Document:

ARCBEST CORPORATION
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT
(Non-Employee Directors – with deferral feature)
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	Participant
	First Name MI Last Name

	Date of Grant
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	Award Number
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	Total Number of Units Granted
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This Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of this [     ] day of [     ], [     ] (the “Grant Date”), and is between ArcBest Corporation (the “Company”) and [First Name/MI/Last Name] (“Participant”).
WHEREAS, the Company, by action of the Board and approval of its shareholders established the ArcBest Corporation Ownership Incentive Plan (the “Plan”);
WHEREAS, Participant is a member of the Board and is not employed by the Company or a Subsidiary; 
WHEREAS, the Company desires to encourage Participant to own Common Stock for the purposes stated in Section 1 of the Plan; and
WHEREAS, Participant and the Company have entered into this Agreement to govern the terms of the Restricted Stock Unit Award (as defined below) granted to Participant by the Company.  
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.Definitions
Defined terms in the Plan shall have the same meaning in this Agreement, except where the context otherwise requires.  

2.Grant of Restricted Stock Units
On the Grant Date, the Company hereby grants to Participant an Award of [        ] Restricted Stock Units (the “Award”) in accordance with Section 9 of the Plan and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan (as amended from time to time).  Each Restricted Stock Unit subject to the Award represents the right to receive one Share (as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Paragraph 13 hereof and/or Section 13 of the Plan) upon the terms and subject to the conditions (including the vesting conditions) set forth in this Agreement and the Plan.  By accepting the Award, Participant irrevocably agrees on behalf of Participant and Participant’s successors and permitted assigns to all of the terms and conditions of the Award as 

set forth in or pursuant to this Agreement and the Plan (as such Plan may be amended from time to time).

3.Vesting; Payment

(a)The Award shall not be vested as of the Grant Date and shall be forfeitable unless and until otherwise vested pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.  After the Grant Date, provided that Participant remains a member of the Board continuously through the first anniversary of the Grant Date (the “Normal Vesting Date”), the Award shall become vested with respect to 100% of the Restricted Stock Units on such Normal Vesting Date.  In addition, prior to the Normal Vesting Date:
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(i)  the Award shall become vested with respect to 100% of the Restricted Stock Units on the first date on or after the Grant Date that the Participant satisfies the requirements for Normal Retirement, as defined below, whether or not actual retirement or separation from service has occurred on that date.
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(ii) on the first date on or after the Grant Date on which Participant satisfies the requirements for Early Retirement, as defined below, whether or not actual retirement or separation from service has occurred on that date, the Award shall become vested with respect to the number of the Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award multiplied by a fraction, (A) the numerator of which is equal to the number of full months between such date and the Grant Date, and (B) the denominator of which is 12, and the Award shall continue to vest on the fifteenth day of each subsequent month with respect to an additional one-twelfth of the number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award until the first day of the month in which the Normal Vesting Date occurs.   In the month that the Normal Vesting Date occurs, all Units not previously vested shall become vested on the date of the month that corresponds to the Grant Date.
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For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Normal Retirement" shall mean Participant's retirement from service as a member of the Board on or after age 65 so long as Participant has, as of the date of such retirement, at least 5 years of service with the Company.  
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For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Early Retirement" shall mean Participant's retirement from service as a member of the Board with at least 3 years of Board member service with the Company.
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Restricted Stock Units that have vested and are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture are referred to herein as "Vested Units."  Restricted Stock Units that are not vested and generally remain subject to forfeiture are referred to herein as "Unvested Units."

(b)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Paragraph 3, the Award shall be subject to earlier acceleration of vesting and/or forfeiture and transfer as provided in this Agreement and the Plan.
(c)Subject to Paragraph 3(d) below, on the Normal Vesting Date, or, if earlier, the date Participant’s service as a member of the Board terminates on or after he satisfied the requirements for accelerated vesting by virtue of qualifying for Normal Retirement or Early 

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Retirement, Participant shall be entitled to receive one Share (subject to adjustment under Paragraph 13 hereof and/or Section 13 of the Plan) for each Vested Unit in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the Plan.  The Company will transfer such Shares to Participant or Participant’s designee subject to (i) Participant’s satisfaction of any required tax withholding obligations as set forth in Paragraph 6 and (ii) the restrictions, if any, imposed by the Company under Paragraph 14(f) or otherwise pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement.  
(d)Subject to the satisfaction of all of the tax withholding obligations described in Section 6 below, Participant may irrevocably elect to defer the receipt of any Shares issuable pursuant to Vested Units, other than Units distributable by reason of Sections 6(b) or (c), by submitting to the Company an election to defer receipt in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Deferral Election Form”).  In the event Participant intends to defer the receipt of any Shares, Participant must submit a proposed Deferral Election Form to the Company by December 31 of the year preceding the year of the Grant Date of the Award. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Shares subject to Vested Units with respect to which a deferred payment date has been elected shall be immediately distributed to Participant or Participant’s estate, as applicable, upon Participant’s death or Disability (as defined below) or upon a “change in the ownership or effective control” of the Company or in the “ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meanings ascribed to such terms in Treasury Department regulations or other guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code.  Participant hereby represents that he or she understands the effect of any such deferral of the receipt of shares under relevant federal, state and local tax laws.
(e)The date upon which Shares are to be issued under either Paragraph 3(c) or 3(d) is referred to as the “Settlement Date.”  The issuance of the Shares hereunder may be effected by the issuance of a stock certificate, recording shares on the stock records of the Company or by crediting shares in an account established on the Participant’s behalf with a brokerage firm or other custodian, in each case as determined by the Company.  Fractional shares will not be issued pursuant to the Award.
Notwithstanding the above, prior to a Change in Control, (i) for administrative or other reasons, the Company may from time to time temporarily suspend the issuance of Shares in respect of earned Vested Units (whether or not deferred), (ii) the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Shares during any period when the Company determines that the delivery of Shares hereunder would violate any federal, state or other applicable laws, and (iii) the date on which shares are issued hereunder may include a delay in order to provide the Company such time as it determines appropriate to address tax withholding and other administrative matters.  Any delay pursuant to 3(e)(ii) shall only be until such time that the Company determines that the delivery of shares would no longer violate any Federal, state or other applicable law.  Notwithstanding the delay for administrative or other reasons provided for in clauses (i) and (iii) above, in no event will such issuance of shares be delayed beyond the later of the end of the calendar year in which the Settlement Date occurs, or the 15th day of the third month after the end of such year, or such other time as permitted under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder without the imposition of any additional taxes under Section 409A of the Code. 

