Document:

Exhibit 10.2

 

Execution Version

 

BOARD AGREEMENT

 

THIS
BOARD AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of December 22, 2020, by and among Daseke, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), on the one hand, and The Walden Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
and Don R. Daseke, an individual (“Mr. Daseke”) (each of the foregoing, an “Investor” and
collectively, with each of their respective Affiliates, the “Investors”), on the other hand. The Company and
the Investors are each herein referred to as a “party” and collectively, the “parties.” Capitalized
terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth on Exhibit A.

 

1.                  Board
Composition. Prior to the Termination Date, the Company shall, with respect to any Annual Meeting, (i) include
Mr. Daseke in its proxy statement and proxy card as a director nominee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”),
(ii) recommend the election of Mr. Daseke to the stockholders of the Company and (iii) solicit proxies in favor of the election
of Mr. Daseke. In connection with the foregoing, Mr. Daseke hereby consents to be named as a nominee of the Company for election
to the Board in any applicable proxy statement, proxy card or other solicitation materials of the Company.

 

2.                    Other Covenants and Agreements.

 

(a)                    The
Company shall not change the name of the Company without the prior written consent of Mr. Daseke.

 

(b)                   The
Company shall not implement a mandatory retirement age or other age limitations for current directors that would disqualify Mr.
Daseke from continuing to serve as a director on the Board.

 

(c)                    The
Company shall permit Mr. Daseke and his spouse to continue to use the Company office space currently provided to him and his spouse,
free of charge; provided, however, if the Company requires such space, lease of such space is terminated or subleased,
the Company shall provide Mr. Daseke and his spouse, at the Company’s election, either (i) offices in reasonably close proximity
to the Company’s current office locations or (ii) a stipend in the amount of $2,500, payable by the 3rd of each
month, to be used by Mr. Daseke and his spouse in their sole discretion to lease comparable office space outside of the Company’s
current office locations.

 

(d)                   Mr.
Daseke shall be permitted, in his capacity as a stockholder of the Company, to speak at any Stockholder Meeting so long as his
statements are pre-approved by the Company’s general counsel, comply with the terms of this Agreement and do not exceed
ten (10) minutes.

 

(e)                    Following
reasonable prior notice to the Company, Mr. Daseke shall be permitted, in his capacity as a director and founder of the Company,
to attend up to three (3) large transportation conventions that one or more of the Company’s named executive officers will
be attending. The Company shall reimburse Mr. Daseke for his reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection
with his attendance at any such conventions; provided, however, that Mr. Daseke’s travel and lodging expenditures
will be commensurate with the travel and lodging expenditures of the Company’s named executive officers in attendance. Mr.
Daseke shall not be permitted to speak on behalf of the Company at any such conventions without the prior written approval of
the Board.

 

(f)                    For
the remainder of the 2020 calendar year, the Company shall continue to provide Mr. Daseke with medical coverage in substantially
the same amounts and substantially on the same terms as currently provided to him and his spouse, with the same insurance carrier
the Company makes available to the Company’s named executive officers. Beginning on January 1, 2021, the Company shall provide
a monthly stipend to Mr. Daseke in the amount of $500, payable on the 3rd of each month, to be used by Mr. Daseke and
his spouse in their sole discretion for supplemental medical coverage costs; and

 

     

     

    

 

(g)                   The
Company shall waive its claims against Mr. Daseke with respect to any breach of the separation agreement between Mr. Daseke and
the Company, dated August 26, 2019 (the “Separation Agreement”), and the Company shall continue to make payments
to Mr. Daseke pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Separation Agreement. Mr. Daseke shall waive all claims against the Company.

 

3.                    Voting
Commitment.

 

(a)                    Prior
to the Termination Date, the Investors shall, or shall cause their Representatives to, appear in person or by proxy at each Stockholder
Meeting and to vote all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Investors and over which they have voting power (the
 “Investor Shares”) in accordance with the Board’s recommendations, as such recommendations are set forth
in the applicable definitive proxy statement filed in connection with such Stockholder Meeting, with respect to (i) any proposal
to elect as directors Mr. Daseke, the Company’s chief executive officer, Brian Bonner, Grant Garbers, Charles F. Serianni,
Jonathan Shepko, Ena Williams and two additional persons to be selected by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of
the Board (the “Nominating Committee”) to fill the vacancies created by the resignations of Daniel J. Hennessy
and Kimberly Warmbier, or, if any of the foregoing persons are not able to serve as a director, any replacement selected by the
Nominating Committee, provided that such proposal shall be consistent with the terms of this Agreement; and (ii) a proposal submitted
to the stockholders to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock that may be granted as awards under the Company’s
2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan by up to 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock. For the avoidance of doubt, the Investors shall take all
actions necessary (including by calling back loaned out shares) to ensure they have the voting power for each share beneficially
owned by them on the record date for each Stockholder Meeting.

 

(b)                   The
Investors hereby appoint the Company and any designee of the Company, and each of them individually, until the Termination Date
(at which time this proxy shall automatically be revoked), its proxies and attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, to vote the Investor Shares in accordance with Section 3(a). This proxy and power of attorney is given
to secure the performance of the duties of Investors under Section 3(a) of this Agreement. The Investors shall take such
further action or execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of this proxy and power of attorney.
This proxy and power of attorney granted by the Investors in accordance with Section 3(a) shall be irrevocable until the
Termination Date, shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable proxy, and shall
revoke any and all prior proxies granted by the Investors with respect to the Investor Shares. The power of attorney granted by
the Investors herein is a durable power of attorney and shall survive the bankruptcy, death, or incapacity of Mr. Daseke.

 

(c)                    Promptly
following the execution of this Agreement and no later than during the Company’s first open trading window following such
execution, the Board shall initiate a share repurchase program pursuant to which the Company shall purchase a minimum of 3,000,000
shares of Common Stock. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall require the Company to make repurchases of any shares
of Common Stock outside of Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act or when it is reasonably believes it may be in possession of material
non-public information.

 

4.                    Standstill.
Prior to the Termination Date and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement (including Section 7(a)(i)), without the
prior written consent of the Board, the Investors shall not directly or indirectly (in each case, except as permitted by this
Agreement), take any of the actions set forth on Exhibit B hereto. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the actions set
forth on Exhibit B shall expand the obligations of the Investors under Section 3(a).

