination, except to the extent a portion of the benefit must be delayed for six months for key employees as required by Section 409A of the IRC. DSA benefits are paid from the general assets of the Company.

The DSAs provide that in the event of a change in control of the Company, as defined in “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control,” followed by the officer’s termination within 36 months for pre-2005 deferred salary accruals or within 24 months for post-2004 deferred salary accruals, all benefits become 100% vested. The DSA benefit will be paid as a lump sum within fifteen days, with the 120 monthly installments discounted at 6.22% as provided in the DSA, except where payment must be delayed for six months for key employees as required by Section 409A of the IRC. DSA benefits will be reduced to the extent required to avoid being classified as excess parachute payments under Section 280G of the IRC. Other than during a 36-month period following a change in control of the Company for benefits accrued and vested prior to 2005 or during a 24-month period following a change in control of the Company for benefits accrued and vested after 2004, any unpaid DSA benefit is subject to forfeiture if the participant is discharged for wrongful conduct injurious to the Company, or if, following the date of termination, the participant discloses confidential information relating to the Company to unauthorized persons or becomes employed or renders services to a competitor of the Company.

​

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2024 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

The following table shows the Named Executive Officers’ deferred compensation activity during 2024 with respect to outstanding vested RSUs. The vesting and settlement terms applicable to RSUs are described previously in “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Components of Compensation — Long-Term Incentive Compensation,” and footnote (4) to the “2024 Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table.

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | Executive |  | Registrant |  | Aggregate |  | ​ | ​ |  | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | Contributions | ​ | Contributions | ​ | Earnings in | ​ | Aggregate | ​ | Aggregate
​ | ​ | in Last | ​ | in Last | ​ | Last Fiscal | ​ | Withdrawals/ | ​ | Balance at Last
​ | ​ | Fiscal Year | ​ | Fiscal Year | ​ | Year | ​ | Distributions | ​ | Fiscal Year End
Name | ​ | ($) | ​ | ($) | ​ | ($) | ​ | ($)(1) | ​ | ($)(2)
Judy R. McReynolds | ​ | $ | — | ​ | $ | — | ​ | $ | — | ​ | $ | 562,581 | ​ | $ | —
Seth K. Runser | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | —
J. Matthew Beasley | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | —
Dennis L. Anderson II | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | —
Michael E. Newcity | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | —

(1) | The value in the Aggregate Withdrawals/Distributions column represents the value of the 2020 and 2021 RSU awards that fully vested and were settled on May 12, 2024 and May 11, 2024, respectively. The values for the 2020 and 2021 RSU awards are based on the closing market price of Common Stock of $117.40 on the last trading day prior to the settlement dates, and includes 4,792 RSUs for Ms. McReynolds.

(2) | There is no value to report for 2024 because there are no vested but unsettled RSU awards for our Named Executive Officers.

​

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Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

The Company does not have any employment contracts or severance arrangements with any Named Executive Officer that provide for payments in connection with a termination of employment or a change in control, other than the applicable termination provisions contained within the various arrangements discussed elsewhere in this Proxy Statement.

The termination and change in control provisions existing as of December 31, 2024, are described below and quantified in the table on page 66. All payments are assumed to be made in accordance with the six-month delay for key employees as required by Section 409A of the IRC, where applicable.

Potential Payments upon Termination

When a Named Executive Officer’s employment with the Company terminates, the officer is entitled to receive compensation and other benefits earned during the term of his or her employment (subject to the clawback policy), including the following:

■ | Accrued vacation;

■ | DSA benefit earned as of the DSA freeze date, paid monthly over 120 months (see the “2024 Pension Benefits” table for present value as of December 31, 2024, and more information regarding DSAs); and

■ | SBP benefit earned as of the SBP freeze date, distributed as a lump sum (see “2024 Pension Benefits” table for values).

Except in the case of retirement, death or disability, as further described below, when a Named Executive Officer’s employment with the Company terminates, the officer forfeits (i) any unvested RSUs granted under the Ownership Incentive Plan, and (ii) any awards under the annual incentive plan (“AIP”) and cash long-term incentive compensation plan (“C-LTIP”), both of which provide that participants generally must be employed on the payment date in order to receive payment of any earned awards (unless the Committee, in its discretion, decides that a prorated award should be paid, which would be computed as determined by the Committee).

Potential Payments upon Retirement, Death or Disability

In the event of a Named Executive Officer’s termination due to his or her retirement, death or disability (each as defined in the Company’s compensation plans), the officer will be entitled to the following, in addition to the items identified above in “Potential Payments upon Termination.”

■ | Full vesting and settlement of all RSUs, provided that, in the case of retirement, termination occurs on or after age 65;

■ | For eligible officers, executive medical coverage, with the retired officer (or his or her eligible dependents) responsible for paying a monthly premium amount equal to the then-current COBRA rate until age 60. All retirees are responsible for paying a premium equivalent to $250 per individual covered, up to a maximum of $500, from age 60 to 65, and a reduced monthly premium after age 65; and

■ | A pro rata benefit under the C-LTIP and the AIP based on actual performance results for the full performance period, provided that, in the case of retirement, he or she has completed a minimum of (a) 12 months of the measurement period under the C-LTIP, and (b) 90 days of the measurement period under the AIP, respectively. Any pro rata payment earned will not be paid until the end of the measurement period for the plan.

Potential Payments upon Termination After a Change in Control

Subject to the terms of the Change in Control Plan, in the event of a change in control of the Company, if termination of a Named Executive Officer occurs within 24 months of the change in control for “good reason” or without “cause” (as such terms are defined in the Change in Control Plan), the Named Executive Officer will be entitled to the following, in addition to the items identified above in “Potential Payments upon Termination”:

■ | RSUs become fully vested as of the termination date and will be distributed as soon as administratively possible;

■ | For AIP awards that have not yet reached the end of the measurement period, a prorated benefit under the AIP based on the number of whole months completed during the applicable measurement period through the termination date;

■ | For C-LTIP awards that have not yet reached the end of the measurement period, a prorated benefit under the plan based on the number of whole months completed during the applicable measurement period through the termination date; amounts payable pursuant to such awards are computed and paid in the normal course of business and pursuant to the terms of the applicable plan after the end of the measurement period;

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■ | Under the DSA, if termination of the Named Executive Officer occurs within 36 months of the change in control for benefits accrued and vested prior to 2005 and within 24 months of the change in control for benefits accrued and vested after 2004, the officer becomes 100% vested in the DSA benefit and the benefit is distributed as a lump sum;

■ | A lump sum cash payment equal to 24 months of the then-current COBRA rate to elect continuation of coverage under the medical and dental plans of the Company for the coverage in effect for the officer immediately prior to the date of termination (“Medical Premiums”); and

■ | A lump sum cash payment equal to either (A) with respect to Ms. McReynolds, two times her base salary in effect on the date of termination plus two times her average annual cash incentive earned during the three years prior to the year in which the date of termination occurs, or (B) for the other Named Executive Officers, one times the executive’s base salary in effect on the date of termination plus one times his average annual cash incentive earned during the three years prior to the year in which the date of termination occurs (“Cash Severance”).

“Change in Control” under the Change in Control Plan is generally defined as the earliest date on which any of the following events shall occur:

(i) | The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 35% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions will not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (D) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that constitutes a Merger of Equals as defined in subsection (iii) below.

(ii) | In any 12-month period, the individuals who, as of the beginning of the 12-month period, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the effective date of the applicable agreement whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board will be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board of Directors.

(iii) | Consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless such Business Combination constitutes a Merger of Equals. A Business Combination will constitute a “Merger of Equals” if, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) (the “Resulting Corporation”) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding the Resulting Corporation and its affiliates or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Resulting Corporation and its affiliates) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 35% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Resulting Corporation or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Resulting Corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed with respect to the Company prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Resulting Corporation (the “Resulting Board”) were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board of Directors, providing for such Business Combination.