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Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, this Agreement or the Deferral Election Form to the contrary, the Plan, this Agreement and the Deferral Election Form shall be construed or deemed to be amended as necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code to avoid the imposition of any additional or accelerated taxes or other penalties under Section 409A of the Code.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the requirements of Section 409A of the Code applicable to the Plan, this Agreement and the Deferral Election Form and shall interpret the terms of the Plan, this Agreement and the Deferral Election Form consistently therewith. Under no circumstances, however, shall the Company have any liability under the Plan, this Agreement or the Deferral Election Form for any taxes, penalties or interest due on amounts paid or payable pursuant to the Plan, this Agreement or the Deferral Election Form, including any taxes, penalties or interest imposed under Section 409A of the Code.

4.Status of Participant
Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder (including, without limitation, any voting rights with respect to the Shares subject to the Award and, except to the extent the Award is adjusted pursuant to Paragraph 13 hereof and/or Section 13 of the Plan, the right to receive any payments with respect to dividends or other distributions paid with respect to the Shares subject to this Award) with respect to either the Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder or the Shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units, unless and until such Shares are issued in respect of Vested Units, and then only to the extent of such issued Shares.

5.Effect of Termination of Board Service; Change in Control

(a)General.  Except as provided in Paragraphs 5(b) or (c), upon a termination of Participant’s service as a member of the Board for any reason, the Unvested Units shall be forfeited by Participant and cancelled and surrendered to the Company without payment of any consideration to Participant.
(b)Death; Disability.  Upon a termination of Participant’s service as a member of the Board by reason of Participant’s death or Disability, all Unvested Units shall vest as of the date of such termination of service and be issued as soon as administratively possible.  For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “Disability” shall mean a condition under which Participant either (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan. 
(c)Change in Control.  All Unvested Units shall vest as of the date a Change in Control occurs and be issued as soon as administratively possible so long as with respect to any amounts that the Company determines to be deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, such Change in Control qualifies as a “change in the ownership or effective control” of the Company or in the “ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of 

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the Company within the meanings ascribed to such terms in Treasury Department regulations or other guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code.
6.Withholding and Disposition of Shares
Participant is liable and responsible for all taxes owed in connection with the Award, regardless of any action the Company takes with respect to any tax reporting or withholding obligations that arise in connection with the Award. The Company does not make any representation or undertaking regarding the tax treatment of the grant or vesting of the Award or the subsequent sale of Shares issuable pursuant to the Award. The Company does not commit and is under no obligation to structure the Award to reduce or eliminate Participant’s tax liability.

7.Excess Parachute Payments
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any of the payments in respect of this Award, together with any other payments to which Participant has the right to receive from the Company or any purchaser, successor, or assign, would constitute an “excess parachute payment” (as defined in Code Section 280G), the payments pursuant to the Award and/or such other plans or agreements shall be reduced to the largest amount as will result in no portion of such payments being subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999.

8.Plan Controls 
The terms of this Agreement are governed by the terms of the Plan, as it exists on the Grant Date and as the Plan is amended from time to time.  In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control, except as expressly stated otherwise in this Agreement.  The term “Section” generally refers to provisions within the Plan; provided, however, the term “Paragraph” shall refer to a provision of this Agreement.  

9.Limitation on Rights; No Right to Future Grants; Extraordinary Item  
By entering into this Agreement and accepting the Award, Participant acknowledges that: (a) Participant’s participation in the Plan is voluntary and (b) the grant of the Award will not be interpreted to form an employment or Board member relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary. The Company shall be under no obligation whatsoever to advise Participant of the existence, maturity or termination of any of Participant’s rights hereunder and Participant shall be responsible for familiarizing himself or herself with all matters contained herein and in the Plan which may affect any of Participant’s rights or privileges hereunder.

10.Committee Authority
Any question concerning the interpretation of this Agreement or the Plan, any adjustments required to be made under the Plan, and any controversy that may arise under the Plan or this Agreement shall be determined by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion.  Such decision by the Committee shall be final and binding.

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11.Transfer Restrictions
(a) General Restrictions.  Any sale, transfer, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, conveyance in trust, gift, transfer by bequest, devise or descent, or other transfer or disposition of any kind, whether voluntary or by operation of law, directly or indirectly, of (i) Unvested Units, (ii) Vested Units prior to the Settlement Date, or (iii) Shares subject to such Unvested Units or Vested Units, shall be strictly prohibited and void; provided, however, Participant may assign or transfer the Award to the extent permitted under the Plan, provided that the Award shall be subject to all the terms and condition of the Plan, this Agreement and any other terms required by the Committee as a condition to such transfer.
(b)Transfers by Covered Persons. If Participant is a “Covered Person” as defined in the ArcBest Corporation Stock Ownership Policy for Directors and Executives (the “Policy”) as amended from time to time, Participant agrees that he or she shall not sell or otherwise dispose or transfer any shares from this Award or any other Award except to the extent permitted by the Policy.  

12.Suspension or Termination of Award
Pursuant to Section 16 of the Plan, if at any time prior to Participant’s receipt of Shares pursuant to the Award an Authorized Officer reasonably believes that Participant may have committed an Act of Misconduct (as defined below), the Authorized Officer, the Committee or the Board may suspend Participant’s rights to vest in any Restricted Stock Units, and/or to receive payment for or receive Shares in settlement of Vested Units pending a determination of whether an Act of Misconduct has been committed.  In addition, pursuant to Section 16 of the Plan, if the Committee or an Authorized Officer determines Participant has committed an act of embezzlement, fraud, dishonesty, nonpayment of any obligation owed to the Company or any Subsidiary, breach of fiduciary duty, violation of Company ethics policy or code of conduct, deliberate disregard of Company or Subsidiary rules, or if Participant makes an unauthorized disclosure of any Company or Subsidiary trade secret or confidential information, solicits any employee or service provider to leave the employ or cease providing services to the Company or any Subsidiary, breaches any intellectual property or assignment of inventions covenant, engages in any conduct constituting unfair competition, breaches any non-competition agreement, 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 induces any principal for whom the Company or any Subsidiary acts as agent to terminate such agency relationship (any of the foregoing acts, an “Act of Misconduct”), then except as otherwise provided by the Committee, (i) neither Participant nor Participant’s estate nor transferee will be entitled to vest in or have the restrictions on Unvested Units lapse, or otherwise receive payment or Shares in respect of Vested Units and (ii) Participant will forfeit all undelivered (including deferred) Vested and Unvested Units.  In making such determination, the Committee or an Authorized Officer shall give Participant an opportunity to appear and present evidence on his or her behalf at a hearing before the Committee or an opportunity to submit written comments, documents, information and arguments to be considered by the Committee.  Any dispute by Participant or other person as to the determination of the Committee must be resolved pursuant to Paragraph 14(j).