 

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5.                    Mutual Non-Disparagement. Prior to the Termination Date, neither party shall, nor shall it permit any
of its Representatives to, without the written consent of the other party, make any public or private statement that constitutes,
or would reasonably be expected to constitute, an ad hominem attack on or otherwise disparages the other party, the other
party’s current or former directors in their capacity as such (including any director who was serving immediately prior
to this Agreement), officers or employees (including with respect to such persons’ service at the other party), the other
party’s subsidiaries, or the business of the other party’s subsidiaries’ or any of its or its subsidiaries’
current directors, officers or employees, including the business and current or former directors, officers and employees of the
other party’s controlled Affiliates, as applicable. The restrictions in this Section 5 shall not (a) apply (i) in
any compelled testimony or production of information, whether by legal process, subpoena or as part of a response to a request
for information from any governmental or regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the party from whom information is sought,
or (ii) to any disclosure required by applicable law, rules or regulations, with respect to each of (i) and (ii), to the extent
that such party reasonably believes, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that such disclosure is legally required;
or (b) prohibit any party from reporting what it reasonably believes, after consultation with outside counsel, to be violations
of federal law or regulation to any governmental authority pursuant to Section 21F of the Exchange Act or Rule 21F promulgated
thereunder.

 

6.                    No
Litigation. Prior to the Termination Date, each party hereby covenants and agrees that it shall not, and shall not permit
any of its Representatives to, directly or indirectly, alone or in concert with others, encourage, pursue or assist any other
person to threaten or initiate, any lawsuit, claim or proceeding before any court (each, a “Legal Proceeding”)
against the other party or any of its Representatives, except for (a) any Legal Proceeding initiated primarily to remedy a breach
of or to enforce this Agreement, (b) counterclaims with respect to any proceeding initiated by, or on behalf of one party or its
Affiliates against the other party or its Affiliates, (c) the exercise of statutory appraisal rights and (d) enforcing such party’s
rights as a stockholder of the Company (other than initiating a stockholder derivative demand); provided, however,
that the foregoing shall not prevent any party or any of its Representatives from responding to oral questions, interrogatories,
requests for information or documents, subpoenas, civil investigative demands or similar processes (each, a “Legal Requirement”)
in connection with any Legal Proceeding if such Legal Proceeding has not been initiated by, on behalf of or at the direct or indirect
request of such party or any of its Representatives; provided, further, that in the event any party or any of its
Representatives receives such Legal Requirement, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such party shall give prompt written
notice of such Legal Requirement to the other party (except where such notice would be legally prohibited or not practicable).
Each party represents and warrants that as of the date hereof, neither it nor any assignee has filed any lawsuit against the other
party.

 

7.                    Termination.

 

(a)                   
Either party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement upon delivery to the other party of advance written notice
of such termination at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the effective date of such termination (the effective date of termination,
the “Termination Date”) at any time after the date of the second Annual Meeting following the date of this Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement:

 

(i)                  the
obligations of the Investors pursuant to Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 shall
terminate in the event that the Company materially breaches its obligations to the Investors pursuant to Sections 1, 2, 5
or 6, and such breach (if capable of being cured) has not been cured within thirty (30) calendar days following
written notice of such breach from the Investors, or, if impossible to cure within thirty (30) calendar days, the Company has
not taken substantive action to correct within thirty (30) calendar days following written notice of such breach from the
Investors; provided, however, that the obligations of the Investors pursuant to Section 6 shall
terminate immediately in the event that the Company materially breaches its obligations to the Investors under Section
6; and

 

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(ii)                
the obligations of the Company to the Investors pursuant to Sections 1, 2, 5 and 6 shall terminate
in the event that (A) an Investor materially breaches its obligations in Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
or 6 or (B) Mr. Daseke materially breaches his obligations under this Agreement or the Company’s Charter, By-Laws
or Company Policies that are applicable to all directors (all as in effect prior to the facts giving rise to the alleged material
breach), and such breach (if capable of being cured) has not been cured within thirty (30) calendar days following written notice
of such breach, or, if impossible to cure within thirty (30) calendar days, the Investors or Mr. Daseke, as applicable, has not
taken substantive action to correct within thirty (30) calendar days following written notice of such breach from the Company;
provided, however, that the obligations of the Company to the Investors pursuant to Section 6 shall terminate
immediately in the event that an Investor materially breaches its obligations under Section 6; provided, further,
that the obligations of the Company to the Investors pursuant to Section 2(e) shall terminate immediately in the event that
Mr. Daseke breaches any of his obligations under Section 2(e) (for the avoidance of doubt, such a breach shall not affect
the obligations of the Investors under any other provision of this Agreement); provided, further, that the obligations
of the Company to the Investors under this Agreement shall terminate immediately in the event that the Investors sell or otherwise
transfer their shares of Common Stock in any transaction that would result in the Investors’ net long aggregate ownership
of the Common Stock falling below thirty percent (30%) of the Investors’ net long aggregate ownership of the Common Stock
as of the date of this Agreement (as adjusted for stock splits, combinations, reclassifications and other similar proportional
adjustments) (the “Stock Ownership Minimum”) without the prior written approval of the Board; provided,
further, that the Investors shall consult with the Company, and the Company shall provide prompt commercially reasonable
assistance, in each case in connection with any sale or other transfer by the Investors of their shares of Common Stock in any
transaction that would not result in the Investors’ net long aggregate ownership of the Common Stock falling below the Ownership
Minimum.

 

(b)                  
If this Agreement is terminated in accordance with this Section 7, this Agreement shall forthwith become null and
void, but no termination shall relieve a party from liability for any breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.

 

8.                    Expenses.
The Company shall reimburse Mr. Daseke for his reasonable, documented out-of-pocket legal fees and expenses incurred in connection
with negotiating this Agreement, up to an amount of $30,000 in the aggregate.

 

9.                    Governing
Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Waiver. This Agreement, and any disputes arising out of this Agreement, shall be governed by and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to its conflict of laws principles. The parties
agree that exclusive jurisdiction and venue for any Legal Proceeding arising out of this Agreement shall exclusively lie in the
Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of
the State of Delaware or, if jurisdiction is vested exclusively in the Federal courts of the United States, the Federal courts
of the United States sitting in the State of Delaware, and any appellate court from any such state or Federal court. EACH PARTY
HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT.

