Exhibit 4.4

 

DASEKE, INC.

2017 STOCK OWNERSHIP PROGRAM

FOR EMPLOYEES

 

	
Establishment
    	
 
    	
The following is a summary plan description of the   terms of the 2017 Stock Ownership Program (“SOP Plan”) for employees. The SOP   Plan is a sub-plan of the Daseke, Inc., 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the   “Incentive Plan”) and is intended to be a summary of the term of any Award   which is governed by the Award Agreement and the Incentive Plan. All capitalized   terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Incentive   Plan, unless specifically set forth otherwise herein.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Eligibility
    	
 
    	
Employees, as designated in the sole discretion of   the Company, who are employed by the Company or its subsidiaries who are not   designated as truck driver employees by the Company, are eligible to   participate in the SOP Plan.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Award Agreement
    	
 
    	
Each Award granted under the SOP Plan shall be   evidenced by a written Award Agreement which shall specify the terms and   conditions applicable to the Award.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Equity Awards
    	
 
    	
The equity awards granted under the SOP Plan shall   consist solely of Restricted Stock Units. Each Restricted Stock Unit shall   represent the right to receive one Share of Company stock, which Share shall,   with respect to a Participant who is a resident of Canada, be issued by the   Company from treasury.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Employment With the Company
    	
 
    	
The Restricted Stock Units granted under the SOP   Plan are granted on the condition that the Participant continues to be   employed by the Company or its subsidiaries from the date of grant through   (and including) the applicable vesting date(s) (referred to herein as   the “Period of Restriction”).
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Vesting
    	
 
    	
The number of Restricted Stock Units granted shall   vest ratably at the rate of twenty percent (20%) annually from the date of   grant, provided the Participant continues to be employed with the Company or   its subsidiaries through such anniversary or anniversaries.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Timing of Payout
    	
 
    	
Payout of all vested Restricted Stock Units shall   occur as soon as administratively feasible following the vesting date, but in   no event later than sixty (60) days after such vesting date.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Form of Payout
    	
 
    	
Upon or after the lapse of the Period of   Restriction, Restricted Stock Units shall be paid in Shares, which Shares   shall, with respect to a Participant who is a resident of Canada, be issued   by the Company from treasury.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dividend Equivalent and Voting Rights
    	
 
    	
During the Period of Restriction, the Participant   shall be entitled to dividend equivalent rights, however, the Participant   shall not have voting rights with respect to the Restricted Stock Units.   Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant who is a resident of Canada   shall not be entitled to dividend equivalent rights.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Termination of Employment by Death or Disability
    	
 
    	
In the event the Participant’s employment with the   Company is terminated by reason of death or Disability (as defined in the   Incentive Plan), all Restricted Stock Units held by the Participant at the   date of termination and still subject to the Period of Restriction shall   immediately become vested, together with amounts previously vested, on a pro   rata basis based on the number of full months completed during the   Restriction Period up through the date of termination divided by the total   number of months in the Restriction Period, and shall be paid as soon as   administratively feasible, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after   such termination date.
    


 











 

	
Termination of Employment for Other Reasons
    	
 
    	
In the event the Participant’s employment with the   Company is terminated for any reason other than death or Disability, all   Restricted Stock Units held by the Participant at the date of termination and   still subject to the Period of Restriction shall be forfeited.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Transferability of Awards
    	
 
    	
Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement,   no Award may be sold, assigned, alienated, pledged, attached or otherwise   transferred or encumbered by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the   laws of descent and distribution.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
No Right to Employment
    	
 
    	
The grant of an Award shall not be construed as   giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employment of the   Company. Further, the Company may at any time dismiss a Participant from   employment free from any liability or any claim under the SOP Plan or any   Award Agreement.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
No Rights to Awards
    	
 
    	
No Participant or other person shall have any claim   to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of   treatment of Participants, Awards, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The   terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and   interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to   each Participant (whether or not such Participants are similarly situated).
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Tax Withholding
    	
 
    	
The Company shall have the right and is hereby   authorized to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made   under any Award or under the SOP Plan or from any compensation or other   amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Shares or other property)   of any applicable withholding taxes in respect of an Award or any payment or   transfer under an Award or under the SOP Plan, and to take such other   action(s) as may be necessary or appropriate to ensure the payment of   such taxes.