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13.Adjustment of and Changes in the Stock
In the event that the number of Shares increases or decreases through a reorganization, reclassification, combination of shares, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off, dividend (other than regular, quarterly cash dividends), or otherwise, the Committee shall equitably adjust the number of Shares subject to this Award to reflect such increase or decrease.  

14.General Provisions

(a)Notices.  Whenever any notice is required or permitted hereunder, such notice must be in writing and delivered in person or by mail (to the address set forth below if notice is being delivered to the Company) or electronically.  Any notice delivered in person or by mail shall be deemed to be delivered on the date on which it is personally delivered, or, whether actually received or not, on the third business day after it is deposited in the United States mail, certified or registered, postage prepaid, addressed to the person who is to receive it at the address that such person has theretofore specified by written notice delivered in accordance herewith.  Any notice given by the Company to Participant directed to Participant at Participant’s address on file with the Company shall be effective to bind Participant and any other person who shall have acquired rights under this Agreement.  The Company or Participant may change, by written notice to the other, the address previously specified for receiving notices.  Notices delivered to the Company in person or by mail shall be addressed as follows:
Company:ArcBest Corporation
Attn:Executive Benefits
P.O. Box 10048
Fort Smith, AR 72917-0048
Fax: (479) 494-6770

(b)No Waiver.  No waiver of any provision of this Agreement will be valid unless in writing and signed by the person against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced, nor will failure to enforce any right hereunder constitute a continuing waiver of the same or a waiver of any other right hereunder.
(c)Undertaking.  Participant hereby agrees to take whatever additional action and execute whatever additional documents the Company may deem necessary or advisable in order to carry out or effect one or more of the obligations or restrictions imposed on either Participant or the Award pursuant to the express provisions of this Agreement.
(d)Entire Contract.  This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire contract between the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement is made pursuant to the provisions of the Plan and will in all respects be construed in conformity with the express terms and provisions of the Plan.
(e)Successors and Assigns.  The provisions of this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and be binding on, the Company and its successors and assigns and Participant and Participant’s legal representatives, heirs, legatees, distributees, assigns and transferees by operation of law, whether or not any such person will have become a party to this Agreement and agreed in writing to join herein and be bound by the terms and conditions hereof.

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(f)Securities Law Compliance.  The Company may impose such restrictions, conditions or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the timing and manner of any resales by Participant or other subsequent transfers by Participant of any Shares issued as a result of or under this Award, including without limitation (i) restrictions under an insider trading policy, (ii) restrictions that may be necessary in the absence of an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the Award and/or the Shares underlying the Award and (iii) restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm or other agent for such resales or other transfers.  Any sale of the Shares must also comply with other applicable laws and regulations governing the sale of such shares.  
(g)Information Confidential.  As partial consideration for the granting of the Award:
(i) Participant agrees that he or she will keep confidential all information and knowledge that Participant has relating to the manner and amount of his or her participation in the Plan; provided, however, that such information may be disclosed as required by law and may be given in confidence to Participant’s spouse, tax and financial advisors, or to a financial institution to the extent that such information is necessary to secure a loan.  
(ii)Participant agrees that he or she will maintain the confidentiality of any Confidential Information to which he or she is entrusted by the Company, except when disclosure is authorized by the Company or required by laws or regulations.  Confidential Information includes “trade secrets” as defined by applicable law and all other non-public information that might be of use to competitors, or harmful to the Company or its customers if disclosed.  The obligation to preserve Confidential Information shall continue even after Participant’s service to the Company ends.  Participant agrees that, in addition to all other legal and equitable remedies, the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief in the event of a violation of this provision by the Participant.
(iii)Nothing in this Agreement will prevent Participant from: (A) making a good faith report of possible violations of applicable law to any governmental agency or entity or (B) making disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of applicable law. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall prevent Participant from making a disclosure that: (1) is made in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (2) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Further, an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer of reporting a suspected violation of law may make disclosures without violating this Section 14(g) to the attorney of the individual and use such information in the court proceeding.

(h)Electronic Delivery.  The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to any awards granted under the Plan by electronic means or to request Participant’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and, if requested, to agree to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company, and such consent shall remain in effect 

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throughout Participant’s term of service with the Company and thereafter until withdrawn in writing by Participant.  
(i)Governing Law.  Except as may otherwise be provided in the Plan, the provisions of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.
(j)Arbitration of Disputes.  Pursuant to Section 23 of the Plan, Participant hereby agrees as follows:

(i)If Participant or Participant’s transferee wishes to challenge any action of the Committee or the Plan Administrator, the person may do so only by submitting to binding arbitration with respect to such decision.  The review by the arbitrator will be limited to determining whether Participant or Participant’s transferee has proven that the Committee’s decision was arbitrary or capricious.  This arbitration will be the sole and exclusive review permitted of the Committee’s decision.  Participant explicitly waives any right to judicial review.  
(ii)Notice of demand for arbitration will be made in writing to the Committee within thirty (30) days after written notice to Participant of the applicable decision by the Committee.  The arbitrator will be selected by mutual agreement of the Committee and Participant.  If the Committee and Participant are unable to agree on an arbitrator, the arbitrator will be selected by the American Arbitration Association.  The arbitrator, no matter how selected, must be neutral within the meaning of the Commercial Rules of Dispute Resolution of the American Arbitration Association.  The arbitrator will administer and conduct the arbitration pursuant to the Commercial Rules of Dispute Resolution of the American Arbitration Association.  Each side will bear its own fees and expenses, including its own attorney’s fees, and each side will bear one half of the arbitrator’s fees and expenses; provided, however, that the arbitrator will have the discretion to award the prevailing party its fees and expenses.  The arbitrator will have no authority to award exemplary, punitive, special, indirect, consequential, or other extracontractual damages.  The decision of the arbitrator on the issue(s) presented for arbitration will be final and conclusive and any court of competent jurisdiction may enforce it.
(k)Section 409A of the Code.  This Award is intended to comply, to the extent applicable, with the election, distribution and any other requirements of Section 409A of the Code and, as such, shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.  Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Plan to the contrary, the Company may, in its sole discretion, amend this Award (which amendment shall be effective upon its adoption or at such other time designated by the Company) as may be necessary to avoid the imposition of the additional tax under Section 409A of the Code or otherwise comply with Section 409A and the regulations thereunder; provided, however, that any such amendment shall be implemented in such a manner as to preserve, to the greatest extent possible, the terms and conditions of this Award as in existence immediately prior to any such amendment.
(l)Board Policies and Guidelines.  Participant acknowledges that this Award is subject to certain policies and guidelines as may be from time to time enacted by the Board of Directors of the Company including guidelines for the Recoupment of Incentive Compensation adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company effective October 18, 2007.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
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ARCBEST CORPORATION
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By: ___________________________
       Judy R. McReynolds 
       Chairman, President & CEO
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PARTICIPANT
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 Name: [First Name/MI/Last Name] 
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Return Deferral Form by December 31, [     ]