 

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10.                  Specific
Performance. Each party acknowledges and agrees that the other parties would be irreparably injured by an actual
breach of this Agreement by the first-mentioned party or its Representatives and that monetary remedies may be inadequate to
protect a party against any actual or threatened breach or continuation of any breach of this Agreement. Without prejudice to
any other rights and remedies otherwise available to the parties under this Agreement, each party shall be entitled to
equitable relief by way of injunction or otherwise and specific performance of the provisions hereof upon satisfying the
requirements to obtain such relief without the necessity of posting a bond or other security, if another party or any of its
Representatives breach or threaten to breach any provision of this Agreement. Such remedy shall not be deemed to be the
exclusive remedy for a breach of this Agreement, but shall be in addition to all other remedies available at law or equity to
the non-breaching party.

 

[Remainder of this page intentionally
left blank]

 

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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, or caused the same to be executed by its duly authorized Representative,
as of the date first above written.

 

	 	THE COMPANY:
	 	 
	 	DASEKE, INC.
	 	 
	 	By:	 /s/ Soumit Roy
	 	 	Name: Soumit Roy
	 	 	Title: Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
	 	 
	 	 
	 	THE WALDEN GROUP, INC.
	 	 
	 	By:	 /s/ Don R. Daseke
	 	 	Name: Don R. Daseke
	 	 	Title: President & Sole Director
	 	 
	 	 
	 	DON R. DASEKE
	 	 
	 	/s/ Don R. Daseke
	 	 

 

Signature page to daseke board agreement

 

     

     

    

 

Exhibit A

 

Definitions

 

As used in this Agreement: a) the
terms “Affiliate” and “Associate” (and any plurals thereof) have the meanings ascribed to
such terms under Rule 12b-2 promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act and shall include
all persons or entities that at any time prior to the Termination Date become Affiliates or Associates of any applicable person
or entity referred to in this Agreement; provided, however, that the term “Associate” shall refer only to Associates
controlled by the Company or the Investors, as applicable; provided, further, that, for purposes of this Agreement, the
Investors shall not be Affiliates or Associates of the Company and the Company shall not be an Affiliate or Associate of the Investors;
b) the term “Annual Meeting” means each annual meeting of stockholders of the Company and any adjournment, postponement,
rescheduling or continuation thereof; c) the terms “beneficial ownership,” “group,” “person,”
 “proxy” and “solicitation” (and any plurals thereof) have the meanings ascribed to such terms
under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, provided, however, that the meaning of “solicitation”
shall be without regard to the exclusions set forth in Rules 14a-1(1)(2)(iv) and 14a-2 under the Exchange Act; d) the term “Charter”
means the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as may be amended from time to time); e) the term
 “Common Stock” means the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per
share; f) the term “Company Policies” means the policies, procedures, processes, codes, rules, standards and
guidelines that are applicable to all directors of the Company (as may be amended from time to time) and which have been communicated
in writing; g) the term “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder; h) the term “Extraordinary Transaction” means any tender offer, exchange
offer, merger, acquisition, business combination or other transaction with a third party that, in each case, (i) would result in
a change of control of the Company, liquidation, dissolution or other extraordinary transaction involving a majority of its equity
securities or a majority of its assets and (ii) is submitted for a vote of the Company’s stockholders; i) the term “Family
Member” means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, in-law, niece or nephew of either Mr. Daseke
or his spouse as well as any charitable or non-profit organization or any trust owned or controlled by Mr. Daseke or his spouse;
j) the term “Representatives” means i) a person’s Affiliates and Associates and ii) its and their respective
directors, officers, employees, partners, members, managers, consultants, legal or other advisors, agents and other representatives
acting in a capacity on behalf of, in concert with or at the direction of such person or its Affiliates or Associates; k) the term
 “Stockholder Meeting” means each annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company, or any action by
written consent of the Company’s stockholders in lieu thereof, and any adjournment, postponement, rescheduling or continuation
thereof; and l) i) the term “Third Party” refers to any person that is not a party or an Affiliate of a party,
a member of the Board, a director or officer of the Company, or legal counsel to either party. In this Agreement, unless a clear
contrary intention appears, ii) the word “including” (in its various forms) means “including, without limitation;”
iii) the words “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto” and words of similar import are references in
this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; iv) the word “or” is not exclusive;
v) references to “Sections” in this Agreement are references to Sections of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated;
and vi) whenever the context requires, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders.

 

     

     

    

 

Exhibit B

 

Standstill Restrictions

 

(a)                    acquire or offer to acquire, agree to acquire or acquire rights to acquire (except by way of stock dividends or other distributions
or offerings made available to holders of voting securities of the Company generally on a pro rata basis including, for the avoidance
of doubt, exercise of any subscription rights granted to the Investors), directly or indirectly, whether by purchase, tender or
exchange offer, through the acquisition of control of another person, by joining a group, through swap or hedging transactions
or otherwise, any voting securities of the Company (other than through a broad-based market basket or index) or any voting rights
decoupled from the underlying voting securities which would result in the ownership or control of, or other beneficial ownership
interest in, twenty-eight percent (28%) or more of the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock in the aggregate;

 

(b)                   (i)
nominate (other than to the Nominating Committee, in Mr. Daseke’s capacity as a director), recommend for nomination, give
notice of an intent to nominate or recommend for nomination a person for election at any Stockholder Meeting at which the Company’s
directors are to be elected; (ii) knowingly initiate, encourage or participate in any solicitation of proxies in respect of any
election contest or removal contest with respect to the Company’s directors; (iii) knowingly submit, initiate, encourage
or make any stockholder proposal for consideration at, or bring any other business before, any Stockholder Meeting; (iv) knowingly
initiate, encourage or participate in any solicitation of proxies in respect of any stockholder proposal for consideration at,
or other business brought before, any Stockholder Meeting; or (v) knowingly initiate, encourage or participate in any “withhold”
or similar campaign with respect to any Stockholder Meeting;

 