(iv) | The sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person, other than a transfer to (A) any corporation or other Person of which a majority of its voting power or its voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or (B) any corporation pursuant to a transaction that constitutes a Merger of Equals as defined in subsection (iii) above.

(v) | A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

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“Good Reason” under the Change in Control Plan is generally defined as (i) any material and adverse diminution in the Named Executive Officer’s title, duties or responsibilities; (ii) a reduction in the Named Executive Officer’s base salary or employee benefits (including reducing the Named Executive Officer’s level of participation or target bonus award opportunity in the Company’s incentive compensation plans); or (iii) a relocation of the Named Executive Officer’s principal place of employment by more than 50 miles without the prior consent of the Named Executive Officer.

“Cause” under the Change in Control Plan is generally defined as the Named Executive Officer’s (i) gross misconduct or fraud in the performance of a Named Executive Officer’s duties to the Company or any subsidiary; (ii) conviction or guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere with respect to any felony or act of moral turpitude; (iii) engaging in any material act of theft or material misappropriation of Company property; or (iv) breach of the Company’s Code of Conduct as such code may be revised from time to time.

The Change in Control Plan provides that, unless outstanding equity awards are substituted, assumed, or continued by the successor to the Company with awards that have an equivalent (or greater) intrinsic value compared to the outstanding awards, such awards will become fully vested, settled and paid upon the occurrence of a change in control (with any outstanding performance-based awards being vested, settled and paid at a partial or full level based on the actual attainment of performance goals or, if not determinable, on a pro rata basis based on the assumed attainment of the target performance goals). If the equity awards are assumed or replaced by the successor company and the Named Executive Officer is terminated within 24 months of the change in control, he or she shall become vested as of the termination date in any unvested equity awards.

If amounts payable to a Named Executive Officer under the Change in Control Plan (or pursuant to any other arrangement or agreement with the Company) exceed the amount allowed under section 280G of the IRC and would be subject to the excise tax imposed by section 4999 of the IRC, then, prior to the making of any payments to a Named Executive Officer, the Change in Control Plan provides that a best-net calculation will be made comparing (i) the before income tax net benefit to the Named Executive Officer of the payments after payment of the excise tax to (ii) the before income tax net benefit to the Named Executive Officer if the payments are reduced to the extent necessary to avoid being subject to the excise tax (the “Best Net Calculation”). If the amount calculated under (i) is less than the amount calculated under (ii) in the preceding sentence, then the payments will be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid being subject to the excise tax.

Restrictive Covenants

Under the DSA, no unpaid benefit will be paid if the Named Executive Officer is discharged for wrongful conduct injurious to the Company, if the Named Executive Officer discloses confidential information relating to the Company or if the Named Executive Officer becomes employed by or renders service to any competitor of the Company. Under the Ownership Incentive Plan, if the Compensation Committee determines that the recipient has committed an “Act of Misconduct” (which, as defined therein, includes solicitation of employees, unauthorized disclosure of confidential information and inducing a customer to cease business with the Company), the Committee may suspend the recipient’s rights to exercise, vest or receive any awards outstanding and may provide that the recipient will forfeit any vested but unsettled awards. The Executive Medical Policy provides that coverage will be forfeited if the Named Executive Officer becomes an employee, consultant or director of, or has an ownership interest in, any competitor of the Company. Under the Change in Control Plan, the Named Executive Officer is prohibited from solicitation of customers, clients and employees of the Company for a 12-month period following the termination and will not, without prior written consent from the Company, communicate or divulge any confidential information, knowledge or data to anyone at any time or the Committee may reduce or offset the benefits under the plan.

Quantification of Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

The following table reflects compensation potentially payable to each Named Executive Officer under various employment termination and other scenarios based on the arrangements existing as of December 31, 2024. The amounts shown in the following table assume that a change in control occurred and/or each Named Executive Officer terminated employment with the Company effective December 31, 2024, and estimate the value that could be realized by each Named Executive Officer as a result of each specified triggering event; however, the amounts shown below do not take into account any Best Net Calculation and resulting reduction that may occur pursuant to the provisions of the Change in Control Plan. Ms. McReynolds is eligible for retirement, except under the terms of the RSU awards. Mr. Newcity retired from the Company effective December 31, 2024. The table below reflects the amounts paid to Mr. Newcity in connection with his retirement. None of the other Named Executive Officers are eligible for retirement; therefore, no data is shown for that scenario.

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See “2024 Pension Benefits” for benefits payable under the SBP and DSA. Benefits payable with respect to previously vested outstanding RSUs are quantified in the “2024 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation” table.

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | ​ |  | ​ | ​ |  | ​ | ​ |  | ​ | ​ |  | ​ | ​ |  | Termination Without
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Cause or Resignation
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | for Good Reason
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | General | ​ | Early | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | After Change in
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Termination | ​ | Retirement | ​ | Death | ​ | Disability | ​ | Control
Name | ​ | Benefit | ​ | ($) | ​ | ($) | ​ | ($) | ​ | ($) | ​ | ($)
Judy R. McReynolds |  | RSUs | (1)​ | ​ | N/A |  | ​ | — | ​ | ​ | 2,169,783 | ​ | ​ | 2,169,783 |  | ​ | 2,169,783
​ |  | Executive Medical | (2)​ | ​ | N/A |  | ​ | 423,805 | ​ | ​ | 234,694 | ​ | ​ | 423,805 |  | ​ | —
​ |  | Accrued Vacation | (3)​ | ​ | N/A |  | ​ | 88,454 | ​ | ​ | 88,454 | ​ | ​ | 88,454 |  | ​ | 88,454
​ |  | DSA | (4)​ | ​ | N/A |  | ​ | — | ​ | ​ | — | ​ | ​ | — |  | ​ | 442,576
​ |  | C-LTIP | (5)​ | ​ | N/A |  | ​ | 3,796,200 | ​ | ​ | 3,796,200 | ​ | ​ | 3,796,200 |  | ​ | 3,353,624
​ |  | Annual Incentive Plan | (6)​ | ​ | N/A |  | ​ | 341,803 | ​ | ​ | 341,803 | ​ | ​ | 341,803 |  | ​ | 341,803
​ |  | Cash Severance | (7)​ | ​ | N/A |  | ​ | — | ​ | ​ | — | ​ | ​ | — |  | ​ | 4,570,552
​ |  | Medical Premiums | (8)​ | ​ | N/A |  | ​ | — | ​ | ​ | — | ​ | ​ | — |  | ​ | 37,344
​ |  | Total | (9)​ | ​ | N/A | ​ | $ | 4,650,262 | ​ | $ | 6,630,934 | ​ | $ | 6,820,045 | ​ | $ | 11,004,136
Seth K. Runser |  | RSUs | (1)​ |  | — | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | 574,758 | ​ |  | 574,758 | ​ |  | 574,758
​ |  | Executive Medical | (2)​ |  | — | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | 268,637 | ​ |  | 508,720 | ​ |  | —
​ |  | Accrued Vacation | (3)​ |  | 54,867 | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | 54,867 | ​ |  | 54,867 | ​ |  | 54,867
​ |  | C-LTIP | (5)​ |  | 560,300 | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | 989,798 | ​ |  | 989,798 | ​ |  | 989,798
​ |  | Annual Incentive Plan | (6)​ |  | 135,988 | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | 135,988 | ​ |  | 135,988 | ​ |  | 135,988
​ |  | Cash Severance | (7)​ |  | — | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 1,068,949
​ |  | Medical Premiums | (8)​ |  | — | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 50,304
​ |  | Total | (9)​ | $ | 751,155 | ​ |  | N/A | ​ | $ | 2,024,048 | ​ | $ | 2,264,131 | ​ | $ | 2,874,664
J. Matthew Beasley |  | RSUs | (1)​ | ​ | — | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | 437,111 | ​ |  | 437,111 | ​ |  | 437,111
​ |  | Executive Medical | (2)​ | ​ | N/A | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A
​ |  | Accrued Vacation | (3)​ | ​ | 26,536 | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | 26,536 | ​ |  | 26,536 | ​ |  | 26,536
​ |  | C-LTIP | (5)​ | ​ | 150,850 | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | 308,026 | ​ |  | 308,026 | ​ |  | 308,026
​ |  | Annual Incentive Plan | (6)​ | ​ | 100,987 | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | 100,987 | ​ |  | 100,987 | ​ |  | 100,987
​ |  | Cash Severance | (7)​ | ​ | — | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 719,171
​ |  | Medical Premiums | (8)​ | ​ | — | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 21,096
​ |  | Total | (9)​ | $ | 278,373 | ​ |  | N/A | ​ | $ | 872,660 | ​ | $ | 872,660 | ​ | $ | 1,612,927
Dennis L. Anderson II |  | RSUs | (1)​ |  | — | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | 441,030 | ​ |  | 441,030 | ​ |  | 441,030
​ |  | Executive Medical | (2)​ |  | — | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | 276,527 | ​ |  | 518,987 | ​ |  | —
​ |  | Accrued Vacation | (3)​ |  | 41,059 | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | 41,059 | ​ |  | 41,059 | ​ |  | 41,059
​ |  | C-LTIP | (5)​ |  | 474,100 | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | 825,876 | ​ |  | 825,876 | ​ |  | 825,876
​ |  | Annual Incentive Plan | (6)​ |  | 86,542 | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | 86,542 | ​ |  | 86,542 | ​ |  | 86,542
​ |  | Cash Severance | (7)​ |  | — | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 834,998
​ |  | Medical Premiums | (8)​ |  | — | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | 50,304
​ |  | Total | (9)​ | $ | 601,701 | ​ |  | N/A | ​ | $ | 1,671,034 | ​ | $ | 1,913,494 | ​ | $ | 2,279,809
Michael E. Newcity(10) |  | RSUs | (1)​ | ​ | N/A | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A
​ |  | Executive Medical | (2)​ | ​ | N/A | ​ |  | 457,201 | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A
​ |  | Accrued Vacation | (3)​ | ​ | N/A | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A
​ |  | C-LTIP | (5)​ | ​ | N/A | ​ |  | 819,979 | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A
​ |  | Annual Incentive Plan | (6)​ | ​ | N/A | ​ |  | 96,950 | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A
​ |  | Cash Severance | (7)​ | ​ | N/A | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A
​ |  | Medical Premiums | (8)​ | ​ | N/A | ​ |  | — | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A | ​ |  | N/A
​ |  | Total | (9)​ | ​ | N/A | ​ | $ | 1,374,130 | ​ | ​ | N/A | ​ | ​ | N/A | ​ | ​ | N/A

