Document:

Exhibit 4.5

 

DASEKE, INC.

 

NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT

 

This NON-QUALIFIED STOCK
OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made as of [     ], 20[   
] between Daseke, Inc. (the “Company”), and [ ] (the “Participant”). The grant of the
Non-Qualified Stock Option (the “Option”) under Section 1 hereof (the “Option”)
is intended to qualify as an “employment inducement grant” under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The Option is
being granted outside of the Company’s 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the “Plan”),
but shall be subject to certain terms and conditions of the Plan as specified herein. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined
shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan. For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Grant Date” shall be
[     ], 20[     ].

 

Section 1.     Non-Qualified
Stock Option

 

(a)       Grant.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company hereby grants to the Participant, as of the Grant
Date, the Option to purchase from the Company [ ] Shares (such Shares are referred to as the “Option Shares”)
at an exercise price per Share of [$XX.xx], subject to such vesting, transfer and other restrictions and conditions as set forth
in this Agreement (the “Award”).

 

(b)       Plan.
The Award is granted outside of the Plan; provided, however, that this Agreement shall be administered by the Committee
and is otherwise subject in all respects to the following terms and provisions of the Plan: Section 1; Section 2; Section 3;
Section 4(b); Section 4(d); Section 6; Section 12; Section 13; Section 14; Section 15; Section 16;
and Section 17, all of which terms and provisions are incorporated herein by reference as a part of this Agreement. In the
event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Plan, this Agreement shall control.

 

Section 2.     Vesting
Requirements.

 

(a)       Generally.
Except as otherwise provided herein, the Award shall vest and become exercisable with respect to the percentage of Option Shares
set forth across from each “Option Vesting Date” (as defined below), subject to the Participant’s continuous
service or employment with the Company or an Affiliate (“Service”) from the Grant Date through such Option
Vesting Date, as set forth in the following “Vesting Schedule”:

 

	Vesting Schedule  	 

	Option
        Vesting Date
	 	Percentage
        of Option Shares Vested*
	 

	1st anniversary of Grant Date	 	[33.33]	%
	2nd anniversary of Grant Date	 	[33.33]	%
	3rd anniversary of Grant Date	 	[33.34]	%

 

*Any resultant fractional
Option Shares shall not become vested and instead shall be subject to the next Option Vesting Date.

 

(b)       Change
in Control. Notwithstanding Section 2(a) hereof, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, except to the
extent that a Replacement Award (as such award is defined and determined under Section 13 of the Plan) is provided to the
Participant in connection with the Change in Control to replace or adjust this outstanding Award, 100% of any then unvested, outstanding
Option Shares shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable, provided that the Participant remains in continuous
Service from the Grant Date through the occurrence of the Change in Control.

 

    

     

    

 

(c)       Termination
of Service Without Cause [or Resignation for Good Reason]. Notwithstanding Section 2(a) hereof, in the event
of the Participant’s termination of Service (x) by the Company without Cause [or (y) by the Participant’s
resignation for Good Reason], any then unvested Option Shares shall immediately become vested and exercisable as of the date of
the Participant’s termination (the “Termination Date”). [For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause”
and “Good Reason” shall have the meanings set forth in that certain Employment Agreement, dated as of [ ], 20[
], between the Company and the Participant (the “Employment Agreement”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Participant’s eligibility and entitlement to acceleration of vesting described under this Section 2(c) is
dependent upon the satisfaction of all conditions to receipt of severance consideration pursuant to Section 6(f) of
the Employment Agreement].

 

(d)       Termination
of Service Due to Death or Disability. Notwithstanding Section 2(a) hereof, in the event of the Participant’s
termination of Service due to death or Disability, in each case prior to any Option Vesting Date, any then unvested Option Shares
that would have vested within the calendar year of the Termination Date shall immediately become vested and exercisable as of
the Termination Date. [Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant’s eligibility and entitlement to acceleration of vesting
described under this Section 2(d) is dependent upon the satisfaction of all conditions to receipt of severance
consideration pursuant to Section 6(f) of the Employment Agreement].

 

(e)       Other
Terminations of Service. Upon the occurrence of a termination of the Participant’s Service for any reason other than
as contemplated by Section 2(c) or Section 2(d) hereof, all outstanding and unvested Option
Shares shall immediately be forfeited and cancelled, and the Participant shall not be entitled to any compensation or other amount
with respect thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, upon a termination of the Participant’s Service for
Cause, all Option Shares, whether vested or unvested, shall immediately be forfeited and cancelled, and the Participant shall
not be entitled to any compensation or other amount with respect thereto.