(c)                    form, join or knowingly participate in any group with respect to any voting securities of the Company, including in connection
with any election or removal contest with respect to the Company’s directors or any stockholder proposal or other business
brought before any Stockholder Meeting (other than with an Investor or one or more of its Affiliates or Associates who are instructed
to comply with the terms and conditions of this Agreement);

 

(d)                   deposit any voting securities of the Company in any voting trust or subject any Company voting securities to any arrangement
or agreement with respect to the voting thereof (other than any such voting trust, arrangement or agreement solely among their
Affiliates and otherwise in accordance with this Agreement);

 

(e)                    demand
an inspection of the Company’s books and records;

 

(f)                    (i) make any public or private proposal with respect to, (ii) make any public statement or otherwise knowingly publicly
or privately encourage, advise or assist any person with respect to or (iii) knowingly initiate or in any way participate in,
directly or indirectly: (A) any change in the number or term of directors serving on the Board or the filling of any vacancies
on the Board, (B) any amendment to any provision of the Charter or By-Laws, (C) any change in the capitalization or dividend policy
of the Company, (D) any other change in the Company’s management, business, operations, strategy, governance, corporate
structure, affairs or policies or (E) any Extraordinary Transaction;

 

(g)                   knowingly
initiate, make or in any way participate, directly or indirectly, in any Extraordinary Transaction or make, directly or indirectly,
any proposal, either alone or in concert with others, to the Company or the Board that would reasonably be expected to require
a public announcement or disclosure regarding any such matter;

 

     

     

    

 

(h)                   effect or seek to effect, offer or propose to effect, cause or participate in, or assist or facilitate any other person
to effect or seek to effect, offer or propose (other than directly to the Board, provided that such proposal does not require
the Investors to amend the Schedule 13D) to effect or participate in, any (i) material acquisition of any assets or businesses
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) tender offer or exchange offer, merger, acquisition, share exchange or other business
combination involving any of the voting securities or any of the material assets or businesses of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or (iii) recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or other material transaction with respect to the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or any material portion of its or their businesses;

 

(i)                     enter
into any negotiations or agreements with any Third Party with respect to an Extraordinary Transaction, or advise or assist any
Third Party to take any action with respect to any of the foregoing;

 

(j)                     publicly make or in any way advance publicly any request or proposal that the Company or the Board amend, modify or waive
any provision of this Agreement;

 

(k)                    directly
or indirectly, in any single transaction or series of related transactions, sell or otherwise transfer their shares of Common
Stock to any Family Member, in each case unless such transferee has executed a joinder agreement, in substantially the form attached
to the Agreement as Exhibit C, as a condition to the consummation of such sale or transfer; any attempted sale or transfer
in violation of this Agreement shall be of no effect and null and void, regardless of whether the purported transferee has any
actual or constructive knowledge of the restrictions set forth in this Paragraph (k), and shall not be recorded on the
stock transfer books of the Company or any transfer agent; or

 

(l)                     take any action challenging the validity or enforceability of this Exhibit B or this Agreement, except as a defense
or counterclaim in any Legal Proceeding initiated by any other party to this Agreement.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, nothing
in this Exhibit B shall be deemed to prevent or limit Mr. Daseke from exercising or fulfilling in good faith his fiduciary
duties in his capacity as a director of the Company or a member of any committee of the Board, or otherwise taking any action in
his capacity as a member of the Board or any committee of the Board that is consistent with applicable law.

 

     

     

    

 

Exhibit C

 

Form of Joinder

 

[See attached]

 

     

     

    

 

Execution Version

 

FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT
(this “Joinder”), dated as of [●], 20[●], is made and entered into by [●], a/an [●]
(the “Transferee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Joinder shall have the meanings set forth
in the Board Agreement (the “Board Agreement”) dated December 22, 2020, by and among Daseke, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), on the one hand, and The Walden Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Don R.
Daseke, an individual (“Mr. Daseke”) (each of the foregoing, an “Investor” and collectively,
with each of their respective Affiliates, the “Investors”), on the other hand.

 

WHEREAS, the Investors
wish to transfer [●] shares of the Common Stock to the Transferee;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Transferee, intending to be legally bound hereby,
agrees as follows:

 

1.       Representations
and Warranties. The Transferee represents and warrants that he or she has full power and authority to execute, deliver
and carry out the terms and provisions of this Joinder, and that this Joinder has been duly and validly executed and delivered
by the Transferee, constitutes a valid and binding obligation and agreement of the Transferee and is enforceable against the Transferee
in accordance with its terms. The Transferee represents that the execution, delivery and performance of this Joinder by the Transferee
does not and will not violate or conflict with (a) any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to such Transferee
or (b) result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both could
constitute such a breach, violation or default) under or pursuant to, or result in the loss of a material benefit under, or give
any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any organizational document, agreement, contract, commitment,
understanding or arrangement to which the Transferee is a party or by which the Transferee is bound.

 

2.       Joinder.
 The Transferee hereby acknowledges and agrees to be bound by Section 3 (Voting Commitment), Section 4 (Standstill), Section
5 (Mutual Non-Disparagement), Section 6 (No Litigation), Section 9 (Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Waiver) and Section 10 (Specific
Performance) of the Board Agreement.

 

3.       Further
Assurances.  From time to time, at the request of the Company and without further consideration, the Transferee shall
take such further action as may reasonably be necessary or desirable to consummate and make effective the terms of this Joinder. 

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

     

     

    

 

IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Transferee, intending to be legally bound hereby, has duly executed this Joinder as of the date first above
written.

 

	 	 
	 	 

 

Signature Page to Joinder
AgreementExhibit
10.3

SEPARATION
AGREEMENT

 

This
SEPARATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into by and among Christopher R. Easter, on behalf of himself,
his spouse, heirs, and assigns (the “Executive”), on the one hand, and Daseke, Inc. (the “Company”),
on the other hand, and is effective as of the last date shown next to the parties’ signature below. The Company and Executive
shall each be referred to in this Agreement as a “Party,” and collectively as the “Parties.”