​

(1) | The RSU value is calculated using a per-share price of $93.32, which is the closing market price of the Common Stock on December 31, 2024, multiplied by the number of the Named Executive Officer’s RSUs vesting as a result of the applicable triggering event. Benefits payable with respect to previously vested outstanding RSUs are quantified in the “2024 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation” table.

(2) | The executive medical value is based on the accumulated benefit obligation for the Named Executive Officer as of December 31, 2024, using the same assumptions as used by the Company for financial reporting purposes for the applicable triggering events. The values shown for executive medical coverage in the event of the Named Executive Officer’s death reflect the value of health coverage for the Named Executive Officer’s surviving spouse. Mr. Beasley is not eligible for Executive Medical benefits because the plan was closed to new participants in 2017, before Mr. Beasley joined the Company.

(3) | The accrued vacation value is based on the Named Executive Officer’s actual earned weeks of vacation and base salary rate as of December 31, 2024. Mr. Newcity had no remaining vacation balance at the time of his retirement and, therefore, did not receive a payout of accrued vacation.

(4) | The DSA value is equal to the accelerated benefit value as a result of the applicable triggering event. This value is based on the difference in the present value of the 120 monthly payments assuming the applicable triggering event occurred on December 31,

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2024, less the present value of the actual DSA benefit accrued as of December 31, 2024. An interest rate of 6.22% was used to value the lump-sum payment upon a change in control as provided under the terms of the DSA. See “2024 Pension Benefits” for the present value of currently vested DSA benefits.

(5) | The C-LTIP value is the sum of the full amount paid under the 2022-2024 cash long-term incentive compensation plan since all such amounts were earned as of December 31, 2024, plus the pro rata benefit accrued under the 2023-2025 and 2024-2026 cash long-term incentive compensation plans, calculated based on performance as of December 31, 2024. Amounts shown in the “General Termination” column represent amounts fully earned but unpaid as of December 31, 2024. For C-LTIP participants with a frozen DSA, the C-LTIP change in control value is equal to the C-LTIP change in control value in excess of the DSA change in control value, if any. Ms. McReynolds is the only Named Executive Officer with a frozen DSA.

(6) | The AIP is equal to the annual incentive amount paid to each Named Executive Officer for 2024 since all such amounts were earned as of December 31, 2024 (reported in the “Summary Compensation Table”).

(7) | The cash severance payment value is a lump sum cash payment equal to (A) with respect to Ms. McReynolds, two times her base salary in effect on the date of termination plus two times her average annual cash incentive earned during the three years prior to the year in which the date of termination occurs, or (B) for the remaining Named Executive Officers, one times the executive’s base salary in effect on the date of termination plus one times his average annual cash incentive earned during the three years prior to the year in which the date of termination occurs, as provided under the terms of the Change in Control Plan. See “Potential Payments upon Termination after a Change in Control” for additional information.

(8) | The medical premium is a lump sum payment equal to 24 months of the COBRA premium in effect as of December 31, 2024, to elect continuation of coverage under the medical and dental plans of the Company for the coverage in effect for the officer and his or her eligible dependents immediately prior to the date of termination. See “Potential Payments upon Termination after a Change in Control” for additional information.

(9) | Totals represent aggregate amounts reflected in the table payable upon each termination or change in control event as indicated above. These totals do not include benefits that are currently vested and payable under the DSA or SBP (each reported in “2024 Pension Benefits”), except to the extent a change in control or other triggering event creates an additional benefit above what was reported in either table.

(10) | Mr. Newcity retired from the Company effective December 31, 2024. He was eligible for retirement, except under the terms of the RSU awards, and the amounts reported in the “Early Retirement” column reflect the amounts paid to Mr. Newcity in connection with his retirement. His unvested RSUs were forfeited in accordance with the terms of the RSU awards.

CEO Pay Ratio

As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the ratio of the annual total compensation of our median employee to the annual total compensation of Ms. McReynolds, our CEO. That ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with SEC rules and the methodology described below.

For 2024, our last completed fiscal year:

■ | The total annual compensation of our median employee was $77,386.

■ | The total annual compensation of Ms. McReynolds, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table in this Proxy Statement, was $4,495,698.

■ | Based on this information, for 2024 the ratio of the total annual compensation of Ms. McReynolds to the median employee total annual compensation was 58.1 to 1.

Per SEC rules, the Company is permitted to use the same median employee for up to three years, unless there has been a change in the Company’s employee population or compensation arrangements that the Company reasonably believes would result in a significant change in the disclosure. Because there were no material changes to our employee population or compensation programs that we believe would significantly impact the pay ratio disclosure, we used the same median employee as used for 2022 and 2023. We calculated 2024 compensation for the median employee using the same methodology used to calculate Ms. McReynolds’ total annual compensation as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table in this Proxy Statement. With respect to the total annual compensation of Ms. McReynolds, we used the amount reported in the “Total” column for 2024 of the Summary Compensation Table of this Proxy Statement.

For a description of the methodology used to identify our median employee for fiscal year 2022, please refer to the CEO Pay Ratio section within our 2023 Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on March 17, 2023.

SEC rules for identifying the median employee and calculating the pay ratio allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions that reflect their employee populations and compensation practices. As a result, the pay ratio reported above may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported by other companies, as other companies may have utilized different methodologies and have different employment and compensation practices.