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Exhibit A
ARCBEST CORPORATION
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT
INITIAL DEFERRAL ELECTION FORM FOR [     ] AWARDS
Effective as of ________________, the undersigned hereby irrevocably elects (the “Election”) to defer receipt of certain shares of common stock (the “Shares”) of ArcBest Corporation (the “Company”) related to the Restricted Stock Units (the “Award”) awarded under and pursuant to any Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement dated between January 1, [     ] and December 31, [     ] (the “Award Agreement”) and the ArcBest Corporation Ownership Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”).  This deferral shall be made in accordance with the terms and provisions outlined in this Election in the manner and amount set forth below.  In making this Election, you may elect to defer the settlement of all or a portion of your Award.  Your deferral must be expressed as a percentage of the Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award.  In executing this Election form you acknowledge that, in order to be effective, either (i) if on the Grant Date set forth in your Award Agreement or within 12 months following such Grant Date you become wholly or partially vested in your Award by virtue of satisfying  the requirements (as defined in the Award Agreement) for either Normal Retirement or Early Retirement (other than actual separation from service), the Election must be returned no later than December 31 of the year preceding the year in which the Grant Date set forth in your Award Agreement occurs, or (ii) if the preceding clause (i) does not apply to you, (A) the Election must be returned no later than 30 days following the Grant Date set forth in your Award Agreement, and (B) the portion of your Award subject to this Election must not become vested until more than 12 months following the date of this Election (or, if later, 12 months following the Grant Date).
In general, all deferrals pursuant to this election will be paid out in Shares.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, all of the Shares you are entitled to receive on the Settlement Date specified in this Election will be transferred to you on the applicable Settlement Date.
Amount of the Deferral
oI hereby irrevocably elect to defer settlement of _____% of the Shares subject to the Award. 

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Duration of the Deferral
Settlement of that portion of the Award specified above shall be deferred until [complete by checking the appropriate box below and, if applicable, filling in the distribution date.  Check only one box]:
o_____________, 20_____ [Note: this date must be after the first anniversary of the [     ] Grant Date]; or
othe termination of my service as a member of the Board; or
othe earlier of _____________, 20_____ [Note: this date must be after the first anniversary of the [     ] Grant Date] or the termination of my service as a member of the Board; or
othe later of _____________, 20_____ [Note: this date must be after the first anniversary of the – [     ] Grant Date] or the termination of my service as a member of the Board.
Terms and Conditions
By signing this form, you acknowledge your understanding and acceptance of the following:

1.Submission of Election to the Company. You understand that (i) if on the Grant Date set forth in your Award Agreement or within 12 months following such Grant Date you satisfy or will satisfy the vesting requirements for either Normal Retirement or Early Retirement (each as defined in the Award Agreement), the Election must be submitted to the Company no later than December 31 of the year preceding the year in which the Award was granted or (ii) if the preceding clause (i) does not apply to you, the Election must be submitted to the Company no later than 30 days following the date the Award was granted.
2.Status of Participant. You will have no rights as a stockholder (including, without limitation, any voting rights with respect to the Units subject to this Election) with respect to the Units subject to this Election, unless and until Shares with respect to such Units are issued to you hereunder. 
3.Payment Acceleration.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Shares subject to this Election shall be immediately distributed to you or your estate, as applicable, upon your death or Disability (as defined in the Award Agreement) or upon a “change in the ownership or effective control” of the Company or in the “ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meanings ascribed to such terms in Treasury Department regulations or other guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code.  
4.Administration. This Election is administered and interpreted by the Committee (as such term is defined in the Plan). The Committee has full and exclusive discretion to interpret and administer this Election. All actions, interpretations and decisions of the Committee are conclusive and binding on all persons, and will be given the maximum possible deference allowed by law.
5.Arbitration of Disputes.  All disputes under this Election form shall be subject to arbitration pursuant to Paragraph 14(j) of the Award Agreement and Section 23 of the Plan.

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	articipant]
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	Submitted by:
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[Participant]
	Accepted by:
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ARCBEST CORPORATION
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By:​ ​​ ​
Name:
Title:  

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ArcBest Corporation
Amended and Restated 2012 Change in Control Plan
	1.	Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to enable the Company to offer certain protections to a selected group of key employees of the Company if their employment is terminated in connection with a Change in Control. The Participants have made and are expected to make major contributions to the profitability, growth and financial strength of the Company and its affiliates. In addition, the Company considers the continued availability of the Participants’ services, managerial skills and business experience to be in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders and desires to assure the continued services of the Participants on behalf of the Company and/or its affiliates without the distraction of the Executives occasioned by the possibility of an abrupt change in control of the Company.

	2.	Definitions.

		a.	“Affiliate” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations of the Exchange Act.

		b.	“Annual Incentive” shall mean the Participant’s annual cash incentive actually earned for the year in which the Participant’s employment is terminated as of the Participant’s Qualified Termination Date.

		c.	“Annual Incentive Bonus” shall mean the Participant’s average annual cash incentive earned during the period of the three years preceding the year in which the Participant’s employment is terminated (or such shorter period in which the Executive was employed by the Company or its affiliates and receiving an annual cash incentive opportunity).

		d.	“Base Salary” shall mean the Participant’s annualized base salary in effect on the date of termination of the Participant’s employment with the Company. Base Salary is not reduced by any voluntary salary reductions or any salary reduction contributions made to any salary reduction plan, defined contribution plan or other deferred compensation plans of the Company, but does not include any payments under the Plan, any stock option or other type of equity plan, or any other bonuses, incentive pay or special awards.

		e.	“Beneficial Owner” or “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

		f.	“Board” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.

		g.	“Cause” shall mean (i) Participant’s gross misconduct or fraud in the performance of Participant’s duties to the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) Participant’s conviction or guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere with respect to any felony or act of moral turpitude; (iii) Participant’s engaging in any material act of theft or material misappropriation of Company property or (iv) Participant’s breach of the Company’s Code of Conduct, as such Code may be revised from time to time.  