 

WHEREAS,
Executive has been employed by the Company as Chief Executive Officer pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Employment
Agreement effective as of April 20, 2020 (the “Employment Agreement”), and in such role received the Company’s
proprietary and confidential information;

 

WHEREAS,
Executive received certain equity awards in the Company – both Non-Qualified Stock Options and Performance Stock Units –
pursuant to that certain Daseke, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Outstanding Equity Awards”);

 

WHEREAS,
Executive agreed to be bound by certain restrictive covenants in the Employment Agreement, which restrictive covenants remain enforceable
as provided herein; and

 

WHEREAS,
Executive and the Company wish to resolve all matters related to Executive’s employment with the Company and the cessation
thereof, on the terms and conditions expressed in this Agreement.

 

NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

1.              
Separation; Transition of Knowledge. Executive and the Company agree that, effective
as of December 31, 2020 (the “Separation Date”), Executive shall voluntarily resign from Executive’s position
as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and from any and all other positions, roles, offices, or titles held by Executive with,
at the direction of, or for the benefit of the Company and all subsidiaries of the Company, including, without limitation, Executive’s
role as director on the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). Without limiting Executive’s
obligations pursuant to Section 4(e), Executive agrees, for a period of sixty (60) days after the Separation Date, to provide the
Company and such personnel as it may designate from time to time with reasonable assistance in transferring Executive’s knowledge
in relation to the business and affairs of the Company to others at the Company, provided, however, that it is understood
that Executive’s obligations in this regard shall not require any regular nor material commitment of time, nor shall Executive
receive any additional remuneration beyond that set forth in this Agreement in connection with such assistance.

 

2.              
Payments and Benefits. 

 

a.            Accrued Rights.

 

(i)
        Salary and Accrued Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to payment of
Executive’s regular base salary earned through the Separation Date and, subject to the terms and conditions of any
benefit plans in which he may participate at the time of such termination, any post-employment benefits available pursuant to
the terms of those plans. The amounts paid in accordance with this Section 2(a) are gross amounts, subject to lawful
deductions, and will be paid in accordance with applicable law, and made payable in the ordinary course in accordance with
the Company’s regular payroll procedure. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive waives any claimed entitlement to
accrued but unused vacation.

 

     

     

    

 

(ii)             
Health Benefits. In accordance with the Company’s existing policies or at the Company’s discretion, Executive
will receive (or retain the benefit of) payment of the employer’s portion of Executive’s monthly group health plan
premiums through the Separation Date. Executive’s paid group health insurance benefits will continue through the Separation
Date. Following the Separation Date, Executive is entitled at Executive’s option to continue the Company’s group health
coverage for himself in accordance with the terms of the health insurance plan and the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act
of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”). Executive will receive additional information under separate cover regarding
Executive’s rights to continue coverage under the Company’s group health plan pursuant to COBRA.

 

(iii)           
No Other Compensation Due and Representations as to Taxation. Except as set forth herein, Executive agrees that Executive
is entitled to no other compensation or benefits from the Company, and that Executive shall not be entitled to receive any other
payment, benefit, or other form of compensation as a result of Executive’s employment or the cessation thereof, including,
but not limited to, sick time, personal time, vacation, bonus, expenses, equity interests, or severance or payments in lieu of
notice pursuant to the Employment Agreement. The Company makes no representations regarding the taxability or legal effect of the
payments or benefits described herein, and Executive is not relying on any statement or representation of the Company in this regard.
Executive will be solely responsible for the payment of any and all state, federal, and local taxes owed by him in connection the
payments or benefits provided hereunder; provided, however, that the Company shall comply with all applicable laws related to withholding
and depositing taxes on such payments or benefits.

 

b.           
Special Separation Compensation. In consideration of Executive’s undertakings set forth in this Agreement, and conditioned
upon Executive’s execution and delivery of this Agreement, and compliance with all terms of this Agreement and Sections 8-10
of the Employment Agreement:  

 

(i)          notwithstanding the termination of Executive’s employment prior to the end of the calendar year, and provided that Executive
signs and does not revoke the Supplemental Release attached hereto as Exhibit A during the time period specified therein, the Company
will pay Executive an annual bonus for 2020 in the gross amount of One-Million Four-Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($1,400,000.00)
on the first administratively practicable payroll date in January 2021 following the effectiveness of the Supplemental Release;
and

 

     

     

    

 

(ii)         in exchange for Executive’s waiver of any claim in relation to the unvested portion of the Outstanding Equity Awards, the
Company will make four equal payments to the Executive, each in the gross amount of Four-Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars
and No Cents ($475,000) on each of June 30, 2021, December 31, 2021, June 30, 2022, and December 31, 2022 (i.e. the aggregate
gross sum of such payments, if payable, is One Million Nine-Hundred Thousand Dollars).

 

The amounts to be paid
pursuant to this Section 2(b) are collectively referred to herein as the “Special Separation Compensation” and
are gross amounts that will be paid less all applicable withholdings and deductions. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall
not have any further obligation to pay any unpaid amounts of the Special Separation Compensation to Executive in the event that
Executive breaches his obligations pursuant to this Agreement, it being understood that, in the case of any dispute over the same,
any determination by the Company that Executive breached this Agreement shall be reviewed de novo by the arbitrator (in
accordance with Section 8 below).

 

c.            No Other Benefits or Payments Due. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the payments and benefits provided in this Agreement
exceed Executive’s entitlements from the Company, as of the date immediately preceding his entry into this Agreement, whether
under the Employment Agreement or in relation to the Outstanding Equity Awards or pursuant to any other agreement, plan or policy
of the Company, and, further that the Company has satisfied all obligations owed to Executive pursuant to Executive’s employment
with the Company and Executive’s participation in its benefit plans, and, except as set forth herein, that no additional
sums are currently owed by the Company or any of the other Releasees for any reason. 

 

d.            No Representations as to Taxation. The Company makes no representations regarding the taxability or legal effect of the
payments or benefits described herein, and Executive is not relying on any statement or representation of the Company in this regard.
Executive will be solely responsible for the payment of any and all state, federal, and local taxes owed by him in connection with
the Special Separation Compensation and any other payments or benefits provided hereunder; provided, however, that the Company
shall comply with all applicable laws related to withholding and depositing taxes on such payments or benefits.