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PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE

The following table sets forth the pay versus performance disclosures required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K for the years indicated. Ms. McReynolds served as Principal Executive Officer (“PEO”) in each year. The names of the non-PEO Named Executive Officers (the “Non-PEO NEOs”) included for purposes of calculating the average amounts in each covered year are as follows: (i) for 2024, Seth K. Runser, J. Matthew Beasley, Dennis L Anderson II and Michael E. Newcity; (ii) for 2023, J. Matthew Beasley, Seth K. Runser, Dennis L. Anderson II, Michael E. Newcity and David R. Cobb; (iii) for 2022, David R. Cobb, Michael E. Newcity, Seth K. Runser, Daniel E. Loe and Dennis L. Anderson II; (iv) for 2021, David R. Cobb, Michael E. Newcity, James A. Ingram and Dennis L. Anderson II; and (v) for 2020, Timothy D. Thorne, David R. Cobb, Michael E. Newcity and James A. Ingram.

The dollar amounts for Compensation Actually Paid (“CAP”) do not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned by or paid to the Named Executive Officers during the covered year. Please refer to the Compensation Discussion & Analysis section in this Proxy Statement and in our previous proxy statements for information about how the Compensation Committee has assessed the Company’s performance and Named Executive Officer compensation in a given year.

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​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Return on Capital |
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Value of Initial Fixed $100 | ​ | ​ | ​ | Employed (Adjusted |
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Average | ​ | Average | ​ | Investment Based On: | ​ | ​ | ​ | ROCE) |
​ | ​ | Summary | ​ | ​ | ​ | Summary | ​ | Compensation | ​ | ​ | ​ | Peer Group | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ |
​ | ​ | Compensation | ​ | Compensation | ​ | Compensation | ​ | Actually Paid | ​ | Total |  | Total | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ |
​ | ​ | Table Total | ​ | Actually Paid | ​ | Table Total for | ​ | to Non-PEO | ​ | Shareholder | ​ | Shareholder | ​ | Net Income | ​ | ​ | ​ | Average |
​ | ​ | for PEO | ​ | to PEO(1) | ​ | Non-PEO NEOs | ​ | NEOs(1) | ​ | Return(2) | ​ | Return(3) | ​ | (millions)(4) | ​ | 1 Year(5) | ​ | 3 Year(5) |
Year (a) | ​ | (b) | ​ | (c) |  | (d) |  | (e) | ​ | (f) | ​ | (g) | ​ | (h) | ​ | (i) | ​ | (j) | ​
2024 |  | 4,495,698 |  | 3,710,611 |  | 1,232,110 |  | 944,432 |  | 348.68 |  | 226.81 |  | 173.96 |  | 12.4 | % | 23.5 | %
2023 |  | 6,315,108 |  | 10,548,681 |  | 1,737,578 |  | 2,508,269 |  | 447.38 |  | 234.79 |  | 195.43 |  | 20.1 | % | 28.6 | %
2022 |  | 6,430,893 |  | 384,908 |  | 2,097,211 |  | 342,776 |  | 259.47 |  | 172.36 |  | 298.21 |  | 39.9 | % | 26.7 | %
2021 |  | 6,006,289 |  | 16,582,019 |  | 2,131,000 |  | 5,779,949 |  | 441.63 |  | 209.49 |  | 213.52 |  | 34.8 | % | 19.4 | %
2020 |  | 4,174,608 |  | 6,594,027 |  | 1,648,558 |  | 2,599,276 |  | 156.55 |  | 133.23 |  | 71.10 |  | 15.4 | % | 11.7 | %

(1) | Reflects the CAP for the PEO and the average CAP for the Non-PEO NEOs for the covered years, as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The following adjustments were made to the Summary Compensation Table total compensation to determine the CAP:

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​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | ​ |  | ​ |  | ​ |  | Reported Change in the |  | ​ |  | ​
​ | ​ | Reported Summary | ​ | Reported Value of | ​ | Equity Award | ​ | Actuarial Present Value of | ​ | Pension Benefit | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | Compensation Table Total(i) | ​ | Equity Awards(ii) | ​ | Adjustments(iii) | ​ | Pension Benefits(iv) | ​ | Adjustments(v) | ​ | Compensation Actually Paid
Year | ​ | A | ​ | B | ​ | C | ​ | D | ​ | E | ​ | A-B+C-D+E
Company’s PEO |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2024 |  | 4,495,698 |  | 989,748 |  | 214,693 |  | 10,032 |  | — |  | 3,710,611
Average of Non-PEO NEOs |  | ​ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2024 |  | 1,232,110 |  | 224,285 |  | (63,393) |  | — |  | — |  | 944,432

| (i) | Reflects the amounts (or the average amounts for the Non-PEO NEOs) reported in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table for the covered year.

| (ii) | Reflects the grant date fair value of equity awards granted to the PEO (or the average amounts with regard to the Non-PEO NEOs) as reported in the “Stock Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table for the covered year.

| (iii) | The equity award adjustments for the covered year include the addition (or subtraction, as applicable) as set forth in the table below. The fair values of equity awards were calculated using closing stock price as of the applicable valuation dates and are not adjusted for present value of dividends (which are not payable with respect to RSUs granted to Named Executive Officers).

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​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ |  | ​ |  | Year over Year Change in Fair |  | ​ |  | ​ |  | ​
​ | ​ | Year End Fair Value of | ​ | Value of Outstanding and | ​ | Year over Year Change in Fair Value of | ​ | Fair value of | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | Equity Awards Granted | ​ | Unvested | ​ | Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years | ​ | forfeited awards at | ​ | Total Equity Award
Year | ​ | During the Fiscal Year | ​ | Equity Awards | ​ | that Vested in the Year | ​ | end of prior year | ​ | Adjustments
Company’s PEO | ​ | ​ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2024 |  | 797,886 |  | (395,310) |  | (187,883) |  | — |  | 214,693
Average of Non-PEO NEOs | ​ | ​ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2024 |  | 137,647 |  | (65,000) |  | (39,842) |  | 96,198 |  | (63,393)

​

| (iv) | Reflects the amounts reported in the “Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” column of the Summary Compensation Table for the covered years.

| (v) | These amounts reflect the actuarially determined service cost for services rendered during the applicable year. The Company’s legacy non-contractual defined benefit pension plan was terminated effective December 31, 2017, and fully liquidated as of December 31, 2019. Therefore, no services costs were incurred in any of the covered years.

(2) | Total Shareholder Return (TSR) is calculated assuming $100 was invested on December 31, 2019, with reinvestment of dividends. All calculations have been prepared by Zacks Investment Research, Inc.

(3) | The 2024 peer group includes the following companies: Covenant Logistics Group, Inc., Forward Air Corporation, Hub Group, Inc., J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc., Landstar System, Inc., Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., RXO, Inc., Saia, Inc., Schneider National, Inc., TFI International Inc., Werner Enterprises, Inc., and XPO, Inc. Our 2024 peer group is identical to our 2023 peer group, except that RXO, Inc. and XPO, Inc. were not included in the 2023 peer group. The following table sets forth the TSR for the 2023 peer group for each of the five years reported:

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​ | ​ | ​
Year |  | 2023 Peer Group Total Shareholder Return
2024 |  | 216.56
2023 |  | 235.83
2022 |  | 180.19
2021 | ​ | 216.63
2020 |  | 130.88

​

(4) | Net income as reported in the Company’s audited financial statements for each covered year, which includes, for the applicable years, income from discontinued operations.

(5) | Reflects the one-year and three-year average Adjusted ROCE of the Company as approved by the Compensation Committee for purposes of the Company’s annual cash incentive compensation plan and long-term cash incentive compensation plan for each covered year. The Company has determined that one-year Adjusted ROCE as used in its annual cash incentive compensation plan is the financial performance measure that, in the Company’s assessment, represents the most important performance measure (that is not otherwise required to be disclosed in the table) used by the Company to link CAP to the Named Executive Officers, for the most recently completed fiscal year, to Company performance. Because the Company uses three-year average Adjusted ROCE in its long-term cash incentive program as discussed in greater detail in “Compensation Discussion & Analysis — Components of Compensation — Long-Term Incentive Compensation,” the Company is providing, on a supplemental basis, its three-year average Adjusted ROCE for each covered year. For more information, see the section below titled “Financial Performance Measures.”