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		h.	“Change in Control” means, unless the Committee or the Board provides otherwise, the occurrence of any of the following events:

		(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 (the “Outstanding Company 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) of this Section 2(h). 

		(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 of Directors; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, 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 Company 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 

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			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 Company 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; or

		(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) of this Section 2(h).

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

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall amounts in respect of Awards that, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, provide for the deferral of compensation, be distributed upon a Change in Control prior to the occurrence of either a “change in the ownership or effective control” of the Company or in the “ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meanings ascribed to such terms in Treasury Department regulations or other guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code.”
		i.	“Change in Control Benefits” shall mean the severance benefits described in Section 4.

		j.	“Change in Control Date” shall mean the date on which the Change in Control occurs.

		k.	“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

		l.	“Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board.

		m.	“Company” shall mean ArcBest Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any successor entity or any successor to the assets of the Company that has assumed the Plan.

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		n.	“Director” shall mean any individual who is a member of the Board.

		o.	“Disability” shall be deemed to occur when the Participant is entitled to receive payments under the Company’s applicable short-term or long-term disability insurance plan.  

		p.	“Effective Date” shall mean July 1, 2021.

		q.	“ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

		r.	“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor act thereto.

		s.	“Good Reason” shall mean (i) any material and adverse diminution in Participant’s title, duties, or responsibilities; (ii) a reduction in Participant’s base salary or employee benefits (including reducing Participant’s level of participation or target bonus award opportunity in the Company’s incentive compensation plans) or (iii) a relocation of Participant’s principal place of employment of more than 50 miles without the prior consent of Participant.  

For purposes of determining the amount of any cash payment payable to the Participant in accordance with the provisions of Sections 4(a) and 4(b), any reduction in compensation or benefits that would constitute Good Reason hereunder shall be deemed not to have occurred. A Participant may terminate his or her employment for Good Reason only if the Participant provides written notice to the Company of his or her intent to terminate employment, which notice shall specify the facts and circumstances constituting Good Reason, within 90 days of the occurrence of Good Reason; provided, that the Company has not remedied the facts and circumstances constituting Good Reason within the 30-day period following receipt of such written notice.  To the extent the facts and circumstances constituting Good Reason are not remedied within such 30-day cure period, the Participant’s employment will automatically terminate for Good Reason immediately following the end of the 30-day cure period.
		t.	“Ownership Incentive Plan” shall mean the ArcBest Corporation Ownership Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, or any successor plan providing for the grant or award of equity-based compensation to the Company’s employees, officers and Directors. The provisions of the Plan only apply to awards made on or after the effective date of this Plan.

		u.	“Participant” shall mean each key employee of the Company selected by the Committee in its sole discretion and designated in writing as eligible for participation herein. The Company will review the list of Participants on a periodic basis, and may add or remove Participants at its discretion, provided, however, that any removal of a Participant shall not be effective within 180 days prior to a Change in Control.

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		v.	“Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.

		w.	“Plan” shall mean the ArcBest Corporation Amended and Restated 2012 Change in Control Plan and subsequent amendments.

		x.	“Qualified Termination” shall mean, subject to Section 14 of this Plan, within 24 full calendar months after a Change in Control as defined in Section 2(h), a Participant’s Separation from Service by the Company (or an Affiliate of the Company) without Cause (and not as a result of the Participant’s death or Disability), or by the Participant for Good Reason.

		y.	“Separation from Service” shall mean a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(h).

	3.	Eligibility and Participation

		a.	Eligibility. An individual shall be eligible to participate in the Plan who is designated by the Committee as one of the following:

		(i)	Tier I:  the executives determined by the Committee from time to time prior to the Change in Control Date to be Tier I Executives and identified as such in the records of the Plan maintained by the Company.

		(ii)	Tier II:  the executives determined by the Committee from time to time prior to the Change in Control Date to be Tier II Executives and identified as such in the records of the Plan maintained by the Company.

		b.	Participation. The Committee shall designate each Participant in the Plan.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, terminate the participation of a Participant at any time prior to the date that is 240 days preceding a Change in Control.

	4.	Change in Control Benefits Subject to Section 14, if the Participant has a Qualified Termination as defined in Section 2(x), the Participant shall be eligible to receive the following benefits:

		a.	Cash Payment.  As soon as administratively possible, but in no event later than seventy-five calendar days following the date of a Qualified Termination of a Participant, the Company shall pay to the Participant, in a lump sum, an amount in cash equal to:

		(i)	Tier I Executives:  2.00 times Base Salary, plus 2.00 times Annual Incentive Bonus as defined in Section 2c; or

		(ii)	Tier II Executives: 1.00 times Base Salary, plus 1.00 times Annual Incentive Bonus as defined in Section 2c.

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		b.	Annual Incentive Compensation Plan.  The terminated Participant shall be entitled to receive any awards which have been earned as of the date of the Participant’s Qualified Termination under the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan or successor plan, which shall be paid as soon as administratively possible but in no case will the payment be made later than seventy-five (75) days from the date of the Participant’s Qualified Termination. For awards that have not reached the end of the measurement period, the benefit amount will be prorated based on the number of whole months completed during the measurement period as of the date of the Participant’s Qualified Termination.

		c.	Long Term Compensation Plan.  The terminated Participant shall be entitled to receive any awards which have been earned as of the date of the Participant’s Qualified Termination under the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan or successor plan, which shall be paid as soon as administratively possible but in no case will the payment be made later than seventy-five (75) days from the date of the Participant’s Qualified Termination. For awards that have not reached the end of the measurement period, the benefit amount will be prorated based on the number of whole months completed during the measurement period as of the date of the Participant’s Qualified Termination; provided, however that the amount payable pursuant to such awards shall be computed and paid in the normal course of business and pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan after the end of the measurement period. This section 4(c) applies only to awards made on or after the effective date of this Plan. The provisions provided in the actual award document will apply to any awards made prior to the effective date of this Plan.

