Document:

arcb_EX_10_3

		

			Exhibit 10.3

		

		
			 
		

		
			ArcBest
		

		
			 Long-Term (3-Year) Incentive Compensation Plan 
		

		
			 
		

		
			Pursuant to the ArcBest Corporation (“ArcBest” or “Company”) Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan, the Compensation Committee of the ArcBest Corporation Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) has adopted the “Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan” (the “Plan”) and has determined that the Plan will include the following components for the three-year period beginning 1/1/[       ] and ending 12/31/[       ]:
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

			
					
						 

					
					
						 

				
	
					
						ROCE Component

					
					
						50% weighting

				
	
					
						Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) Component

					
					
						50% weighting

				

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			The ROCE Component weighting and TSR Component weighting are determined by the Compensation Committee for each Measurement Period.
		

		
			
		

		
			 
		

			
	
			
				 I.
			

			
	
			
			Defined Terms

		
			 
		

		
			Base Salary. Base Salary for participants other than Executive Officers is defined as total base salary earned, while an eligible participant in the Plan, for the Measurement Period divided by the number of months in the Measurement Period multiplied by twelve. 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. 
		

		
			 
		

		
			Base Salary for Executive Officers.   Base Salary for Executive Officers     is defined as total base salary earned, while an eligible participant in the Plan, for the Measurement Period divided by the number of months in the Measurement Period multiplied by twelve, but in no event shall the Base Salary for an Executive Officer exceed the monthly base salary for the Executive Officer as most recently approved by the Compensation Committee as of the end of the day on which the Plan is approved for the Measurement Period, multiplied by twelve, multiplied by 200%.  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.
		

		
			 
		

		
			Cause.  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 pleas 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 or any Subsidiary’s property, or (iv) Participant’s material breach of the Company’s Code of Conduct, as such Code may be revised from time to time.  
		

		
			 
		

		
			Disability.  Disability shall mean a condition under which the Participant either (A) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of 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 (B) 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 three months under an accident or health plan covering employees of the Company or any Subsidiary.  
		

		
			 
		

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

		
			 
		

		
			Measurement Period.  The Measurement Period is 1/1/[       ] to 12/31/[       ].
		

		
			 
		

		
			

		 

 

		

			ArcBest Corporation.

		

		

			[       ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan 

		

		

			 

		

		

			 

		

		

		
			Qualified Termination.  Qualified Termination shall mean, within 24 full calendar months after a Change in Control, as defined in the Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan, 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. 
		

		
			 
		

		
			Retirement.  Retirement shall mean Participant’s retirement from active employment at or after age 65 or retirement from the Company or Subsidiary at or after age 55, so long as the Participant has, as of the date of such retirement, at least 10 years of service with the Company or any Subsidiary.
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			II. Participants
		

		
			 
		

		
			Participants in the Plan (who are not active participants in ArcBest or a Subsidiary’s Supplemental Benefit Plan or Deferred Salary Agreement program or who selected Option 1 for their 12/31/2009 SBP Freeze election)  are listed in Appendix C and certain employees may be specifically included or excluded by the Compensation Committee. For purposes of Appendix C, the term “ArcBest’ refers to both ArcBest Corporation and ArcBest II, Inc. 
		

		
			 
		

		
			An employee may not become a Participant after the end of the 12th month of the Measurement Period.
		

		
			 
		

		
			If an Eligible Participant in the Plan also participates in the ArcBest Corporation 2012 Change in Control Plan, the terms of the ArcBest Corporation 2012 Change in Control Plan shall govern.
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			III.  Corporate Performance Metrics
		

		
			 
		

		
			ROCE Component: The Individual Award Opportunities provided by the ROCE Component are based on (a) achieving certain levels of performance for ArcBest’s consolidated Return on Capital Employed (“ROCE”) and (b) your Target Payout Factor.  The formula below illustrates how your incentive is computed:  
		

		
			 
		

		
			Your Incentive Payment = [Performance Factor Earned x Your Target Payout Factor x Your Base Salary x the ROCE Component Weighting]. 
		

		
			 
		

		
			If your job position changes during the Measurement Period, your Incentive Payment will be prorated based on the Base Salary you receive while you are in an eligible Job Position listed in the Plan, the applicable Performance Factor Earned and Your Target Payout Factor. If you die, are Disabled or Retire as provided for under Section IV  of the ROCE Component, your Incentive Payment will be prorated based on the Base Salary you receive from the beginning of the Measurement Period until the applicable date of death, Disability or retirement date. 
		