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Financial Performance Measures

As described in greater detail in “Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion & Analysis,” the Company’s executive compensation program reflects a variable pay-for-performance philosophy. The financial performance measures set forth in the table below (in unranked order), in the Company’s assessment, represent the most important financial performance measures used by the Company to link CAP to the Company’s named executive officers, for the most recently completed fiscal year, to the Company’s performance. The measures are utilized in our annual incentive compensation plan (“AIP”) and our cash long-term incentive compensation plan (“C-LTIP”) and are designed with the objective of aligning the executives’ interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.

Performance Measure |  | Compensation Weighting |  | For More Information
Adjusted Operating Income |  | 60% of AIP |  | Page 45
Adjusted ROCE |  | 40% of AIP |  | Page 45
Average Adjusted ROCE for the three-year performance period |  | 60% of C-LTIP |  | Page 47
Relative TSR |  | 40% of C-LTIP |  | Page 48

​

The graphs and narratives on the following pages reflect the relationship between (i) the CAP for Ms. McReynolds and the average CAP for the Non-PEO NEOs, and (ii) each of the financial performance measures included within the Pay Versus Performance table on page 68.

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CAP vs. Company TSR and Peer Group TSR

The following graph compares the CAP to Ms. McReynolds and the average amount of CAP to the Non-PEO NEOs with the Company’s cumulative TSR and the peer group TSR over the five years presented. TSR is calculated assuming $100 was invested on December 31, 2019, with reinvestment of dividends. The Company’s cumulative TSR over the five-year period was $348.68, while the cumulative TSR of the peer group was $226.81 over the same period.

CAP VS. COMPANY TSR AND PEER GROUP TSR

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CAP vs. Net Income

The following graph compares the CAP to Ms. McReynolds and the average amount of CAP to the Non-PEO NEOs with our net income over the five years presented. While we do not use net income as a compensation performance metric in our executive compensation program, the measure of net income may correlate to Adjusted Operating Income, which we use in our AIP. Because a significant portion of CAP is comprised of equity awards, which have multi-year vesting periods, CAP is more heavily impacted by fluctuations in stock price year-over-year, as compared to net income.

CAP VS. NET INCOME

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CAP vs. Annual and Three-Year Average Adjusted ROCE

The following graph compares the CAP to Ms. McReynolds and the average amount of CAP to the Non-PEO NEOs with (i) our one-year Adjusted ROCE, calculated in accordance with our AIP, and (ii) on a supplemental basis, the average three-year Adjusted ROCE, calculated in accordance with our C-LTIP program, each over the five years presented. While the Company uses several financial performance measures to evaluate performance for purposes of its executive compensation program, the Company has determined that one-year Adjusted ROCE as used in the AIP is the financial performance measure that, in the Company’s assessment, represents the most important performance measure (that is not otherwise required to be disclosed in the table) used by the Company to link CAP to the Named Executive Officers, for the most recently completed fiscal year, to Company performance.

CAP VS. ANNUAL AND THREE-YEAR AVERAGE ADJUSTED ROCE

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PROPOSA L II.
ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Board recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal II.

In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act, the Company is providing its stockholders with the opportunity to cast a non-binding advisory vote on a resolution to approve the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers (the “Say on Pay Vote”). At the 2011, 2017 and 2023 Annual Meetings, stockholders voted in favor of the Board’s recommendation to hold a Say on Pay Vote on an annual basis, and since the 2011 Annual Meeting, the Company has held annual non-binding Say on Pay Votes. The next Say on Pay Vote will occur at the 2026 Annual Meeting.

The non-binding Say on Pay Vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of the Named Executive Officers and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this Proxy Statement. To that end, the Board has submitted the following resolution to be voted on by our stockholders at the 2025 Annual Meeting:

RESOLVED, that the stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement for ArcBest Corporation’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion & Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and narrative disclosure.

The Board recognizes that executive compensation is an important matter for our stockholders. As described in detail in the “Compensation Discussion & Analysis” section of this Proxy Statement, the Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing, implementing and monitoring adherence with our executive compensation policy.

As you consider this Proposal II, we encourage you to carefully review the “Compensation Discussion & Analysis” section and executive compensation tables of this Proxy Statement for a detailed discussion of our executive compensation program, including the more detailed information about our compensation philosophy and objectives and the past compensation of the Named Executive Officers.

As an advisory vote, Proposal II is not binding on the Board or the Compensation Committee, will not overrule any decisions made by the Board or the Compensation Committee, and will not require the Board or the Compensation Committee to take any action. Although the vote is non-binding, the Board and the Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and intend to consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for executive officers. In particular, to the extent there is any significant vote against the Named Executive Officers’ compensation as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, we will consider our stockholders’ concerns and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are appropriate in the future to address those concerns.

The Board recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the approval of the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.

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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee is comprised solely of Directors who meet the independence standards and financial literacy requirements defined by the SEC and Nasdaq, and we operate under a written charter approved by the Board. The Audit Committee’s composition, member attributes and responsibilities, as reflected in its charter, are intended to be in accordance with applicable requirements for corporate audit committees. Ms. Stipp is a Board-designated Audit Committee Financial Expert as defined under applicable SEC and Nasdaq rules.

As part of our responsibilities, the Audit Committee oversaw the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. Management has the primary responsibility for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Company’s financial statements and the reporting process, including the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling our oversight responsibilities related to the audited consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2024 Annual Report, we reviewed and discussed with management, among other things:

■ | the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for 2024 and recommended to the Board that they be included in the Company’s Annual Report;

■ | the representations of management that those consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

■ | the quality and acceptability of the accounting principles;

■ | the reasonableness of significant accounting judgments and critical accounting policies and estimates;

■ | the clarity of disclosures in the consolidated financial statements;

■ | the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s financial reporting procedures, including disclosure controls and procedures; and

■ | the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting, including the report of management’s assessment on the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting, which was performed by management using the 2013 framework set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

The Audit Committee is also responsible for the appointment, termination, compensation, evaluation and oversight of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, including review of the firm’s qualifications, performance and independence. The independent auditor is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting. The independent auditor is also responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the audited consolidated financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles.

Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) served as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. We reviewed and discussed with EY its judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles, reasonableness of significant accounting judgments, and critical accounting policies and estimates, and the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and the SEC. In addition, we received the written disclosures and the letter from EY as required by the PCAOB regarding EY’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and discussed with EY its independence from management and the Company. We considered the compatibility of non-audit services performed by EY and determined the non-audit services to be compatible with EY’s independence.

We discussed with the Company’s internal auditors and EY the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Audit Committee met with the internal auditors and EY, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting. Additionally, we reviewed the performance, responsibilities, and staffing of the Company’s internal auditors. We also oversaw compliance with the Company’s receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, auditing and other federal securities law matters, including confidential and anonymous submissions

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of these complaints. Furthermore, we met with members of management to discuss the results of the Company’s legal and ethical compliance programs.

The Audit Committee provided oversight of the Company’s risk management policies and processes, and we reviewed and discussed with members of senior management significant risks identified by management in various areas of the Company, including financial statements, systems and reporting, legal, compliance, ethics, information technology, data security, cybersecurity, and related party transactions.

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, and the receipt of unqualified opinions from EY dated March 3, 2025, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, and with respect to the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board (and the Board has approved) that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s 2024 Annual Report for filing with the SEC.

​ | Audit Committee | ​
​ | Janice E. Stipp, Chair | ​
​ | Dr. Craig E. Philip | ​
​ | Steven L. Spinner | ​

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PROPOSAL III.
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal III.

The Audit Committee has appointed Grant Thornton LLP (“Grant Thornton”) to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, and stockholders are being asked to ratify the selection of Grant Thornton at the Annual Meeting. The Audit Committee and the Board believe it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to retain Grant Thornton as the Company’s independent auditor for fiscal year 2025 and recommend that the stockholders ratify that appointment.

