ArcBest CEO Judy R. McReynolds is retiring as chief executive officer after 15 years overseeing the transformation of the company amidst a rapidly changing environment.

McReynolds' retirement will be effective December 31. ArcBest President Seth Runser was named CEO-elect and will succeed McReynolds as CEO on January 1, 2026. He will keep his role as president and has also been appointed to the board effective the same date. McReynolds will continue to serve as chairman of the board.

In a 2019 interview with Heavy Duty Trucking, McReynolds spoke about the major changes she had seen in her time at ArcBest, saying, "The number one change is from our customers, who expect a great experience from their logistics providers and, who, in turn, are reacting to consumer demands for ever-faster delivery requirements on a pretty much 24/7 basis."

Since McReynold’s appointment as CEO in 2010, she “has led ArcBest through transformative change, delivering outstanding results and building a strong foundation for the future," said Steven Spinner, lead independent director, in a news release.

“Under her leadership, ArcBest has been a pioneer in the industry, making smart investments and implementing innovative technology at scale to deliver customized logistics solutions and provide a premium customer experience.”

Judy McReynolds' Track Record of Success

“It has been a tremendous honor to lead ArcBest and work alongside such a talented and committed team,” McReynolds said in a news release.

With 28 years at ArcBest and over three decades in transportation and logistics, she is a well-known and respected industry visionary. 

During her tenure, the company’s revenue more than doubled, and operating income grew to nearly $300 million annually.

McReynolds previously served as ArcBest’s chief financial officer and held senior roles in finance and accounting. In 2016, she was elected chairman of the board of directors, succeeding Robert A. Young, who was retiring.

McReynolds is a member of the American Trucking Associations Board and Executive Committee. In 2023, she was inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.

ArcBest has been a leader in female leadership. In 2015, a Women in Trucking study found that at the time, women made up 27.3% of the board of directors and 25% of executives at the company.

In 2019, she was honored with the Women in Trucking Association’s Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award.

Leading ArcBest Through Disruption

In that 2019 HDT interview, McReynolds responded to questions about how the company was dealing with disruptors such as the rise of e-commerce and what were then nicknamed "Uber for trucking" technology platforms.

"It all comes down to a need for logistics providers to adapt and give customers what they want and in the way they want it, whether through trusted personal contacts, digital methods, or future ways of interacting that are still being developed," she responded.

"We have found that while speed is clearly a defining issue for customers, they often also want that human presence particularly when it comes to complex logistics challenges."

Under her leadership, ArcBest navigated significant industry disruptions, expanded its service offerings through five strategic acquisitions, and introduced multiple innovations.

A prime example is Vaux, a suite of material handling solutions currently in pilot with multiple Fortune 500 companies. 

Seth Runser: 'Steering the Team Through Unprecedented Change'

"Over the past 18 years, Seth has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and achieved strong results,” said Spinner.

“His strategic insight and operational expertise have been instrumental in fostering innovation and advancing ArcBest’s customer-centric approach as a leading logistics partner.”

Runser began his career at ArcBest 18 years ago as a management trainee and has held leadership roles across operations, linehaul, and executive management.

As ArcBest president, he led strategic initiatives to drive profitable growth, advance premium service for customers, and improve operational efficiency, according to the company.

As president of ABF Freight, Runser guided the organization through the global pandemic, secured a five-year labor agreement, and led a transformation that delivered eight quarters of record performance. 

“Seth has played a pivotal role in ArcBest’s evolution into a leading integrated logistics company, helping to deliver record results while steering the team through unprecedented change," McReynolds said in a release. "I have complete confidence in his leadership and ArcBest’s continued success.”

Fort Smith, Arkansas-based ArcBest was founded in 1923 and now has 14,000 employees across 250 campuses and service centers.