		
			 
		

		
			A. Performance Factor Earned. Performance Factor Earned is shown in Appendix A and depends on the ROCE achieved by ArcBest for the Measurement Period.
		

		
			 
		

		
			B. Target Payout Factor.  Your Target Payout Factor is a percentage of your Base Salary.  The Target Payout Factors are listed in Appendix C.  
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			TSR Component: The Individual Award Opportunities provided by the TSR Component are based on (a) the percentile rank of the Company’s Compounded Annual Growth Rate (“CAGR”) of Total Shareholder Return relative to the Peer Companies over the Measurement Period and (b) your Target Payout Factor.  At the end of the Measurement Period, the percentile rank of the Company’s CAGR Total Shareholder Return will be calculated. Any Peer Company that is no longer publicly traded shall be excluded from this calculation. The formula below illustrates how this portion of your incentive is computed:  
		

		
			 
		

		
			Your Incentive Payment = [Performance Factor Earned x Your Target Payout Factor x Your Base Salary x TSR Component Weighting]. 
		

		
			 
		

		
			

		 

		

			2

		

		

			 

		

 

		

			ArcBest Corporation.

		

		

			[       ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan 

		

		

			 

		

		

			 

		

		

		
			If you become eligible to participate in the Plan during the first 12 months of the Measurement Period, your Incentive Payment will be prorated based on the Base Salary you receive while you are in an eligible Job Position listed in the Plan, the applicable Performance Factor Earned and Your Target Payout Factor. If you die, are Disabled or Retire as provided for under Section IV of the TSR Component, your Incentive Payment will be prorated based on the Base Salary you receive from the beginning of the Measurement Period until your date of death, Disability or retirement date.
		

		
			 
		

		
			A. Performance Factor Earned.   The Performance Factor Earned is shown in Appendix B and depends on the Company’s Compounded Annual Growth Rate of Total Shareholder Return over the Measurement Period as compared to the Peer Companies.
		

		
			       
		

		
			B. Target Payout Factor. Your Target Payout Factor is a percentage of your Base Salary. The percentage varies for each level of management within the Company.  The Target Payout Factors are listed in Appendix C.  
		

		
			 
		

		
			If the performance result falls between two rows on Appendix A or Appendix B, interpolation is used to determine the factor used in the computation of the incentive.
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			The Compensation Committee has established maximum incentive amounts based on a maximum Performance Factor Earned of 200% for the TSR Component and 300% for the ROCE Component subject to the applicable weighting for each component as provided in Appendix A and Appendix B.
		

		
			 
		

		
			The terms of the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan – ROCE Component and the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan – TSR Component are incorporated into the Plan.  
		

		
			 
		

		
			IV. Payment of Award
		

		
			 
		

		
			Payment will be made as soon as practicable following the end of the Measurement Period, and in any event, no later than 2 1⁄2 months after the end of the Measurement Period.
		

		
			 
		

		
			V.  Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan
		

		
			 
		

		
			Defined terms in this Plan shall have the same meaning as in the Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan, except where the context otherwise requires.
		

		
			 
		

		
			No term or provision in this Plan may conflict with any term or provision of the Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan. It is specifically intended that the Plan, ROCE Component and TSR Component be an “Award Agreement” and the incentives  paid hereunder be an “Award” under the terms of the Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan.
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			VI. Discretionary Adjustments
		

		
			 
		

		
			Prior to a Change in  Control, the Compensation Committee may reduce any Participant’s Final Award if the Compensation Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that events have occurred or facts have become known which would make a reduction appropriate and equitable.
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			

		 

		

			3

		

		

			 

		

 

		

			ArcBest Corporation.

		

		

			[       ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan 

		

		

			 

		

		

			 

		

		

		
			VI. Effect of Termination of Employment; Change in Control
		

		
			 
		

			
	
			
				 (a)
			

			
	
			
			General. Except as provided in subparts (b) or (c), upon a termination of Participant’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary for any reason prior to the completion of the Measurement Period, the Participant shall not be entitled to any Incentive Payment under the Plan.

