Reid Dove
Knight-Swift Transportation HoldingsAbout Reid Dove
Reid Dove is a Knight-Swift director since 2021 and a long-time LTL operator who joined AAA Cooper Transportation in 1994, rising to CEO (through June 2024) and currently serving as Chairman of the Board of AAA Cooper (a KNX subsidiary). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain from Auburn University, is age 53, and is classified as a non‑independent director given his employee status within the organization . He has broad industry operating experience and serves on civic and charitable boards in Alabama .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAA Cooper Transportation (KNX subsidiary) | Chairman of the Board | June 2024–present | Ongoing leadership of KNX’s LTL platform following AAA Cooper acquisition . |
| AAA Cooper Transportation | Chief Executive Officer | 2014–June 2024 (CEO through June 2024; joined 1994) | Led LTL operations; long-tenured operator in KNX’s LTL pillar . |
| Knight‑Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. | Director | 2021–present | Board member; no committee assignments . |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardian Industries | Director | Not disclosed | Listed as “Other Current Company Boards” . |
| Good Day Farm | Director | Not disclosed | Listed as “Other Current Company Boards” . |
Board Governance
- Independence status: Not independent (one of four non‑independent directors alongside Kevin Knight, Gary Knight, and Adam Miller) .
- Committee assignments: None; no Audit, Compensation, Nominating & Corporate Governance, Finance, or Executive Committee roles .
- Attendance: The Board met seven times in 2024; all directors attended at least 75% of combined Board and relevant committee meetings; all incumbents attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Years on board: Director since 2021 .
- Oversight environment: All standing committees (Audit, Compensation, Nominating & Corporate Governance, Finance) are fully independent, which mitigates influence by non‑independent directors on key oversight areas .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount/Policy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Board cash retainer (non‑employee directors) | $90,000 | Baseline for non‑employee directors; additional chair retainers apply . |
| Director equity (non‑employee directors) | $130,000 annual grant (minimum) | Non‑employee directors can elect up to full $220k retainer in equity . |
| Meeting fees | None | Expenses reimbursed only . |
| Dove eligibility | Not eligible for non‑employee director pay | Directors who are officers/employees (including Reid Dove) do not receive the above director compensation . |
Dove is an employee director (KNX designates him a “Designated Person” in anti‑pledging/hedging policy alongside employee‑directors), so he does not receive the non‑employee director retainer or equity .
Performance Compensation
| Component | Status for Dove | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Director performance-based equity | Not applicable | Non‑employee director equity grants do not apply to employee directors . |
| Executive/NEO incentive plans | Not disclosed for Dove | Dove is not a named executive officer; no NEO incentive detail is disclosed for him . |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company/Entity | Public/Private | Interlock/Overlap Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Gardian Industries | Not specified | Listed directorship; no related-party transaction disclosed with KNX . |
| Good Day Farm | Not specified | Listed directorship; no related-party transaction disclosed with KNX . |
| AAA Cooper (KNX subsidiary) | KNX-owned | Employee leadership (Chairman); not independent at KNX Board due to employment . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- LTL and trucking operations leadership (decades at AAA Cooper; CEO then Chairman) supporting KNX’s LTL pillar .
- Supply chain education (B.S., Supply Chain, Auburn University) .
- Broader civic/charitable board engagement (national and Alabama organizations) .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership | 219,154 KNX shares (less than 1% of outstanding) . |
| Ownership vehicle | Shares over which he exercises sole voting and investment power as Vice President for the Dove Family Foundation . |
| Pledging/hedging | Company policy prohibits pledging/hedging for designated persons (including Dove); only Kevin and Gary Knight have grandfathered pledged shares; no pledges disclosed for Dove . |
| Stock ownership guidelines | As a designated key officer, must hold KNX shares valued at 2x base salary; compliance required within eight years; all directors/officers currently in compliance . |
Insider Trades
| Period | Form 4 Activity | Section 16 Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| 2024–2025 (proxy coverage) | Not detailed in proxy | Company states officers/directors complied with Section 16(a) in 2024 through filing date, except specified late filings for other individuals; no exceptions noted for Dove . |
Governance Assessment
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Strengths:
- Deep operating experience in LTL aligns with KNX’s strategic emphasis on building LTL as a foundational pillar (Chairman of AAA Cooper) .
- No related‑party transactions disclosed involving Dove; Audit Committee oversees and must approve any interested transactions .
- Complies with stringent anti‑pledging/hedging and stock ownership policies; no pledging disclosed for Dove .
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Concerns / RED FLAGS:
- Not independent and employed within a KNX subsidiary, which presents potential conflicts when Board matters involve AAA Cooper/LTL strategy or oversight; however, all standing committees are fully independent and Dove holds no committee seats, which reduces direct governance conflict on key oversight areas .
- No individual meeting attendance detail is provided; only aggregate disclosure (≥75% for all directors) limits assessment of personal engagement .
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Additional context:
- Independent directors held five executive sessions without management in 2024; a lead independent director governance structure is in place, supporting independent oversight .
Overall: Dove’s operational expertise is strategically valuable to KNX’s LTL build‑out, but his non‑independent, employee‑director status merits monitoring for potential conflicts on subsidiary‑related decisions. Governance structures (fully independent committees; no committee roles for Dove) partially mitigate this risk .