		d.	Restricted Stock Unit (“RSU”) Agreements. The terminated Participant shall become vested as of the Qualified Termination Date in any RSU awards which have been granted to him or her under the Company’s Ownership Incentive Plan or any successor plans, and such shares shall be delivered to him or her without restriction during the 10-day period following the date of the Participant’s Qualified Termination, subject to Section 14. This section 4(d) applies only to awards made on or after the effective date of this Plan. The provisions provided in the actual award document will apply to any awards made prior to the effective date of this Plan.

		e.	Stock Option Agreements.   The terminated Participant shall become vested as of the Qualified Termination Date in any stock options which have been granted to him or her under the Company’s Ownership Incentive Plan or any successor plans. This section 4(e) applies only to awards made on or after the effective date of this Plan. The provisions provided in the actual award document will apply to any awards made prior to the effective date of this Plan.

		f.	Payment of Change in Control Benefits in Case of Death. In the event of the Participant’s death after a Change in Control but before payment of Change in Control Benefits, all Change-in-Control Benefits that would have been paid to the 

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			Participant under this Section 6 but for his or her death shall be paid to the Participant’s Estate.

		g.	Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans. The Terminated Participant shall be entitled to payment of his or her benefit, if any, in any nonqualified deferred compensation plan of the Company (including, but not limited to, the Supplemental Benefit Plan, the Deferred Compensation Agreement and the Voluntary Savings Plan) in accordance with the terms of such plan.

		h.	Employee Welfare Benefits.  The Company or the applicable Subsidiary shall pay an additional lump sum payment to the Terminated Participant in an amount equal to the product of (i) the monthly premium to elect continuation of coverage under the medical and dental plans of the Company (or an Affiliate of the Company, if applicable) payable pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, for the coverage in effect for the Terminated Participant and his or her spouse and dependents immediately prior to the date of termination, and (ii) 24.   Such payment will be paid as soon as administratively possible, but in no event later than seventy-five calendar days following the date of a Qualified Termination of a Participant.

	5.	Awards Outstanding under Company Equity Plans. Notwithstanding the occurrence of a Qualified Termination, in the event that awards under any equity compensation plan of the Company that are outstanding immediately prior to a Change in Control (“Outstanding Awards”) are not substituted, assumed, or continued by the successor to the Company in the Change in Control, if any (the “Successor”), then the Outstanding Awards will become fully vested, settled and paid upon the occurrence of the Change in Control.  In the event such Outstanding Award is a performance-based award, all incomplete performance periods in respect of such Outstanding Award in effect on the date the Change in Control occurs shall end on the date of such Change in Control and the Committee shall (a) determine the extent to which the performance goals with respect to each such performance period have been met based upon such audited or unaudited financial information then available as it deems relevant and (b) cause partial or full Outstanding Awards with respect to performance goals for each such performance period based upon the Committee’s determination of the degree of attainment of performance goals or, if not determinable, on a pro rata basis assuming that the applicable “target” levels of performance have been attained, or on such other basis determined by the Committee to be consistent with these payment levels).

	6.	Mandatory Reduction of Payments in Certain Events.

		a.	Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of a Participant (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Plan or otherwise) (a “Payment”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then, prior to the making of any Payment to the Participant, a calculation shall be made comparing (i) the before income tax net benefit to the Participant of the Payment after payment 

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			of the Excise Tax, to (ii) the before income tax net benefit to the Participant if the Payment had been limited to the extent necessary to avoid being subject to the Excise Tax. If the amount calculated under (i) above is less than the amount calculated under (ii) above, then the Payment shall be limited to the extent necessary to avoid being subject to the Excise Tax (the “Reduced Amount”). The reduction of the Payments due hereunder, if applicable, shall be made by first reducing cash Payments and then, to the extent necessary, reducing those Payments having the next highest ratio of Parachute Value to actual present value of such Payments as of the date of the Change in Control, as determined by the Determination Firm (as defined in Section 6(b) below). For purposes of this Section 6, present value shall be determined in accordance with Section 280G(d)(4) of the Code. For purposes of this Section 6, the “Parachute Value” of a Payment means the present value as of the date of the Change in Control of the portion of such Payment that constitutes a “parachute payment” under Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, as determined by the Determination Firm for purposes of determining whether and to what extent the Excise Tax will apply to such Payment.

		b.	The determination of whether an Excise Tax would be imposed, the amount of such Excise Tax, and the calculation of the amounts referred to Section 6(a)(i) and (ii) above shall be made by an independent, nationally recognized accounting firm or compensation consulting firm mutually acceptable to the Company and the Participant (the “Determination Firm”) which shall provide detailed supporting calculations. Any determination by the Determination Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Participant. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Determination Firm hereunder, it is possible that at a later date, it may be determined that payments which the Participant was entitled to, but did not receive pursuant to Section 6(a), could have been made without the imposition of the Excise Tax (“Underpayment”). In such event, the Determination Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Participant but no later than seventy-five (75) days after the end of the calendar year in which the Underpayment is determined to exist, which is when the legally binding right to such Underpayment arises.

		c.	In the event that the provisions of Code Section 280G and 4999 or any successor provisions are repealed without succession, this Section 6 shall be of no further force or effect.

	7.	Restrictive Covenants.

		a.	Confidential Information. During the period of their employment with the Company, Participants shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company and its Affiliates all trade secrets, proprietary or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company, and/or their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Participant. Trade secret information includes, but is not limited to, customer lists, pricing information, sales reports, 

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			strategic plans, compensation and incentive plans, financial and marketing data, information technology applications, reserves estimation processes or procedures, techniques, or processes that: (i) derive independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to the public or to persons who can obtain economic value from their disclosure or use, and (ii) are the subject of reasonable efforts under the circumstances to maintain their secrecy. While employed and at any time after termination of the Participant’s employment with the Company, the Participant shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, use, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone at any time.

		b.	Non-Disparagement. The Participant agrees not to, while employed and during the 12 month period commencing upon a Qualified Termination, make any remarks (whether in public or private) knowingly or intentionally disparaging the Company or its Affiliates, or their respective products, services, officers, Directors or employees, whether past or current, including any present, former or future Director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or an Affiliate.

		c.	Solicitation of Customers or Clients by Participants. Unless waived in writing by the Company, each Participant agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly, while employed and during the 12-month period commencing upon a Qualified Termination, solicit or contact, directly or indirectly, the trade or patronage of any of the customers or clients of the Company, regardless of the location of such customers or clients of the Company with respect to any services, products, or other matters in which the Company is active.

		d.	Solicitation of Company Employees. Unless waived in writing by the Company, each Participant agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly, while employed and during the 12-month period commencing upon a Qualified Termination, solicit or attempt to entice away from the Company any Director, agent or employee of the Company.

		e.	Remedies. If a Participant breaches any of the provisions of this Section 7, the Company shall have the right to reduce or offset the Change in Control Benefits to the Participant to the extent of its damages and seek other appropriate relief (including any equitable remedy to which the Company may be entitled), including attorneys’ fees.