		
			 
		

			
	
			
				 (b)
			

			
	
			
			Death; Disability; Retirement.  Upon termination of Participant’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary by reason of Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement (as defined in the Plan), Participant’s Incentive Payment shall be prorated based on the period of participation in the Plan, provided that Participant’s Incentive Payment shall be computed and paid in the normal course of business after the end of the Measurement Period. Provided, however, an employee must have completed at least 12 months of the Measurement Period to be entitled to an Incentive Payment under this Section IV(b).

		
			
		

			
	
			
				 (c)
			

			
	
			
			Change in Control. Upon the occurrence of a Qualified Termination following a Change in Control, Participant shall be entitled to immediate payment of the greater of the following:

		
			 
		

		
			                    (A)  The amount computed under the Plan based on 100% of the Participant’s “Target Payout Factor” in Appendix C using the date of the Change in Control as the end of the Measurement Period, or
		

		
			            (B)  The amount computed under the Plan based on the actual percentage of Performance Factor Earned in Appendix A and Appendix B, calculated as if the Measurement Period ended on the date of the Change in Control and using the Company share price as of the date of the Change in Control to calculate TSR rather than the 60-day average price for the ending of the Measurement Period.
		

		
			 
		

		
			
		

		
			

		 

		

			4

		

		

			 

		

 

		

			ArcBest Corporation.

		

		

			[       ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan 

		

		

			 

		

		

			 

		

		

		
			 
		

		
			 LTIP - ROCE Component
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			The Compensation Committee of the ArcBest Corporation Board of Directors has adopted this ROCE Component of the Plan (“ROCE Component”), including the following Individual Award Opportunities, Performance Measures and Participants for ArcBest Corporation and its subsidiaries for the three-year period beginning 1/1/[       ] and ending 12/31/[       ].
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			I. Performance Measure 
		

		
			 
		

		
			ROCE for ArcBest is calculated as the following ratio for the Measurement Period:
		

		
			 
		

		
			Net Income + After-tax Effect of Interest Expense + After-tax Effect of Imputed Interest Expense + After-tax Effect of Amortization of intangibles – After-tax Effect of Income from Cash and Short-term Investments Attributable to the reduction in Avg.  Debt
		

		
			__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________-________________
		

		
			Average Equity + Average Debt + Average Imputed Debt
		

		
			 
		

		
			Divided by 3 
		

		
			 
		

		
			“Net Income” for the ROCE calculation is consolidated net income for the Measurement Period determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles after taking into account the Section II Required Adjustments.
		

		
			 
		

		
			“Interest Expense” for the ROCE calculation is (i) interest on all long and short-term indebtedness and other interest bearing obligations and (ii) deferred financing cost amortization and other financing costs, including letters of credit fees for the Measurement Period, reduced by the amount of interest expense on debt not included in Average Debt as defined below.
		

		
			 
		

		
			“Imputed Interest Expense” consists of the interest attributable to Average Imputed Debt assuming an interest rate of 7.5% for the Measurement Period.
		

		
			 
		

		
			“Average Equity” is the average of the beginning of the Measurement Period and the end of the Measurement Period stockholder’s equity.    
		

		
			 
		

		
			“Average Debt” is the average of the beginning of the Measurement Period and the end of the Measurement Period current and long-term debt, with beginning of the Measurement Period and end of the Measurement Period current and long-term debt reduced by the respective amount of the beginning of the Measurement Period and end of the Measurement Period total of unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, and limited to a reduction of debt to zero.   
		

		
			 
		

		
			“Average Imputed Debt” consists of the average of the beginning of the Measurement Period and the end of the Measurement Period present value of all payments determined using an interest rate of 7.5% on operating leases of revenue equipment with an initial term of more than two years.
		

		
			 
		

		
			“Amortization of intangibles” consists of amortization of intangibles and depreciation of software related to acquired businesses including any writedown or impairment charge related to those assets. 
		

		
			 
		

		
			“Income from Cash and Short-term Investments Attributable to the reduction in Average Debt” consists of income earned on the amount by which Average Debt is reduced at the average interest rate earned in cash and short-term investments for the measurement period.
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			

		 

		

			5

		

		

			 

		

 

		

			ArcBest Corporation.