 

3.            
Releases. 

 

a.            In
consideration of the payments and benefits (less all applicable withholdings) set forth in this Agreement, Executive, on
behalf of himself and his agents, spouse, heirs, executors, successors and assigns, knowingly and voluntarily releases,
remises, and forever discharges the Company, its parents, subsidiaries or Affiliates, together with all of the foregoing
entities’ respective current and former principals, officers, directors, partners, shareholders, agents,
representatives, attorneys, insurers, members, managers, and employees, and each of the above listed Person’s heirs,
executors, successors and assigns whether or not acting in his or her representative, individual or any other capacity
(collectively, the “Releasees”), to the fullest extent permitted by law, from any and all debts, demands,
actions, causes of actions, accounts, covenants, contracts, agreements, claims, damages, costs, expenses, omissions,
promises, and any and all claims and liabilities whatsoever, of every name and nature, known or unknown, suspected or
unsuspected, both in law and equity (“Claims”), which Executive ever had, now has, or may hereafter claim
to have against the Releasees, including but not limited to, those related to or arising from Executive’s employment
with the Company, the cessation thereof, the Employment Agreement, or any other matter, cause or thing whatsoever relating
thereto arising from the beginning of time to the date hereof (the “General Release”). The General Release
shall apply to any Claim of any type, including, without limitation, any Claims with respect to Executive’s entitlement
to any wages, bonuses, benefits, payments, or other forms of compensation; any claims of wrongful discharge, breach of
contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violation of public policy, defamation, personal injury, or
emotional distress; any Claims of any type that Executive may have arising under the common law; any Claims under Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (the
 “ADEA”), the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Family and
Medical Leave Act, the Executive Retirement Income Security Act, the Texas Human Rights Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act,
the federal Workers’ Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, each as amended; and any other
federal, state or local statutes, regulations, ordinances or common law, or under any policy, agreement, contract,
understanding or promise, written or oral, formal or informal, between any of the Releasees and Executive, and shall further
apply, without limitation, to any and all Claims in connection with, related to or arising out of Executive’s
employment relationship, or the termination of employment, with the Company or any Releasee and to any Claims for fraud or
fraud in the inducement or fraudulent misrepresentation in relation to any such matters.

 

     

     

    

 

b.                 
Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company and its Affiliates have
fully satisfied any and all obligations owed to him, and no further sums are owed to him by the Company or by any of the other
Releasees at any time. Executive represents and warrants that Executive has not filed any lawsuit or any proceeding, charge, complaint
or action asserting any claim released by this Agreement before any federal, state, or local administrative agency or court against
any Releasee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Agreement limits Executive’s ability to file a
charge or complaint with any federal, state or local governmental agency or commission (collectively, “Government Agencies”)
or limits Executive’s ability to provide information to or communicate with any Government Agencies or otherwise participate
in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any Government Agencies in connection with any charge or complaint,
whether filed by Executive, on his behalf, or by any other individual. However, to the maximum extent permitted by law, Executive
agrees that if such a charge or complaint is made, Executive shall not be entitled to recover any individual monetary relief or
other individual remedies. This Agreement does not limit or prohibit Executive’s right to receive an award for information
provided to any Government Agency to the extent that such limitation or prohibition is a violation of law. Executive also hereby
agrees that nothing contained in this Agreement shall constitute or be treated as an admission of liability or wrongdoing by any
of the Releasees.

 

c.                   Nothing
in this Section 3 shall be deemed to release (i) Executive’s right to enforce the terms of this Agreement, (ii) any
rights to indemnification (including pursuant to Section 14 of the Employment Agreement), or to coverage under the
Company’s or its Affiliates directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, (iii) Executive’s rights to
exercise his vested Non-Qualified Stock Options pursuant to the terms of the governing grant agreement(s), (iv) any Claim
that cannot be waived under applicable law, including any rights to workers’ compensation or unemployment insurance,
(v) unpaid salary earned through the Separation Date, (vi) reimbursement for business expenses incurred prior to the
Separation Date, (vii) rights to vested 401(k) benefits, or (viii) rights under COBRA.

 

     

     

    

 

d.                 
Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Releasees that Executive is the sole owner of any Claims that Executive
may now have or in the past had against any of the Releasees and that Executive has not assigned, transferred, or purported to
assign or transfer any such Claim to any Person or entity. Executive represents that Executive has suffered no work-related injuries
while providing services for the Company and represents Executive does not intend to file any claim for compensation for work-related
injury. Executive further represents that Executive has not filed any lawsuits or claims against any of the Releasees, or filed
any charges or complaints with any agency against any of the Releasees.

 

e.                  
The Company, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, successors and assigns, knowingly and voluntarily releases, remises,
and forever discharges Executive, his agents, spouse, heirs, executors, successors and assigns from any and all debts, demands,
actions, causes of actions, accounts, covenants, contracts, agreements, claims, damages, costs, expenses, omissions, promises,
and any and all claims and liabilities whatsoever, of every name and nature, both in law and equity, based on facts known by the
Board as of the Separation Date (or facts that the Board should have known upon reasonable inquiry) related to or arising from
Executive’s employment with the Company, the cessation thereof, and the Employment Agreement; provided, however,
that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to release Executive from any claim for, or based upon (i) fraud, (ii) breach
of fiduciary duty, (iii) willful or intentional misconduct amounting to a violation of securities laws, or (iv) any claims as to
which indemnification by the Company would be prohibited by applicable law.

 

4.            Covenants.
In consideration of the payments and benefits (less all applicable withholdings) set forth in this Agreement, and in exchange
for the provision of confidential information of the Company, Executive agrees to be bound by the following covenants:

 

a.                  
Prior Covenants. Executive acknowledges and affirms his restrictive covenants contained
in Sections 8-10 of the Employment Agreement and agrees that such covenants remain in full force and effect, are reasonable, enforceable,
and necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company, and agrees that he shall not commit any breach of the
same.

 

b.                  
Notice under Defend Trade Secrets Act. In accordance with the Defend Trade Secrets
Act of 2016, Executive will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure
of a trade secret that (x) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly,
or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (y) is made in
a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. In addition, nothing in
this Agreement shall limit Executive’s ability to communicate with any government agency or otherwise participate in any
investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any government agency, including providing documents or other information.

