Who is replacing Kevin Knight as chairman at Knight-Swift?

David Vander Ploeg, who previously served as the board's lead independent director, has been appointed as chairman. Vander Ploeg spent 24 years at Schneider National, including serving as CFO from 2004 to 2007.

Is Kevin Knight leaving Knight-Swift entirely?

No. Knight will remain with the company as a consultant for a two-year period as part of his retirement agreement. He will receive $20.3 million in consulting fees and compensation for forfeited equity awards.

What was Kevin Knight's primary contribution to Knight-Swift?

Knight founded Knight Transportation in 1994 and served as CEO until 2014. He orchestrated the transformational 2017 merger with fellow Phoenix-based Swift Transportation, which he described as 'our greatest collective achievement' and the catalyst for all subsequent growth.

What does this mean for Knight-Swift's strategic direction?

CEO Adam Miller emphasized that the cultural foundations Knight established—prioritizing safety, operational excellence, and financial discipline—will continue to guide company strategy. The leadership transition appears designed to ensure operational continuity rather than signal strategic shifts.

How large is Knight-Swift in the transportation industry?

Knight-Swift is one of the nation's largest diversified freight transportation providers, generating $7.5 billion in annual revenue. The company operates across truckload, less-than-truckload, logistics, and intermodal segments and recently acquired U.S. Xpress in 2023.

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Knight-Swift Founder Kevin Knight Retires; Leadership Transition Complete

Jun 4, 2026

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The signal

Kevin Knight, founder of Knight Transportation and architect of the landmark 2017 merger with Swift Transportation, has retired from his executive chairman role at Knight-Swift Transportation effective immediately. The retirement marks a significant generational transition at one of North America's largest freight carriers, with David Vander Ploeg, a former Schneider National CFO and lead independent director, assuming the chairman position. 3 million in compensation and benefits.

S. Xpress in 2023. 5 billion annual revenue base and diversified service portfolio—spanning truckload, less-than-truckload, logistics, and intermodal—demonstrates the durability of the operational culture Knight established over three decades.

CEO Adam Miller emphasized that Knight's core principles of safety, operational excellence, and financial discipline remain embedded in company strategy. For supply chain professionals, this leadership change signals continuity rather than disruption. The appointment of Vander Ploeg, with deep experience in transportation and financial management, suggests Knight-Swift will maintain its disciplined capital allocation and operational focus while pursuing growth opportunities in fragmented LTL and logistics segments.

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