		

		

			[       ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan 

		

		

			 

		

		

			 

		

		

		
			II. Required Adjustments
		

		
			 
		

		
			The following adjustments shall be made when calculating ROCE:
		

		
			 
		

			
	
			
				 (i)
			

			
	
			
			add back the after-tax total long-term incentive compensation accruals during the Measurement Period for any Long-term Incentive Compensation Plan for nonunion employees of ArcBest and any of its Subsidiaries when determining Net Income;

			
	
			
				 (ii)
			

			
	
			
			add back after-tax direct third party expenses associated with an acquisition by ArcBest or any of its Subsidiaries, to the extent the items were added back under the [       ], [       ] and [       ] ArcBest and any of its Subsidiaries Annual Incentive Compensation Plans;

			
	
			
				 (iii)
			

			
	
			
			exclude the operating results (all revenue and expenses) for any business acquired between the beginning of the Measurement Period and the end of the Measurement Period from the calculation of Net Income in the numerator of the ratio for the period from the acquisition date to the next December 31 (operating results of acquired businesses are included thereafter) and exclude any Acquisition Debt attributable to the business acquired (either directly held by the business or incurred to acquire the business) included in the denominator based on the weighted average of the Acquisition Debt for the period for which operating results are excluded from the numerator.

			
	
			
				 (iv)
			

			
	
			
			exclude decreases in Net Income resulting directly from reorganization and restructuring programs for which amounts are publicly disclosed; 

			
	
			
				 (v)
			

			
	
			
			exclude increases or decreases to ROCE resulting from an extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring item as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion provided such item is described, at the time the performance goal is established, in a manner that is objectively determinable; 

			
	
			
				 (vi)
			

			
	
			
			exclude increases or decreases in Net Income resulting from any change in accounting principle (other than the change in accounting principle under ASC 606) as defined in the Accounting Standards Codification topic(s) that replaced or were formerly known as Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement 154, as amended or superseded; 

			
	
			
				 (vii)
			

			
	
			
			exclude the effect on ROCE of changes to net income, equity and debt as a result of any change in accounting principle as defined in the Accounting Standards Codification topic(s) that replaced or were formerly known as Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30, as amended or superseded;

			
	
			
				 (viii)
			

			
	
			
			exclude any loss from a discontinued operation as described in the Accounting Standards Codification topic(s) as they existed at December 31, 2013, that replaced or were formerly known as FASB 144, as amended or superseded; 

			
	
			
				 (ix)
			

			
	
			
			exclude the effect of changes in federal income tax law or regulations affecting reported results during the Measurement Period including increases or decreases in tax rates, changes in the taxability or deductibility of any item of income or expense or the addition or elimination of tax credits. A change for this purpose will be as compared to the laws and regulations in effect on January 1, [       ], without consideration of any retroactive changes in tax law that affect January 1, [       ] tax law;  

			
	
			
				 (x)
			

			
	
			
			exclude goodwill impairment charges; and

			
	
			
				 (xi)
			

			
	
			
			exclude after-tax settlement accounting charges incurred that relate to the qualified defined benefit pension plan.

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			
		

		
			

		 

		

			6

		

		

			 

		

 

		

			ArcBest Corporation.

		

		

			[       ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan 

		

		

			 

		

		

			 

		

		

		
			LTIP - TSR Component
		

		
			 
		

		
			The Compensation Committee of the ArcBest Corporation Board of Directors has adopted this Total Shareholder Return Component of the Total Plan (“TSR Component”), including the following Individual Award Opportunities, Performance Measures, and Participants for ArcBest Corporation and its subsidiaries for the three-year period beginning 1/1/[       ] and ending 12/31/[       ].
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			I. Performance Measure 
		

		
			 
		

		
			Total Shareholder Return. (“TSR”). Total Shareholder Return with respect to the Company and each Peer Company equals 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 dividends paid on reinvested dividends (the calculation assumes that all dividends paid are reinvested). Any Peer Company that is no longer publicly traded shall be excluded from this calculation.
		

		
			 
		

		
			Compounded Annual Growth Rate (“CAGR”). Compounded Annual Growth Rate converts the total return into a value that indicates what the return was on an annual basis for the 3-year period. 
		

		
			 
		

		
			Peer Companies. The Peer Companies are the following publicly traded companies:  
		

			
					
						 

					
						Company Name

					
					
						Ticker

				
	
					
						Echo Global Logistics, Inc.

					
					
						ECHO

				
	
					
						Forward Air Corporation

					
					
						FWRD

				
	
					
						Hub Group, Inc.

					
					
						HUBG

				
	
					
						JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

					
					
						JBHT

				
	
					
						Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.