 

     

     

    

 

c.                  
 Return of Property. Executive represents and warrants that he has returned to the
Company all property of the Company in whatever form, including (i) all physical, computerized, electronic or other types of records,
documents, proposals, notes, lists, files and any and all other materials, including computerized and electronic information, that
refers, relates or otherwise pertains to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company (or business dealings thereof) that are in
Executive’s possession, subject to Executive’s control or held by Executive for others; and (ii) all property
or equipment that Executive has been issued by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company during the course of his employment
or property or equipment thereof that Executive otherwise possesses, including any vehicles, computers, cellular phones, pagers
and other devices. Executive acknowledges that he is not authorized to retain any physical, computerized, electronic or other types
of copies of any such physical, computerized, electronic or other types of records, documents, proposals, notes, lists, files or
materials, and is not authorized to retain any other property or equipment of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company. Executive
further agrees that Executive will immediately forward to the Company (and thereafter destroy any copies thereof) any property
or business information relating to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company that has been or is inadvertently directed to Executive
following Executive’s last day of employment, or that Executive discovers is within his possession. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Executive shall be entitled to retain such records as are necessary for preparation of his personal income tax returns and relating
to his benefit plan participation.

 

d.                  
No representative capacity. Executive acknowledges and agrees that he will not hold
himself out in dealings with any third-party as an agent or representative of the Company or any of its members, managers, or other
Affiliates.

 

e.                  
Cooperation. Executive agrees to cooperate in good faith with the Company (including
any Affiliate, the Board or any Committee thereof,) to assist it with any information or matter which is within Executive’s
knowledge and related to Executive’s involvement with the Company, including but not limited to being reasonably available
for interview(s) upon request by the Company’s attorneys, auditors, or accountants, or providing truthful testimony without
the necessity of a subpoena or compensation in any pending, threatened, or future legal matter in which the Company (or any Affiliate,
the Board or any Committee thereof) is a party or otherwise seeks to prosecute or defend its rights. The Company shall provide
Executive with prompt reimbursement for any reasonable travel and other direct expenses reasonably incurred (including, if applicable,
lost wages), to comply with his obligations under this Section 4(e), so long as Executive provides reasonable documentation of
such expenses and obtains the Company’s prior approval before incurring such expenses. Executive further agrees that he shall
not voluntarily cooperate with any person (other than a Government Agency) in any litigation, arbitration or other actual or contemplated
proceeding against the Company (or its Affiliates, its Board or any Committee thereof), including, without limitation, providing
information or assistance to such person, testifying voluntarily at the request of such person, making public statements in relation
to any such litigation, arbitration or other proceeding, or otherwise aiding such person against the Company (or its Affiliates,
its Board or any Committee thereof); provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit Executive from providing
truthful testimony when compelled by subpoena or other valid legal process.

 

     

     

    

 

f.                    Non-Disparagement.
Executive agrees that he will not, and will cause his Affiliates not to, disparage the Company, any Affiliate of the Company,
or any current or former director, officer, member, manager, or employee of the foregoing, in any way that would be
reasonably expected to materially and adversely affect the goodwill, reputation or business of the Company or its Affiliates
with the public generally, or with any of their respective customers, vendors or employees. The Company agrees to instruct
its directors and officers, and those of its subsidiaries, not to make any disparaging statements concerning Executive, and,
further, the Company shall not authorize, encourage or ratify any disparaging statement made by any person in violation of
its instruction and shall admonish and/or discipline any such person who violates the instruction. The foregoing shall not
prohibit either Party from making any truthful statements (i) to a government agency, (ii) in connection with securities
filings, (iii) in response to legal process, including as part of any testimony that Executive is compelled to offer, or (iv)
any disclosure that such Party reasonably believes, after consultation with outside counsel, is legally required by
applicable law.

 

g.                  
Insurance. The Company shall maintain in effect directors and officers liability insurance,
at no less than current coverage levels, covering Executive’s actions and inactions prior to the Separation Date in his role
as Chief Executive Officer and any other positions Executive may have held prior to the Separation Date as an officer of any of
the Company’s subsidiaries for a period of at least six years following the Separation Date.

 

h.                  
Enforcement. Notwithstanding Section 8, either party may make a timely application
for, and obtain, judicial emergency or temporary injunctive relief to enforce any of the provisions of this Section 4; provided,
however, that the remainder of any such dispute (beyond the application for emergency or temporary injunctive relief) shall
be subject to arbitration under Section 8.

 

5.            
Standstill. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, without the prior written
consent of the Company, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, take any of the actions set forth on Exhibit B hereto at any
time on or before December 31, 2022. Additionally, Executive agrees that, for a period of six years from the date of this Agreement,
he shall decline any nomination, election or appointment to serve on the Board.

 

6.             Consultation with Attorney: Voluntary Agreement. Executive understands and agrees that
he has the right and has been given the opportunity to review this Agreement and, specifically, the General Release in Section
3, with an attorney. Executive also understands and agrees that he is under no obligation to consent to the General Release set
forth in Section 3. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the payments set forth this Agreement are sufficient consideration to
require him to abide with his obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to the General Release in Section 3.
Executive represents that he has read this Agreement, including the General Release in Section 3 and understands its terms and
that he enters into this Agreement freely, voluntarily, and without coercion. Executive acknowledges that he (i) is not relying
upon any statements, understandings, representations, expectations, or agreements other than those expressly set forth in this
Agreement; (ii) has made his own investigation of the facts and is relying solely upon his own knowledge; and (iii) knowingly waives
any claim that this Agreement was induced by any misrepresentation or nondisclosure and any right to rescind or avoid this Agreement
based upon presently existing facts, known or unknown.

 

     

     

    

 

7.             Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced under and be governed
in all respects by the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule that
would require application of a different jurisdiction’s law.