 

Section 3.     Option
Exercise. Subject to this Agreement, on and after a Vesting Date, the Option may be exercised in whole or in part with respect
to the number of Option Shares which have become vested pursuant to Section 2 hereof by filing a written notice with
the Company on a form approved by the Committee in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee; provided,
however, that in no event shall the Option (or any portion thereof) be exercisable after the Expiration Date of the Option.
Any such notice shall specify the number of Option Shares which the Participant elects to purchase and shall be accompanied by
payment of the aggregate exercise price for such Option Shares indicated by the Participant’s election (except as otherwise
provided by the Committee in connection with a broker-assisted cashless exercise program). Subject to applicable law and as approved
by the Committee, the Exercise Price shall be payable (a) in cash, or its equivalent, (b) through delivery of irrevocable
instructions to a broker to sell the Option Shares otherwise deliverable upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly
to the Company an amount equal to the aggregate Exercise Price, (c) the Company’s withholding of Option Shares otherwise
issuable upon exercise of an Option pursuant to a “net exercise” arrangement, (d) by a combination of the foregoing,
or (e) by such other methods as may be approved by the Committee.

 

Section 4.     Certificates:
Cash in Lieu of Fractional Shares. Option Shares or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered pursuant to
this Award or the exercise hereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem
advisable under this Agreement or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which such
Option Shares or other securities are then listed, and any applicable Federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend
or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. In lieu of issuing a fraction
of a Share pursuant to this Agreement, the Company may pay to the Participant an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of such
fractional Share.

 

    1

     

    

 

Section 5.     Restrictions
on Transfer. No Options (nor any interest therein) may be sold, assigned, alienated, pledged, attached or otherwise transferred
or encumbered by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any such purported sale, assignment,
alienation, pledge, attachment, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate;
provided that the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute a sale, assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment,
transfer or encumbrance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the discretion of the Committee, Options may be transferred by the
Participant solely to the Participant’s spouse, siblings, parents, children and grandchildren or trusts for the benefit
of such persons or partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies or other entities owned solely by such persons, including,
but not limited to, trusts for such persons.

 

Section 6.     Expiration
Date. The Expiration Date of the Option shall occur on the earliest to occur of the following: (a) the 10-year anniversary
of the Grant Date or (b) if the Participant’s Termination Date occurs for Cause, the Termination Date.

 

Section 7.     Adjustments.
The Award granted hereunder shall be subject to the adjustment as provided in Section 4(b) of the Plan.

 

Section 8.     No
Right of Continued Service. Nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall confer upon the Participant any right to continued
Service.

 

Section 9.     Tax
Withholding. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee, the Company shall withhold from the Option Shares to be issued
to the Participant pursuant to Section 3 hereof the number of Option Shares (and any amount of cash) determined at
up to the maximum allowable rate in the Participant’s relevant tax jurisdiction on the Option Shares’ Fair Market
Value at the time such determination is made.

 

Section 10.     No
Voting Rights as a Stockholder; Rights to Dividends or Other Distributions. The Participant shall not have any voting privileges
of a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Option unless and until Option Shares underlying the Option are delivered
to the Participant in accordance with Section 3 hereof.

 

Section 11.     Clawback.
The Award shall be subject to recoupment in accordance with any existing clawback policy or clawback policy that the Company is
required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s
securities are listed or as is otherwise required by applicable law. In addition, the Board may impose such other clawback, recovery
or recoupment provisions as the Board determines necessary or appropriate, including but not limited to a reacquisition right
in respect of previously acquired Option Shares or other cash or property upon the occurrence of Cause. The implementation of
any clawback policy shall not be deemed a triggering event for purposes of any definition of “constructive termination.”

 

Section 12.     Amendment
and Termination. Subject to Section 12 of the Plan, any amendment to this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by
the parties hereto. Notwithstanding the immediately-preceding sentence, subject to Section 12 of the Plan, the Committee
may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, this Agreement
and/or the Award; provided that, subject to Section 12 of the Plan, any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension,
discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially impair the rights of the Participant or any holder or beneficiary
of the Award shall not be effective without the written consent of the Participant, holder or beneficiary.

 

    2

     

    

 

Section 13.     Securities
Law Requirements. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall have no liability to make any distribution
of Option Shares under this Agreement unless such delivery or distribution would comply with all applicable laws. In particular,
no Option Shares shall be delivered to a Participant unless, at the time of delivery, the shares qualify for exemption from, or
are registered pursuant to, applicable federal and state securities laws.

 

Section 14.     Construction.
The Participant hereby acknowledges that a copy of the Plan has been delivered to the Participant and accepts the Award hereunder
subject to all terms and provisions of this Agreement. The construction of and decisions under this Agreement are vested in the
Committee, whose determinations shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the Participant.