					
					
						KNX

				
	
					
						Landstar System, Inc.

					
					
						LSTR

				
	
					
						Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

					
					
						ODFL

				
	
					
						Roadrunner Transportation Systems, Inc.

					
					
						RRTS

				
	
					
						Saia, Inc.

					
					
						SAIA

				
	
					
						Schneider National, Inc.

					
					
						SNDR

				
	
					
						Werner Enterprises, Inc.

					
					
						WERN

				
	
					
						XPO Logistics, Inc.

					
					
						XPO

				
	
					
						YRC Worldwide Inc.

					
					
						YRCW

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						 

				

		
			 
		

		
			II. Adjustments
		

		
			 
		

		
			In the event that there is any change in the common stock of the Company or the Peer Companies as the result of any stock dividend on, dividend of or stock split or stock combination of, or any like change in, stock of the same class or in the event of any change in the capital structure of the Company or the Peer Companies all share amounts and the TSR calculation will be adjusted appropriately.
		

		
			 
		

		
			

		 

		

			7

		

		

			 

		

 

		

			ArcBest Corporation.

		

		

			[       ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan 

		

		

			 

		

		

			 

		

Appendix A
		

		
			 
		

		
			[       ]-[       ] LTIP – ROCE Component
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

			
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

					
					
						 

					
						formance Factor Earned

					
						 

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
						Three-Year Average Return 

					
						on Capital Employed 

					
						(“ROCE”)

					
					
						 

					
						 

					
						Performance Factor Earned

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						 Less than 8%

					
					
						0%

				
	
					
						Threshold

					
					
						8%

					
					
						50%

				
	
					
						Target

					
					
						13%

					
					
						100%

				
	
					
						Maximum

					
					
						18%

					
					
						300% 

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						Greater than 18%

					
					
						300%

				

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			ROCE Component Weighting:  50%
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			

		 

		

			8

		

		

			 

		

 

		

			ArcBest Corporation.

		

		

			[       ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan 

		

		

			 

		

		

			 

		

Appendix B
		

		
			 
		

		
			[       ]-[       ] LTIP – TSR Component
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

			
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
						 

					
					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
						Percentile ranking of the Company’s Compounded Annual Growth Rate TSR relative to Peer Companies over the Measurement Period 

					
					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

					
						Performance Factor Earned

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						Below 25th Percentile 

					
					
						0%

				
	
					
						Threshold

					
					
						25th Percentile

					
					
						25%

				
	
					
						Target

					
					
						50th Percentile

					
					
						100%

				
	
					
						Maximum

					
					
						75th Percentile

					
					
						200% 

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						Above 75th Percentile

					
					
						200%

				

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			TSR Component Weighting:  50%
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			

		 

		

			9

		

		

			 

		

 

		

			ArcBest Corporation.

		

		

			[       ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan 

		

		

			 

		

		

			 

		

Appendix C
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			LTIP Target Payout Factors
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

			
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

				
	
					
						Participants/Job Title

					
					
						 

					
						 

					
						Target Payout Factor

				
	
					
						ArcBest – Chairman, President & CEO

					
					
						[       ]%

				
	
					
						ABF – President 

					
					
						[       ]%

				
	
					
						ArcBest VP – CFO

					
					
						[       ]%

				
	
					
						ArcBest, COO, Asset-Light Logistics 

					
					
						[       ]%

				
	
					
						AB Tech – President and ArcBest SVP – CINO

					
					
						[       ]%

				
	
					
						ABF SVP – Operations

					
						ArcBest VP – General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

					
						ArcBest VP – Chief Yield Officer 

					
						ArcBest VP – Chief Customer Experience Officer 

					
						ArcBest VP – Chief Human Resources Officer

					
						ArcBest VP – Chief Sales Officer

					
					
						[       ]%

				
	
					
						ArcBest VP – Controller 

					
						ArcBest VP – Customer Solutions

					
						ArcBest VP – Financial Services and Risk Mgmt

					
						ArcBest VP – Talent and Growth Initiatives

					
						ArcBest VP – Digital Business Platforms

					
						AB Tech VP – Business Insight & Analytics

					
						AB Tech VP – Chief Technology Officer

					
						AB Tech VP – Technology R&D

					
						AB Tech VP – CIO

					
						ABF Freight VP – Employee Relations & HR

					
						ABF Freight VP – Service Center Operations

					
						ABF Freight VP – Equipment & Maintenance

					
						ArcBest VP – Yield Management

					
					
						[       ]%

				
	
					
						ArcBest VP – Internal Audit

					
						ArcBest VP – Sales – East

					
						ArcBest VP – Sales – West

					
						ArcBest VP – People Services

					
						ABF Freight VP – Pricing, Treasurer & Controller

					
					
						[       ]%

				
	
					
						ArcBest EVP – Asset-Light Expedited Services & Capacity

					
						ArcBest VP – Strat. Cap. & Carr. Exp.

