Arkansas Best Corp posted a wider-than-expected quarterly loss, hurt by higher fuel costs amid a weak pricing environment, but the U.S. trucking company said its business was stabilizing with the upturn in the economy.

As the economy improves, shippers are becoming more concerned about having transportation capacity to deliver their products, the company said in a statement.

With significantly less capacity serving the industry, the opportunities for the company to grow profitably this year are favorable, Arkansas Best said.

In the last few quarters, Arkansas Best and its rivals Werner Enterprises Inc and YRC Worldwide Inc have faced pricing pressure as demand declined.

The company also said during March, and into April, it has taken steps to raise pricing on underperforming accounts and to correct inadequate fuel surcharge programs.

"ABF's general rate increase has been sticking, and we believe ABF should be successful in renegotiating fuel surcharge levels," Stifel Nicolaus analyst David Ross said in a note.

The company posted a first-quarter loss of 51 cents a share.

Analysts, on average, expected a loss of 21 cents a share, according to according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

"Fuel surcharge caps and non-standard fuel surcharge programs hurt ABF more than in past periods of rising prices," analyst Ross said.

Revenue increased 19 percent to $434.9 million. Operating expenses rose 16 percent on rising wage costs and fuel prices. (Reuters)