 

Section 15.     Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect
to the choice of law principles thereof.

 

Section 16.     Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 17.     Binding
Effect. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns.

 

Section 18.     Entire
Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof.

 

[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

 

    3

     

    

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement
effective as of the Grant Date.

 

	 	DASEKE, INC.
	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	Name:	 
	 	Title:	 
	 	 
	 	PARTICIPANT
	 	 
	 	 
	 	Participant’s Signature            Date
	 	Name:	                              
	 	Address:Exhibit 4.6

 

DASEKE, INC.

 

PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

 

This PERFORMANCE STOCK
UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made as of [ ], 20[ ] between Daseke, Inc. (the “Company”),
and [ ] (the “Participant”). The grant of the performance-based restricted stock units (the “PSUs”)
under Section 1 hereof is intended to qualify as an “employment inducement grant” under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).
The PSUs are being granted outside of the Company’s 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the “Plan”),
but shall be subject to certain terms and conditions of the Plan as specified herein. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined
shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan. For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Grant Date” shall be
[ ], 20[ ][, the effective date of that certain Employment Agreement, between the Company and the Participant (the “Employment
Agreement”)].

 

Section 1.     Performance
Stock Units (PSUs)

 

(a)        Grant.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company hereby grants to the Participant, as of the Grant
Date, [ ] PSUs, subject to such vesting, transfer and other restrictions and conditions as set forth in this Agreement (the “Award”).
Each PSU represents the right to receive one Share, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

(b)        Plan.
The Award is granted outside of the Plan; provided, however, that this Agreement shall be administered by the Committee
and is otherwise subject in all respects to the following terms and provisions of the Plan: Section 1; Section 2; Section 3;
Section 4(b); Section 4(d); Section 8; Section 9; Section 12; Section 13; Section 14; Section 15;
Section 16; and Section 17, all of which terms and provisions are incorporated herein by reference as a part of this
Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Plan, this Agreement shall control.

 

Section 2.     Vesting
Requirements.

 

(a)        Generally.
Except as otherwise provided herein, the Award shall be subject to both time- and performance-based vesting conditions and shall
only be deemed fully vested and exercisable when it has both time vested and performance vested in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

(i)        The
Award shall time-vest with respect to the total number of PSUs subject to the Award on the third anniversary of the Grant Date
(the “Vesting Date”, and such three-year period following the Grant Date, the “Performance Period”),
subject to the Participant’s continuous service or employment with the Company or an Affiliate (“Service”)
from the Grant Date through the Vesting Date.

 

(ii)       In
the event that the Fair Market Value of a Share equals or exceeds the “Hurdle Price” (as defined below) for
any twenty (20) trading days out of thirty (30) consecutive trading days during the Performance Period, the Award shall performance-vest
with respect to the percentage of PSUs set forth across from such Hurdle Price in the following “Performance Vesting
Schedule”:

 

    

     

    

 

	Performance Vesting Schedule	 
	Hurdle
                                         Price
	 	Percentage
                                         of PSUs Vested*
	 

	$	[    ]	 	[33.33]	%
	$	[    ]	 	[33.33]	 %
	$	[    ]	 	[33.34]	%

 

*Any resultant fractional
PSU shall not become vested and instead shall be subject to the next vesting hurdle.

 

(b)     Change
in Control - No Replacement Award. Notwithstanding Section 2(a)(i) hereof, upon the occurrence of a Change
in Control, except to the extent that a Replacement Award (as such award is defined and determined under Section 13 of the
Plan) is provided to the Participant in connection with the Change in Control to replace or adjust this outstanding Award, 100%
of any then unvested PSUs granted hereunder shall immediately become time-vested; provided that the Participant remains
in continuous Service from the Grant Date through the occurrence of the Change in Control.

 

(c)     Termination
of Service Without Cause[; Resignation for Good Reason;] or Termination of Service Due to Death or Disability. Notwithstanding
Section 2(a)(i) hereof, in the event of the Participant’s termination of Service (x) by the Company
without Cause [pursuant to that certain Employment Agreement, (y) by the Participant’s resignation for Good Reason,]
or (z) due to the Participant’s death or Disability, the time-based vesting conditions related to these PSUs shall
be deemed to be satisfied as of the date of the Participant’s termination of employment and the achievement of all relevant
performance goals shall be determined by the actual level achievement of those goals, as determined in good faith by the Compensation
Committee at the time of Employee’s termination, measured against the attainment toward the Hurdle Prices applicable to
this PSU. [Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant’s eligibility and entitlement to acceleration of vesting described
under this Section 2(c) is dependent upon the satisfaction of all conditions to receipt of severance consideration
pursuant to Section 6(f) of the Employment Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” and
 “Good Reason” shall have the meanings set forth in the Employment Agreement].