					
						ArcBest VP – Sales – Expedite

					
						ArcBest VP – Sales – Verticals

					
						ArcBest VP – Controller, Asset-Light Logistics

					
						ArcBest VP – Treasurer

					
						ArcBest VP – Customer Experience

					
						ArcBest VP – Investor Relations

					
						ArcBest VP – Tax

					
					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

					
						[       ]%

				
	
					
						AB Tech VP – Change Management 

					
						ArcBest VP – Expedited and Dedicated Operations

					
						ArcBest VP – Managed Solutions

					
						ArcBest VP – Moving Services and Yield Management

					
					
						[       ]%

				
	
					
						ArcBest VP – International

					
					
						[       ]%

				

		
			 
		

		 

		

			10arcb_EX_10_4

		

			Exhibit 10.4

		

		
			ARCBEST CORPORATION
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT
(Non-Employee Directors – with deferral feature)
		

		
			 
		

		
			Participant:XXXXXXXXXX
		

		
			Grant Date:XXXXX XX,  XXXX
		

		
			Award Number:XXXX.XXX
		

		
			Restricted Stock Units Awarded:x,xxx
		

		
			 
		

		
			This Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of this XXXX day of XXXXX XX, XXXX (the “Grant Date”), and is between ArcBest Corporation (the “Company”) and XXXXXXXXXXX (“Participant”).
		

		
			WHEREAS, the Company, by action of the Board and approval of its shareholders established the ArcBest Corporation 2005 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 x,xxx 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:

		
			 
		

		
			(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.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(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.
		

		
			 
		

		
			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.  
		

		
			 
		

		
			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.
		

		
			 
		

		
			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 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 

		 

		

			2

		

 

	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. 
		

		
			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 

		 

		

			3

		

 

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 the Company within the meanings ascribed to such terms in Treasury Department regulations or other guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code.

		
			

		 

		

			4

		

 

		

			
	
			
				 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.
		

		
			

		 

		

			5

		

 

		

			
	
			
				 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).
		

		
			

		 

		

			6

		

 

		

			
	
			
				 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.

		
			

		 

		

			7

		

 

		

			
	
			
				 (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 

		 

		

			8

		

 

	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.

		
			

		 

		

			9

		

 

		

		
			IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
		

		
			 
		

			
					
						 

					
					
						 

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						ARCBEST CORPORATION

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						By: _____________________________

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						 

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						PARTICIPANT

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						 

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
						            

				

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			

		 

		

			10

		

 

		

			 

		

		

		
			Return Deferral Form by December 31,  [     ]
		

		
			Exhibit A
		

		
			ARCBEST CORPORATION
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT
INITIAL DEFERRAL ELECTION FORM FOR 2019 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 2005 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
		

		
			I hereby irrevocably elect to defer settlement of _____% of the Shares subject to the Award. 
		

		
			

		 

		

			 

		

 

		

		
			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]:
		

		
			_____________, 20_____ [Note: this date must be after the third anniversary of the [       ] Grant Date]; or
		

		
			the termination of my service as a member of the Board; or
		

		
			the earlier of _____________, 20_____ [Note: this date must be after the third anniversary of the [       ] Grant Date] or the termination of my service as a member of the Board; or
		

		
			the later of _____________, 20_____ [Note: this date must be after the third 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.

		
			

		 

		

			2

		

 

		

			
	
			
				 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.

		
			 
		

			
					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

					
						Participant]

					
						 

					
					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

					
						

					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

				
	
					
						Submitted by:

					
						 

					
						 

					
						 

					
						

					
						[Participant]

					
					
						Accepted by:

					
						 

					
						ARCBEST CORPORATION

					
						 

					
						By:

					
						Name:

					
						Title:  

				

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		 

		

			3

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