The Audit Committee has ultimate authority and responsibility for the appointment, termination, compensation, evaluation and oversight of the Company’s independent auditor, including review of its qualifications, performance and independence. The Audit Committee’s oversight includes regular private sessions with the independent auditor, discussions with the independent auditor regarding the scope of its audit, an annual evaluation of whether to re-engage the current auditor or consider other audit firms, and direct involvement in the transition of the new lead engagement partner in connection with the regulatory five-year rotation of that position. As part of the annual review, the Audit Committee considers, among other things:

■ | the quality and efficiency of the current and historical services provided by the independent auditor;

■ | the independent auditor’s capability and expertise in handling the breadth and complexity of the Company’s operations;

■ | the quality and candor of the independent auditor’s communications with the Audit Committee;

■ | external data on the independent auditor’s audit quality and performance, including recent PCAOB reports;

■ | the independent auditor’s independence from the Company;

■ | the appropriateness of the independent auditor’s fees;

■ | the independent auditor’s tenure as the Company’s independent auditor and the controls and processes in place to help ensure the independent auditor’s continued independence; and

■ | the costs associated with onboarding a new independent auditor due to training and lost efficiencies.

The submission of this proposal for approval by stockholders is not legally required, but the Board and the Audit Committee believe the submission provides an opportunity for stockholders, through their vote, to communicate with the Board and the Audit Committee about an important aspect of corporate governance. In the event the stockholders fail to ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton, the Audit Committee will consider whether it is appropriate to select another independent registered public accounting firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Representatives of Grant Thornton will attend the 2025 Annual Meeting. They will have the opportunity, following the meeting, to make a statement and respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

The Board recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the ratification of Grant Thornton as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2025.

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Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee recently completed a competitive selection process to determine the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. The Committee invited several public accounting firms to participate in the process, including Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”). On March 4, 2025, following the conclusion of this process, the Audit Committee (i) dismissed EY as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and (ii) approved the appointment of Grant Thornton as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm beginning with the year ending December 31, 2025.

EY’s audit reports as of and for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, contained no adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and the subsequent interim period through March 4, 2025, there were (i) no “disagreements” ​(as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K) between the Company and EY on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure that, if not resolved to the satisfaction of EY, would have caused EY to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in its reports on the financial statements for such years, and (ii) no “reportable events” ​(as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

During the Company’s years ending December 31, 2024 and 2023 and through March 4, 2025, neither the Company, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted Grant Thornton regarding either: (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements; or (ii) any matter that was the subject of a “disagreement” ​(as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K) or “reportable event” ​(as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

In accordance with Instruction 2 to Item 304 of Regulation S-K, the Company furnished EY and Grant Thornton a copy of the disclosures required by Item 304(a) of Regulation S-K prior to the time this Proxy Statement was filed with the SEC. In the event that EY or Grant Thornton believed the disclosures were incorrect or incomplete, each was permitted to express its views in a brief statement to be included in this Proxy Statement. Neither submitted such a statement.

Independent Auditor’s Fees and Services

The following is a summary of the fees billed to the Company by EY for professional services rendered for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023:

​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Fee Category |  | 2024 Fees | (1)​ | 2023 Fees
Audit Fees | ​ | $ | 2,750,908 | ​ | $ | 1,883,150
Audit-Related Fees | ​ |  | 109,120 | ​ |  | 72,723
Tax Fees | ​ |  | 38,434 | ​ |  | 27,915
All Other Fees | ​ |  | 2,000 | ​ |  | 2,956
Total Fees | ​ | $ | 2,900,462 | ​ | $ | 1,986,744

(1) | Audit Fees include actual and expected billings for fees and expenses related to the 2024 financial statement audit.

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Audit Fees

Consists of fees billed for professional services rendered for the integrated audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting and quarterly reviews of the interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports and services that are normally provided by EY in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. These services also include accounting consultations related to the impact of changes in rules or standards.

Audit-Related Fees

Consists of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.”

Tax Fees

Consists of fees billed for professional services for tax compliance and tax consulting. These services include assistance regarding federal, state and international tax compliance.

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All Other Fees

Consists of fees for online technical accounting research.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee, under the responsibilities and duties outlined in its charter, is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services as allowed by law or regulation. Pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specifically approved amount. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and management are required to periodically report to the Audit Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with this pre-approval and the fees incurred to date. The Audit Committee may also pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis.

The Audit Committee, or the Audit Committee Chair under authority of the Audit Committee, pre-approved all of the audit and non-audit services reflected in the table above for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023. None of the services were approved pursuant to the de minimis exception provided in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT OWNERSHIP

The following table sets forth certain information concerning beneficial ownership of the Common Stock, as of February 24, 2025 (except to the extent indicated otherwise in footnotes), by (i) each person who is known by the Company to own beneficially more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; (ii) each officer who is listed in the Summary Compensation Table (collectively the “Named Executive Officers”) and each director and director nominee; and (iii) all current directors and executive officers as a group.

Unless otherwise indicated, to the Company’s knowledge, the persons included in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable community property laws. The number of shares beneficially owned by a person includes RSUs that are (i) scheduled to vest within 60 days after February 24, 2025, if any, or (ii) vested but deferred (and payable on a specified date or separation from service with the Company). These shares are also deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of outstanding shares owned by the person. These shares are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. On February 24, 2025, there were 23,168,031 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

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(i) Name / Address |  | Shares Beneficially Owned |  | Percentage of Shares Outstanding
BlackRock, Inc.(1) |  | 3,767,090 |  | 16.26 | %
50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
The Vanguard Group, Inc.(2) |  | 2,619,194 |  | 11.31 | %
100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, PA 19355 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
AllianceBernstein L.P.(3) | ​ | 2,419,095 | ​ | 10.44 | %
501 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN 37203 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP(4) |  | 1,728,475 |  | 7.46 | %
6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
FMR LLC(5) |  | 1,419,972 |  | 6.13 | %
245 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​

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​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
(ii) Name |  | Position |  | ​ |  | ​ |
Judy R. McReynolds(6,7) |  | Chairman and CEO |  | 63,076 |  | * | ​
Salvatore A. Abbate(6) |  | Director |  | 2,400 |  | * | ​
Eduardo F. Conrado(6) |  | Director |  | 24,500 |  | * | ​
Fredrik J. Eliasson(6) |  | Director |  | 14,400 |  | * | ​
Michael P. Hogan(6) |  | Director |  | 25,271 |  | * | ​
Kathleen D. McElligott(6) |  | Director |  | 18,900 |  | * | ​
Craig E. Philip(6) |  | Director |  | 20,900 |  | * | ​
Steven L. Spinner(6) |  | Director |  | 5,700 |  | * | ​
Janice E. Stipp(6) |  | Director |  | 17,710 |  | * | ​
Dennis L. Anderson II(6) |  | Chief Innovation Officer |  | 13,969 |  | * | ​
J. Matthew Beasley(6) |  | Chief Financial Officer |  | 2,758 |  | * | ​
Michael E. Newcity(6,8) |  | Former Senior Vice President–Chief Innovation Officer and ArcBest Technologies President |  | — |  | * | ​
Seth K. Runser(6) |  | President |  | 8,278 |  | * | ​
(iii) All Current Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (18 total)(9) |  | ​ |  | 297,958 | ​ | 1.28 | %

* | Less than 1%

(1) | Based on information contained in Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by BlackRock, Inc. on January 22, 2024, BlackRock, Inc. has sole voting power with respect to 3,691,564 shares of Common Stock and sole dispositive power with respect to 3,767,090 shares.

(2) | Based on information contained in Amendment No. 13 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by The Vanguard Group, Inc. on February 13, 2024 The Vanguard Group, Inc. has sole voting power with respect to 0 shares of Common Stock, shared voting power with respect to 28,698 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 2,565,333 shares and shared dispositive power with respect to 53,861 shares.