	8.	No Duty to Mitigate/Set-off. No Participant entitled to receive Change in Control Benefits hereunder shall be required to seek other employment or to attempt in any way to reduce any amounts payable to him or her pursuant to this Plan. Further, the amount of Change in Control Benefits payable hereunder shall not be reduced by any compensation earned by the Participant as a result of employment by another employer or otherwise. Except as provided herein, the amounts payable hereunder shall not be subject to setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Participant or others. In addition, if any termination payments made to a Participant by the Company are related to an actual or potential liability under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining 

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		Notification Act (WARN) or similar law, such amounts shall reduce (offset) the Participant’s Change in Control Benefit under this Plan. In the event of the Participant’s breach of any provision hereunder, including without limitation, Sections 7, the Company shall be entitled to recover any payments previously made to the Participant hereunder.

	9.	Release Required. Any amounts payable pursuant to this Plan shall only be payable if the Participant delivers to the Company (and does not revoke) a release of claims in favor of the Company and its Affiliates and their respective officers, Directors and employees in a form provided by the Company (the “Release”) and such Release becoming effective and irrevocable within 60 days following the Participant’s Qualified Termination.  To the extent a Participant’s Qualified Termination occurs 67 or fewer calendar days prior to December 31, any payments or benefits provided pursuant to this Plan that constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b), will be paid no earlier than the calendar year following the Participant’s Qualified Termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Company with respect to any claim, lawsuit, action, proceeding or governmental investigation relating to the Change in Control.

	10.	Funding. Participants shall have no right, title, or interest whatsoever in or to any investments that the Company and/or its Affiliates may make to aid it in meeting its obligations under the Plan. Nothing contained in the Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, beneficiary, legal representative, or any other person. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company. All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company and no special or separate fund shall be established and no segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment of such amounts except as expressly set forth in the Plan.

	11.	Administration of the Plan.

		a.	Plan Administrator. The general administration of the Plan on behalf of the Company (as plan administrator under Section 3(16)(A) of ERISA) shall be placed with the Committee.

		b.	Reimbursement of Expenses of Plan Committee. The Company shall pay or reimburse the members of the Committee for all reasonable expenses incurred in connection with their duties hereunder.

		c.	Action by the Plan Committee. Decisions of the Committee shall be made by a majority of its members attending a meeting at which a quorum is present (which meeting may be held telephonically), or by written action in accordance with applicable law. Subject to the terms of this Plan and provided that the Committee acts in good faith, the Committee shall have full discretion and authority to determine a Participant’s participation and benefits under the Plan and to interpret and construe the provisions of the Plan.

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		d.	Delegation of Authority. The Committee may delegate any and all of its powers and responsibilities hereunder to other persons. Any such delegation shall not be effective until it is accepted by the persons designated and may be rescinded at any time by written notice from the Committee to the person to whom the delegation is made.

		e.	Retention of Professional Assistance. The Committee may employ such legal counsel, accountants and other persons as may be required in carrying out its duties and responsibilities in connection with the Plan.

		f.	Accounts and Records. The Committee shall maintain such accounts and records regarding the fiscal and other transactions of the Plan and such other data as may be required to carry out its functions under the Plan and to comply with all applicable laws.

		g.	Claims/Disputes Procedure.

		(i)	Prior to paying any benefit under the Plan, the Committee may require the Participant to provide such information or material as the Company, in its sole discretion, shall deem necessary for it to make any determination it may be required to make under the Plan. The Committee may withhold payments of any benefit under the Plan until it receives all such information and material and is reasonably satisfied of its accuracy.

		(ii)	Any Participant who is not paid a benefit and who believes that he or she is entitled to a benefit or who has been paid a benefit and who believes that he or she is entitled to a greater benefit may file a claim for benefits under the Plan in writing with the Committee (or his or her representative may do so on his or her behalf) within 60 days after the Participant’s Qualified Termination.  In any case in which a claim for Plan benefits by a Participant (or his or her representative) is denied or modified, the Committee shall furnish written notice to the claimant within 90 days after receipt of such claim for Plan benefits (or within 180 days if additional information requested by the Committee necessitates an extension of the 90-day period and the claimant is informed of such extension in writing within the original 90-day period), which notice shall set forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant:

		(A)	the specific reason or reasons for the denial or modification;

		(B)	specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial or modification is based;

		(C)	a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Participant or his or her representative to perfect the claim, and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and

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		(D)	an explanation of the Plan’s claim review procedure as contained herein, including the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination on review.

		(iii)	In the event a claim for Plan benefits is denied or modified, if the Participant (or his or her representative) desires to have such denial or modification reviewed, he or she must, within 60 days following receipt of the notice of such denial or modification, submit a written request for review by the Committee of its initial decision.  In connection with such request, the Participant (or his or her representative) may submit written comments, documents, records and other information (without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial claim) relating to the claim for benefits, all of which, to the extent relevant, will be taken into account in the Committee’s decision on review.  The claimant will be provided, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the claimant’s claim.  Within 60 days following such request for review the Committee shall, after providing a full and fair review, render its final decision in writing to the Participant (or his or her representative, if any) setting forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant (a) the specific reasons for such decision, (b) specific references to pertinent Plan provisions upon which the decision is based, (c) a statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to the claim, and (d) a statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under section 502(a) of ERISA.  If special circumstances require an extension of such 60-day period, the Committee’s decision shall be rendered as soon as possible, but not later than 120 days after receipt of the request for review.  If an extension of time for review is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Participant (and his or her representative, if any) prior to the commencement of the extension period.  

		(iv)	Any legal action with respect to a claim for Plan benefits must be filed no later than 180 days after the later of (i) the date the claim is denied by the Committee or (ii) if a review of such denial is requested pursuant to the provisions above, the date of the final decision by the Committee with respect to such request.

