Company Description
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. (NYSE: KNX) is described in company communications as one of North America's largest and most diversified freight transportation companies. The business operates in the general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload industry within the broader transportation and warehousing sector. Knight-Swift is also referred to as the nation’s largest full-truckload carrier and one of the country's largest tractor fleet operators, reflecting its scale in truckload transportation.
The company’s transportation offering is diversified across asset-based trucking and asset-light services. According to available information, a substantial portion of revenue is generated from asset-based trucking, including full truckload services such as for-hire dry van, refrigerated, and dedicated contract trucking, as well as less-than-truckload (LTL). In addition, Knight-Swift participates in truck brokerage and other logistics services that do not require it to own all of the underlying equipment, and it operates an intermodal segment that uses Class I railroads for the rail movement of shipping containers combined with drayage services to and from intermodal ramps and terminals.
Knight-Swift states that it uses a nationwide network of business units and terminals in the United States and Mexico to serve customers throughout North America. This network supports multiple truckload transportation and logistics services as well as LTL services. In addition to operating one of the country’s largest tractor fleets, the company contracts with third-party equipment providers to offer a broad range of transportation services to its customers. Company disclosures also emphasize that this model is intended to create driving jobs for company driving associates and business opportunities for independent contractors.
Beyond its core trucking and logistics operations, Knight-Swift offers services to shippers and third-party truckers that include equipment maintenance and leasing. These activities complement the company’s freight operations by supporting the equipment base used in transportation and by providing services to external carriers.
Knight-Swift is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, as indicated in its SEC filings. The company’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol KNX. Its regulatory filings show the use of credit facilities and receivables purchase arrangements to support its capital structure and liquidity. For example, Knight-Swift has entered into unsecured credit facilities and term loans, and its subsidiary Swift Receivables Company II, LLC has entered into a receivables purchase agreement that is treated as a sale of receivables. These arrangements include customary covenants and are used in part to refinance prior debt agreements.
Corporate governance and executive compensation information in Knight-Swift’s filings indicates the use of performance-based stock units (PRSUs) and restricted stock units (RSUs) for named executive officers under an omnibus incentive plan. Performance metrics referenced for these awards include adjusted earnings per share compounded annual growth rate, revenue growth excluding certain fuel surcharges, total revenue growth, and return on net tangible assets, with relative performance measured against a peer group of public truckload and less-than-truckload carriers and logistics companies.
Dividend announcements in company press releases and 8-K filings show that Knight-Swift’s board of directors has declared quarterly cash dividends on its common stock pursuant to a board-approved cash dividend policy. Each dividend declaration and payment date is determined by the board after reviewing the company’s financial performance, and the filings specify that dividends may be restricted under certain circumstances by the terms of debt agreements if a default or event of default occurs.
Recent 8-K filings also highlight other aspects of the company’s operations and governance, such as the appointment of a General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at the executive vice president level, the retirement of a prior General Counsel and Secretary, and the entry into and termination of material definitive agreements. These disclosures illustrate how Knight-Swift manages its legal, financial, and capital structure arrangements in support of its freight transportation and logistics business.
Business Segments and Services
Based on company and third-party descriptions, Knight-Swift’s operations span several key areas:
- Full truckload (TL): For-hire dry van, refrigerated, and dedicated contract services.
- Less-than-truckload (LTL): LTL freight services as part of its diversified transportation offering.
- Intermodal: Use of Class I railroads for containerized freight with associated drayage services.
- Truck brokerage and logistics: Asset-light brokerage and logistics services that connect shippers with capacity.
- Equipment-related services: Equipment maintenance and leasing services provided to shippers and third-party truckers.
These activities position Knight-Swift within the general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload industry while also giving it exposure to LTL, intermodal, and logistics markets.
Capital Structure and Financing Arrangements
Knight-Swift’s SEC filings describe the use of a multi-billion-dollar unsecured credit facility that includes a revolving line of credit and term loans, replacing prior credit facilities and a term loan. The debt agreement includes leverage-based interest rate grids, financial covenants related to consolidated net leverage and interest coverage ratios, and customary restrictions on dividends, liens, affiliate transactions, and other indebtedness. The company has also used a receivables purchase agreement through a wholly owned subsidiary to sell eligible receivables to purchasers, with collections on those receivables held for the benefit of the subsidiary and purchasers and unavailable to satisfy claims of the company and its other subsidiaries.
Corporate Governance and Executive Compensation
Disclosures in Knight-Swift’s 8-K filings show that the compensation committee of the board approves equity awards for named executive officers, including PRSUs and RSUs under the company’s omnibus incentive plan. The PRSUs are tied to multi-year performance periods and objective performance metrics, while RSUs vest over time subject to continued employment and other provisions. These structures are described as aligning equity grants with the company’s long-term growth and revenue objectives.
Dividends and Shareholder Returns
The company has announced recurring quarterly cash dividends on its common stock, with each dividend subject to board approval and review of financial performance. SEC filings note that dividend payments could be restricted under the terms of debt agreements if certain default conditions arise. This framework provides context for how Knight-Swift balances capital allocation between debt obligations and shareholder distributions.
Regulatory Reporting and Transparency
Through its regular SEC filings, including Form 8-K reports on earnings releases, material agreements, executive compensation actions, and governance changes, Knight-Swift provides ongoing disclosure about its operations, financial condition, and corporate decisions. These filings, together with company press releases, offer investors and other stakeholders insight into the company’s freight transportation and logistics activities, capital structure, and governance practices.