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(3) | Based on information contained in Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by AllianceBernstein L.P. on August 09, 2024, AllianceBernstein L.P. has sole voting power with respect to 2,122,078 shares of Common Stock and sole dispositive power with respect to 2,411,425 shares and shared dispositive power with respect to 7,670.

(4) | Based on information contained in Amendment No. 15 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP on February 09, 2024, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP has sole voting power with respect to 1,699,249 shares of Common Stock and sole dispositive power with respect to 1,728,475 shares.

(5) | Based on information contained in Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by FMR LLC and an affiliate on November 12, 2024, FMR LLC has sole voting power with respect to 1,418,460 shares of Common Stock and sole dispositive power with respect to 1,419,972 shares.

(6) | Includes RSUs that are (i) scheduled to vest within 60 days after February 24, 2025, if any, or (ii) vested but deferred (and payable on a specified date or separation from service with the Company), as follows:

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​ | ​ | ​
As of February 24, 2025 |  | ​
McReynolds |  | —
Abbate |  | —
Conrado |  | 20,900
Eliasson |  | 1,300
Hogan |  | 3,800
McElligott |  | 1,600
Philip |  | —
Spinner |  | —
Stipp |  | —
Anderson |  | —
Beasley |  | —
Newcity |  | —
Runser |  | —

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(7) | Includes 63,076 shares of Common Stock held by the McReynolds 2005 Joint Trust, of which Ms. McReynolds is co-trustee.

(8) | Mr. Newcity retired from the Company in December 2024. Accordingly, his RSUs that were not already vested at the time of his retirement were forfeited. The amount included in the table above is based on information provided by Mr. Newcity as of December 31, 2024.

(9) | Includes 27,600 RSUs that are vested but deferred (and payable on a specified date or separation from service with the Company). Mr. Newcity is not included in the current Directors and Executive Officers as a group, due to his retirement in December 2024.

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Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

The Company’s executive officers, Directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities are required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the SEC. The SEC’s rules require such persons to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports that are filed on their behalf. Based on a review of the reports submitted by the Company, the Company believes that the applicable Section 16(a) reporting requirements were complied with for all transactions which occurred in 2024.

The Company has not received any information from 10% stockholders indicating that they have not complied with filing requirements.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING

The 2025 Annual Meeting will be held on April 25, 2025, at 7:30 a.m. CDT at the principal offices of the Company located at 8401 McClure Drive, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72916. Stockholders attending in person will have the opportunity to ask questions during the meeting and vote during the open poll portion of the meeting. The question period of the Annual Meeting will be open for up to 20 minutes for stockholder questions to be answered by Company personnel during the meeting. In preparing questions, please note that we will only address questions that are germane to the matters being voted on at our Annual Meeting.

To obtain directions to attend the Annual Meeting and to vote in person, contact the Company’s Investor Relations Department at toll-free telephone number 800-961-9744, email address invrel@arcb.com or through the Company’s website www.arcb.com.

Internet Availability of Proxy Materials

We are pleased to furnish proxy materials to our stockholders electronically, rather than mailing individual printed copies of those materials. Electronic delivery makes our annual meeting more environmentally friendly and reduces printing and distribution costs. Accordingly, on or about March 14, 2025, we began mailing a Notice of Internet Availability to stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting containing instructions on how you may access and review the proxy materials and how to cast your vote online as well as instructions on how to obtain paper copies of our materials. If you received a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials by mail, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you request one. There is no charge to you for requesting a copy. If you would like to receive an extra copy of the Annual Report or this Proxy Statement, we will send a copy to you by mail upon request. To submit a materials request, visit our website at investors.arcb.com or call our toll-free telephone number 800-961-9744. Each document is also available in digital form for download or review in the “Investor Relations” section of our website at investors.arcb.com.

Record Date

The Board has fixed the close of business on February 24, 2025, as the record date for the 2025 Annual Meeting. Only stockholders of record on that date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. Stockholders may contact us at invrel@arcb.com, up to 10 days prior to the Annual Meeting to inspect the list of stockholders.

Voting

Stockholders of Record. If you are a registered stockholder, you may vote your shares of the Company’s Common Stock by proxy or during the meeting. To vote in advance of the Annual Meeting, either: (i) visit www.proxyvote.com to submit your proxy online; (ii) call 1-800-690-6903 to submit your proxy by telephone through an automated system; or (iii) mail a signed and dated proxy card in the envelope provided if you requested paper materials.

Beneficial Holders. If you hold your shares in “street name,” you will receive instructions from your broker or other nominee describing how to vote your shares. If you do not provide voting instructions, the entity that holds your shares will only be permitted to vote your shares on Proposal III (Ratification of the Independent Auditor). Your broker cannot vote on Proposal I (Election of Directors) or Proposal II (Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation) without your instructions. This is called a “broker non-vote.”

If you vote by Internet or telephone or submit a properly signed and dated proxy card, the individuals designated by the Board will vote your shares in accordance with your instructions. If you do not vote or return your proxy card, your shares cannot be voted by proxy. If you return a signed proxy card that does not provide complete voting instructions, your shares will be voted as recommended by the Board. Your proxy also confers discretionary authority to the proxy holders to vote on any other matter not presently known to the Company that may properly come before the meeting.

Guests. Guests may attend the Annual Meeting in person without advanced registration. Guests will not be entitled to ask questions or vote during the Annual Meeting.

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Revoking a Proxy

Registered stockholders may revoke their proxy at any time before the shares are voted at the 2025 Annual Meeting by: (i) timely submitting new voting instructions by Internet, by telephone voting system or by delivering a valid, duly executed proxy card bearing a later date; (ii) voting during the 2025 Annual Meeting before the open poll portion of the Annual Meeting closes; however, attending the meeting without voting will not revoke any previously submitted proxy; or (iii) delivering written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at 8401 McClure Drive, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72916, by 5:00 p.m. (CDT), on or before April 24, 2025. Beneficial stockholders may change their votes by submitting new voting instructions to their bank, broker or other nominee in accordance with that entity’s procedures.

Quorum

On the record date, there were 23,168,031 shares of ArcBest Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote. Cumulative voting is not allowed. The holders in person or by proxy of a majority of the total number of shares of Common Stock will constitute a quorum for purposes of the 2025 Annual Meeting. If there is not a quorum at the meeting (either in person or represented by proxy), the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote who are represented in person or by proxy may adjourn the meeting from time to time, until a quorum is present. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the original meeting. Votes are tabulated by the inspector of elections, Carideo Group.

Required Votes

Proposal |  | Vote Required to Pass |  | Effect of Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes
Proposal I (Election of Directors) |  | A nominee is elected by a majority of the votes cast* |  | None
Proposal II (Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation) |  | The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of shares of Common Stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote |  | An abstention will have the same effect as a vote “against” this proposal. Broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of the vote.
Proposal III (Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm) |  | The affirmative vote by the holders of a majority of the total number of shares of Common Stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote |  | An abstention will have the same effect as a vote “against” the proposal. There should not be any broker non-votes.
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* | A majority of votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a director nominee’s election must exceed the number of shares voted “against” it.

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Unless otherwise instructed, shares represented by proxy will be voted for the election of each of the director nominees; for the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers; and for the ratification of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2025.

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OTHER MATTERS

Neither the Company nor the Board knows of any matters that will be presented for action at the 2025 Annual Meeting other than those described above and matters incident to the conduct of the meeting. If, however, any other matters not presently known to the Company or the Board should come before the 2025 Annual Meeting, it is intended that the shares represented by the accompanying proxy will be voted on such matters in accordance with the discretion of the holders of such proxy.

Cost of Soli citation

Proxies may be solicited by Directors, officers or employees of the Company or its subsidiaries in person, by telephone, electronic communication or other means. However, no payment will be made to any of them for their solicitation activities. The costs of solicitation, including the standard charges and expenses of banks, brokerage houses, other institutions, nominees and fiduciaries for preparing, assembling and forwarding proxy materials to and obtaining proxies from beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons, will be borne by the Company.

