Former Treadco president retires from Arkansas Best after 34 years

Dec. 10, 2007

John "Bob" Meyers, vice president of Arkansas Best Corp. and a former top executive with Treadco Inc., is retiring after 34 years with the company. He will officially step down Jan. 31, 2008.

From 1995 to 2001, Meyers served as president of Treadco, a truck tire subsidiary of Arkansas Best and at one time the largest independent retreader in the United States.

In 2000 Treadco retreaded 2,450 truck tires a day at its 21 shops, ranking it fourth on Modern Tire Dealer's "Top 50 retreaders" list.

The following year, Treadco merged with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., with Goodyear owning 60% of the resulting Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems LLC. Goodyear eventually bought out Arkansas Best's interest in the joint venture.

"During his time with Arkansas Best, Bob Meyers has always displayed a knack for providing fresh ideas and efficient management over his areas of responsibility," says Chairman Robert Young III. "More than once over the years, I have looked to Bob to provide his insight and direction to a new area within our company. He has always responded positively and enthusiastically.

"We would not be where we are today without his keen mind and work ethic."

Meyers joined Arkansas Best in December 1973 as director of internal audit, a department he started. From 1979 to 1995, he also served as vice p and treasurer of both Arkansas Best and ABF Freight System Inc.

Since 2001, Meyers has been responsible for the non-ABF subsidiaries including Clipper Exxpress, a non-asset, intermodal subsidiary sold in 2006, and FleetNet America Inc., a third-party vehicle maintenance company.