		(v)	The exhaustion of these claims procedures is mandatory for resolving every claim and dispute arising under the Plan. As to such claims and disputes:

		(A)	no claimant shall be permitted to commence any legal action to recover benefits or to enforce or clarify rights under the Plan under Section 502 or Section 510 of ERISA or under any other provision of law, whether or not statutory, until these claims procedures have been exhausted in their entirety; and

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		(B)	in any such legal action, all explicit and implicit determinations by the Committee (including, but not limited to, determinations as to whether the claim, or a request for a review of a denied claim, was timely filed) shall be afforded the maximum deference permitted by law.

		h.	Legal Fees and Expenses. If any dispute arises between the parties with respect to the interpretation or performance of this Plan, the prevailing party in any arbitration or proceeding shall be entitled to recover from the other party its attorney’s fees, arbitration or court costs and other expenses incurred in connection with any such proceeding. Amounts, if any, paid to the Executive under this Section 11 shall be in addition to all other amounts due to the Executive pursuant to this Plan.

	12.	Taxes. The Participant shall be solely responsible for his or her own tax liability with respect to participation in and payments under this Plan. The Company may withhold (or cause there to be withheld, as the case may be) from any amounts otherwise due or payable under or pursuant to this Plan such federal, state and local income, employment, or other taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, nothing in this Plan is intended to constitute, nor does it constitute, tax advice, and in all cases, the Participant should obtain and rely solely on the tax advice provided by the Participant’s own independent tax advisors (and not this Plan, the Company, any of the Company’s Affiliates, or any officer, employee or agent of the Company or any of its Affiliates).

	13.	Indemnification. The Committee, its members and any person designated pursuant to Section 11(d) above shall not be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan. The Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, by the purchase of insurance or otherwise, indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee and each Director, officer and employee of the Company for liabilities or expenses they and each of them incur in carrying out their respective duties under this Plan, other than for any liabilities or expenses arising out of such individual’s willful misconduct or fraud.

	14.	Code Section 409A.

		a.	Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, to the extent that any amount or benefit that would constitute non-exempt “deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) would otherwise be payable or distributable hereunder by reason of a Participant’s termination of employment, such amount or benefit will not be payable or distributable to the Participant by reason of such circumstance unless (i) the circumstances giving rise to such termination of employment meet any description or definition of “separation from service” in Section 409A of the Code and applicable regulations (without giving effect to any elective provisions that may be available under such definition), or (ii) the payment or distribution of such amount or benefit would be exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code by reason of the short-term deferral exemption or otherwise. This provision does not prohibit the vesting of any amount upon a termination of employment, however 

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			defined. If this provision prevents the payment or distribution of any amount or benefit, such payment or distribution shall be made on the date, if any, on which an event occurs that constitutes a Section 409A-compliant “separation from service.” Each payment under the Plan shall be treated as one of a series of separate payments for purposes of Section 409A.

		b.	Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, if any amount or benefit that would constitute non-exempt “deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code would otherwise be payable or distributable under this Plan by reason of a Participant’s separation from service during a period in which he is a Specified Employee (as defined below), then, subject to any permissible acceleration of payment by the Company under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ii) (domestic relations order), (j)(4)(iii) (conflicts of interest), or (j)(4)(vi) (payment of employment taxes), the Participant’s right to receive payment or distribution of such non-exempt deferred compensation will be delayed until the earlier of the Participant’s death or the first business day of the seventh month following the Participant’s separation from service (the “Specified Employee Payment Date”).  The aggregate of any payments that would otherwise have been paid before the Specified Employee Payment Date shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum on the Specified Employee Payment Date and thereafter, any remaining payments shall be paid without delay in accordance with their original schedule. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, if any payment or benefit is conditioned on the Participant’s execution of a Release, the first payment shall include all amounts that would otherwise have been paid to the Participant during the period beginning on the date of the Qualified Termination and ending on the payment date if no delay had been imposed. 

For purposes of this Plan, the term “Specified Employee” has the meaning given such term in Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder (“409A Regulations”), provided, however, that, as permitted in the 409A Regulations, the Company’s Specified Employees and its application of the six-month delay rule of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) shall be determined in accordance with rules adopted by the Company, which shall be applied consistently with respect to all nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements of the Company, including this Plan.
		c.	This Plan is generally intended to comply with the short-term deferral exemption of Section 409A. To the extent any provision of this Plan is determined to not comply with Section 409A, the Plan will be administered under the terms of Section 409A.

	15.	Amendment and Termination. The Committee reserves the right to amend or terminate, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of this Plan at any time, provided that in no event shall any amendment reducing the benefits provided hereunder be effective within 180 days prior to a Change in Control.

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	16.	Successors. All obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company. In any such event, the term “Company”, as used in this Plan, shall mean the Company, as hereinbefore defined and any successor or assignee to the business or assets which by reason hereof becomes bound by the terms and provisions of this Plan.

	17.	Miscellaneous.

		a.	Rights of Participants. Nothing herein contained shall be held or construed to create any liability or obligation upon the Company to retain any Participant in its service. All Participants shall remain subject to discharge or discipline to the same extent as if this Plan had not been put into effect.

		b.	Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

		c.	Withholding. The Company shall have the right to make such provisions as it deems necessary or appropriate to satisfy any obligations it may have to withhold federal, state or local income or other taxes incurred by reason of payments pursuant to this Plan.

		d.	Severability. In case any provision of this Plan be deemed or held to be unlawful or invalid for any reason, such fact shall not adversely affect the other provisions of this Plan unless such determination shall render impossible or impracticable the functioning of this Plan, and in such case, an appropriate provision or provisions shall be adopted so that this Plan may continue to function properly.

		e.	Assignment and Alienation. The benefits payable to the Participant under the Plan shall not be subject to alienation, transfer, assignment, garnishment, execution or levy of any kind and any attempt to cause any benefits to be so subjected shall not be recognized.

		f.	Communications. All announcements, notices and other communications regarding this Plan will be made by the Company in a form determined to be acceptable by the Committee.

		g.	ERISA Plan. The Plan is intended to be a “top hat” welfare benefit plan within the meaning of U.S. Department of Labor Regulation § 2520.104-24.

	18.	Entire Agreement. This Plan sets forth the entire understanding of the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all existing severance and change in control plans, agreements and understandings (whether oral or written) between the Company and the Participants with respect to the subject matter herein.

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ArcBest Corporation
Amended and Restated 2012 Change in Control Plan
Effective July 1, 2021, participants include the following:
Tier I
Judy McReynolds
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Tier II
Dennis Anderson
David Cobb
Erin Gattis
Michael Johns
Steve Leonard
Danny Loe
Michael Newcity
Seth Runser

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