 

(d)     Other
Terminations of Service. Upon the occurrence of a termination of the Participant’s Service for any reason other than
as contemplated by Section 2(b) and Section 2(c) hereof, all outstanding and unvested PSUs shall
immediately be forfeited and cancelled, and the Participant shall not be entitled to any compensation or other amount with respect
thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, upon a termination of the Participant’s Service for Cause, all
PSUs, whether vested or unvested, shall immediately be forfeited and cancelled, and the Participant shall not be entitled to any
compensation or other amount with respect thereto.

 

Section 3.     Settlement.
As soon as reasonably practicable following the Vesting Date, termination of service, or the occurrence of the Change in Control
that does not include the receipt of any Replacement Award by the Participant, as applicable (and in any event within 60 days
following the Vesting Date, termination of service, or the occurrence of the Change in Control that does not include the receipt
of any Replacement Award by the Participant, as applicable), any PSUs that become vested and non-forfeitable pursuant to Section 2
hereof shall be paid by the Company delivering to the Participant a number of Shares equal to the number of such PSUs.

 

Section 4.     Restrictions
on Transfer. No PSUs (nor any interest therein) may be sold, assigned, alienated, pledged, attached or otherwise transferred
or encumbered by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any such purported sale, assignment,
alienation, pledge, attachment, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate;
provided that the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute a sale, assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment,
transfer or encumbrance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the discretion of the Committee, PSUs may be transferred by the Participant
solely to the Participant’s spouse, siblings, parents, children and grandchildren or trusts for the benefit of such persons
or partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies or other entities owned solely by such persons, including, but not
limited to, trusts for such persons.

 

    2

     

    

 

Section 5.     Adjustments.
The Award granted hereunder shall be subject to the adjustment as provided in Section 4(b) of the Plan.

 

Section 6.     No
Right of Continued Service. Nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall confer upon the Participant any right to continued
Service.

 

Section 7.     Tax
Withholding. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee, the Company shall withhold from the Shares to be issued to the Participant
pursuant to Section 3 hereof the number of Shares (and any amount of cash) determined at up to the maximum allowable
rate in the Participant’s relevant tax jurisdiction on the Shares’ Fair Market Value at the time such determination
is made.

 

Section 8.     No
Voting Rights as a Stockholder; Rights to Dividends or Other Distributions. The Participant shall not have any voting privileges
of a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Award unless and until Shares underlying the PSUs are delivered to the Participant
in accordance with Section 3 hereof.

 

Section 9.     Clawback.
The Award shall be subject to recoupment in accordance with any existing clawback policy or clawback policy that the Company is
required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s
securities are listed or as is otherwise required by applicable law. In addition, the Board may impose such other clawback, recovery
or recoupment provisions as the Board determines necessary or appropriate, including but not limited to a reacquisition right
in respect of previously acquired Shares or other cash or property upon the occurrence of Cause. The implementation of any clawback
policy shall not be deemed a triggering event for purposes of any definition of “constructive termination.”

 

Section 10.   Amendment
and Termination. Subject to Section 12 of the Plan, any amendment to this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by
the parties hereto. Notwithstanding the immediately-preceding sentence, subject Section 12 of the Plan, the Committee may
waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, this Agreement
and/or the Award; provided that, subject to Section 12 of the Plan, any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension,
discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially impair the rights of the Participant or any holder or beneficiary
of the Award shall not be effective without the written consent of the Participant, holder or beneficiary.

 

Section 11.   Securities
Law Requirements. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall have no liability to make any distribution
of Shares under this Agreement unless such delivery or distribution would comply with all applicable laws. In particular, no Shares
shall be delivered to a Participant unless, at the time of delivery, the shares qualify for exemption from, or are registered
pursuant to, applicable federal and state securities laws.

 

Section 12.   Construction.
The Participant hereby acknowledges that a copy of the Plan has been delivered to the Participant and accepts the Award hereunder
subject to all terms and provisions of this Agreement. The construction of and decisions under this Agreement are vested in the
Committee, whose determinations shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the Participant.

 

    3

     

    

 

Section 13.   Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect
to the choice of law principles thereof.

 

Section 14.   Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 15.   Binding
Effect. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns.

 

Section 16.   Entire
Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof.

 

[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

 

    4

     

    

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement
effective as of the Grant Date.

 

	 	DASEKE, INC.
	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	Name:	 
	 	Title:	 
	 	 
	 	PARTICIPANT
	 	 
	 	 
	 	Participant’s Signature                                   Date
	 	Name:	 
	 	Address:

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00316-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00316-of-00352.parquet"}]]