Stockholder Communication with the Board

ArcBest Corporation stockholders may communicate with the Board, or any individual member of the Board, by sending the communication as follows:

Board of Directors (or Individual Member’s Name)

c/o Corporate Secretary

ArcBest Corporation

P.O. Box 10048

Fort Smith, AR 72917-0048

​

Communications addressed to the Board will be sent to the Chairman of the Board.

All communications to the Board, or an individual member, will be opened and reviewed by the Corporate Secretary prior to forwarding to the Board or individual member of the Board. This review will facilitate a timely review of any matters contained in the communication if, for any reason, the Board member is unavailable to timely review the communication. We reserve the right not to forward any abusive, threatening or otherwise inappropriate materials.

Electronic Delivery of Stockholder Communications

We encourage you to help us conserve natural resources and reduce printing and mailing costs by signing up to receive your stockholder communications electronically via email. With electronic delivery, you will be notified by email as soon as future annual reports and proxy statements are available via the internet, and you can submit your stockholder votes online or by telephone. Your electronic delivery enrollment will be effective until you cancel it. To sign up for electronic delivery:

■ | Stockholders of Record: visit www.shareowneronline.com and log into your account to enroll.

■ | Beneficial Holders: contact your broker, bank, trustee or nominee to request instructions for how to enroll.

Procedure for Submitting Stockholder Proposals and Nominations for 2026 Annual Meeting

Proposals for inclusion in the proxy statement. Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, any stockholder who intends to present a proposal at the 2026 Annual Meeting and wishes to have that proposal included in the Company’s proxy statement and proxy related to the 2026 Annual Meeting must deliver such proposal to the Company no later than the close of business on November 14, 2025. Proposals should be addressed to Corporate Secretary, ArcBest Corporation, 8401 McClure Drive, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72916. In order to prevent controversy about the date of receipt of a proposal, which must be no later than the close of business on November 14, 2025, the Company strongly recommends that any stockholder wishing to present a proposal submit the proposal by certified mail, return receipt requested. Such proposals

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must meet the requirements set forth in the rules and regulations of the SEC in order to be eligible for inclusion in the proxy statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting.

Nominees for inclusion in the proxy statement. Pursuant to the “proxy access” provision in the Company’s bylaws, stockholders who intend to nominate director candidates and wish to have such nomination(s) included in the Company’s proxy statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting must be certain that those nominations (each a “stockholder nomination”) are received by the Corporate Secretary at the address set forth above no earlier than October 15, 2025, and not later than the close of business on November 14, 2025. In the event that the date of the 2026 Annual Meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after the anniversary date of the 2025 Annual Meeting, to be timely received, the stockholder nomination must be received by the Corporate Secretary not earlier than the close of business on the 150th day prior to the 2026 Annual Meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the 120th day prior to the Annual Meeting or (ii) the 10th day following the date the Company publicly announces the date of the 2026 Annual Meeting. Such nominations must meet the requirements set forth in the Company’s bylaws in order to be eligible for inclusion in the proxy statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting.

Proposals or nominations not for inclusion in the proxy statement. Pursuant to the advanced notice procedure in the Company’s bylaws, stockholders who intend to submit a proposal regarding a director nomination or other matter of business at the 2026 Annual Meeting, and who do not intend to have such proposal included in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 or the Company’s “proxy access” bylaw discussed above, must submit a written notice (“stockholder notice”) that must be received by the Corporate Secretary at the address set forth above no earlier than the close of business on December 26, 2025, and no later than the close of business on January 25, 2026. In the event that the date of the 2026 Annual Meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after the anniversary date of the 2025 Annual Meeting, to be timely received, the proposal must be received by the Corporate Secretary of the Company not less than 100 days nor more than 120 days prior to the date of the 2026 Annual Meeting; provided, however, in the event that the first public announcement of the date of the 2026 Annual Meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such meeting, the proposal must be received by the Corporate Secretary of the Company by the 10th day following the date of the public announcement. Such stockholder notices must set forth the information specified in the Company’s bylaws. For information regarding the required information in the stockholder notice, contact the Corporate Secretary’s office at info@arcb.com or 479-785-6000.

In addition to satisfying the requirements in the Company’s bylaws, to comply with the universal proxy rules, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Exchange Act Rule 14a-19 no later than February 24, 2026.

Householding of Proxy Materials

Certain stockholders sharing an address may have received only one copy of the Company’s proxy materials. The Company will promptly deliver, upon oral or written request, a separate copy of this Proxy Statement and the 2024 Annual Report to a stockholder at a shared address to which only a single copy of such documents was delivered. Separate copies may be requested by contacting your broker, bank or other holder of record or by contacting the Company at the following address or telephone number:

ArcBest Corporation

Attention: Vice President–Investor Relations

P.O. Box 10048

Fort Smith, Arkansas 72917-0048

Telephone: 479-785-6000

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If you want to receive separate copies of the Company’s Annual Report and Proxy Statement in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy for your household, you can make these requests through the following sources:

Stockholders of record should contact the Company’s Corporate Secretary in writing at ArcBest Corporation, P.O. Box 10048, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72917-0048 or by telephone at 479-785-6000.

Stockholders who are beneficial owners should contact their bank, broker or other nominee record holder or contact Broadridge in writing at Broadridge, Attention: Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717 or by telephone at 866-540-7095.

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Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we hope you will vote promptly: by Internet, by telephone or by signing, dating and returning a proxy card.

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Fort Smith, Arkansas | MICHAEL R. JOHNS
Date: March 14, 2025 | Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary

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| Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. Nominees: 2. To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company's Named Executive Officers. 1. Election of Directors For Against Abstain ARCBEST CORPORATION The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR all of the nominees listed below: The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposal: The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposal: Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer. 3. To ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2025. V62780-P22289 1a. Salvatore A. Abbate 1b. Eduardo F. Conrado 1c. Fredrik J. Eliasson 1d. Michael P. Hogan 1e. Kathleen D. McElligott 1f. Judy R. McReynolds 1g. Craig E. Philip 1h. Steven L. Spinner 1i. Janice E. Stipp For Against Abstain For Against Abstain ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ARCBEST CORPORATION 8401 MCCLURE DR. FORT SMITH, AR 72916 VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until (i) 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 22, 2025 for all shares held in the ArcBest 401(k) and DC Retirement Plan and (ii) 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 24, 2025 for all other shares reflected on this proxy card. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the website and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until (i) 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 22, 2025 for all shares held in the ArcBest 401(k) and DC Retirement Plan and (ii) 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 24, 2025 for all other shares reflected on this proxy card. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. The properly executed proxy card must be received by April 22, 2025 for all for shares held in the ArcBest 401(k) and DC Retirement Plan. For all other shares, the properly executed proxy card must be received by April 25, 2025. SCAN TO VIEW MATERIALS & VOTEw

| V62781-P22289 ARCBEST CORPORATION THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR USE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS ON APRIL 25, 2025 The undersigned stockholder(s) of ArcBest Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby appoint(s) Michael R. Johns and Judy R. McReynolds, and each or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint their substitutes, and hereby authorize(s) them to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this proxy card, all of the shares the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the principal offices of the Company located at 8401 McClure Drive, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72916, at 7:30 a.m., Central Time, on Friday, April 25, 2025, and any adjournment or postponement thereof, in accordance with and as more fully described in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the Proxy Statement, receipt of each of which is hereby acknowledged and the terms of each of which are incorporated by reference, and otherwise to represent the undersigned at the meeting with all powers possessed by the undersigned if personally present at the meeting. The undersigned hereby revokes any proxy heretofore given with respect to the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER(S). IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1 ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS PROXY CARD, "FOR" PROPOSAL 2 AND "FOR" PROPOSAL 3. IF ANY OTHER MATTERS PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING, THE PERSON(S) NAMED IN THIS PROXY WILL VOTE IN THEIR DISCRETION. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE. CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.