 

8.             Dispute
Resolution. Notwithstanding the sole exception to this Section 8 as provided in Section 4(h), any and all disputes relating
to or arising from this Agreement (including but not limited to the arbitrability thereof), Executive’s employment with
the Company, the Employment Agreement, or any of the Claims released hereunder, shall be settled by binding confidential arbitration
in accordance with the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) Employment Arbitration Rules or any successor
provision thereto, as follows: Any party aggrieved will deliver a notice to the other party setting forth the specific points
in dispute. Any points remaining in dispute fourteen (14) days after the giving of such notice may be submitted to AAA arbitration
conducted before a single neutral arbitrator in Dallas County, Texas, admitted to practice law in Texas for a minimum of fifteen
(15) years and who is a former judge. The arbitrator shall be appointed by agreement of the parties hereto or, if no agreement
can be reached, by AAA. The arbitrator may enter a default decision against any party who fails to participate in the arbitration
proceedings. The decision of the arbitrator on the points in dispute will be final, unappealable and binding, and judgment on
the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The parties agree that this provision has been adopted by the
parties to rapidly and inexpensively resolve any disputes between them and that this provision will be grounds for dismissal of
any court action commenced by either party with respect to this Agreement, other than post-arbitration actions seeking to enforce
an arbitration award or proceedings seeking equitable relief as permitted by Section 4(h) of this Agreement. In the event that
any court determines that this arbitration procedure is not binding, or otherwise allows any litigation regarding a dispute, claim,
or controversy covered by this Agreement to proceed, the parties hereby waive any and all right to a trial by jury in or with
respect to such litigation. Each party will bear its own expenses and the fees of its own attorneys. The arbitration shall be
conducted on a confidential basis, and the parties shall not disclose the existence of any dispute hereunder or the nature of
any claim, or any documents, testimony, evidence or information exchanged or presented in connection with the arbitration proceeding,
or any rulings or decisions or results of the arbitrator, to any Person, except his advisors and legal representatives, or as
may be required by law or to enforce in court an arbitrator’s award. Executive acknowledges that arbitration pursuant to
this Agreement includes all controversies or claims of any kind (e.g., whether in contract or in tort, statutory or common law,
legal or equitable) now existing or hereafter arising under any federal, state, local or foreign law, including, but not limited
to, the ADEA, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Executive Retirement Income Security
Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and all similar federal, state and local laws, and
Executive hereby waives all rights thereunder to have a judicial tribunal and/or a jury determine such claims.

 

9.             Public
Announcement. The Company and Executive agree that the Company shall issue a press release announcing Executive’s retirement
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

10.           Entire
Agreement. This Agreement, together with Executive’s surviving obligations in Sections 8-10 of the Employment
Agreement as described herein, constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
and supersede all prior agreements between the Parties with respect to such matters, unless specifically provided otherwise
herein. Executive agrees that he is not relying on any representations outside this Agreement. The Parties agree that
the Employment Agreement (except as expressly provided herein) is superseded by this Agreement and of no further force or
effect.

 

     

     

    

 

11.           Amendment.
This Agreement may be modified or amended only by a written instrument signed by Executive and an officer of the
Company.

 

12.           Waiver.
No waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the waiving Party. The failure of either
Party to require the performance of any term or obligation of this Agreement, or the waiver by either Party of any breach of this
Agreement, shall not prevent any subsequent enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach.

 

13.           Successors
and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company and each of its successors and assigns. In the event
of Executive’s death, the Company shall pay any unpaid Special Severance Consideration to Executive’s estate. Executive
shall not assign this Agreement or any part hereof other than by will or the laws of intestacy. Any other purported assignment
by Executive shall be null and void from the initial date of the purported assignment.

 

14.           Drafting. This Agreement and the provisions contained in it shall not be construed
or interpreted for or against either party because that party drafted or caused that party’s legal representative to draft
any of its provisions.

 

15.           Headings.
Descriptive headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall be disregarded in construing or applying any
provision of this Agreement.

 

16.           Certain
Definitions. 

 

a.                  
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such other Person, where “control” (including, with
correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to cause the direction of management or policies of such Person, whether through
the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

b.                  
“beneficially own”, “beneficially owned” and “beneficially
ownership” shall have the same meanings as set forth in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange
Act.

 

c.                  
“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited partnership, general
partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, joint venture, corporation, unincorporated
organization, association, company, trust, group or other entity or any governmental or political subdivision or any agency, department
or instrumentality thereof.

 

17.           Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and both of which, taken together,
shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be executed and delivered by exchange of facsimile or other electronic
means of transmitting signature, and such signatures shall be considered an original for purposes of enforcement of the
Agreement.

 

     

     

    

 

18.           Legal Fees. The Company shall promptly, and in all events within 30 days following
the date Executive submits invoices therefor, pay directly or reimburse Executive for all reasonable fees of Locke Lord LLP incurred
in connection with his termination of employment and the negotiation of this Agreement, provided that such fees shall not exceed
$20,000 in the aggregate.

 

19.           Compliance
with Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, to the maximum extent permitted by
applicable law, amounts payable to Executive pursuant this Agreement are intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”) to the maximum extent possible as short-term deferrals pursuant
to Treasury regulation §1.409A-1(b)(4) and otherwise comply with Section 409A. Each payment under this Agreement is intended
to be a “separate payment” and not a series of payments for purposes of Section 409A. Any payments or reimbursements
of any expenses provided for under this Agreement shall be made in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv). The
Parties acknowledge and agree that Executive’s termination of employment on the Separation Date constitutes a “separation
from service” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h). The Company and Executive intend that their exercise
of authority or discretion under this Agreement shall comply with Section 409A. If any provision of this Agreement does not satisfy
the requirements of Section 409A, such provision shall nevertheless be applied in a manner consistent with those requirements.
All references in this Agreement to Section 409A include rules, regulations, and guidance of general application issued by the
Department of the Treasury under Section 409A. 

 

[Signature
page follows]

 

     

     

    

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been
duly executed as of the dates written below.

 	 	 
	Dated: December 30, 2020	/s/
    Christopher R. Easter
	 	Christopher R. Easter
	 	 
	Dated: December 30, 2020	Daseke, Inc.
	 	 
	 	By: 	 /s/ Soumit Roy             

 

	 	Name:	Soumit Roy

 

	 	Title: 	 Secretary

 

     

     

    

 

EXHIBIT
A

SUPPLEMENTAL
RELEASE

TO BE EXECUTED UP TO 21 DAYS AFTER
THE SEPARATION AGREEMENT

 

By
his signature below, Christopher R. Easter (“Executive”) hereby releases and forever discharges as of the date hereof
Daseke, Inc. and the Releasees as set forth herein. Capitalized undefined terms used in this Supplemental Release shall have the
meaning ascribed to them in the Separation Agreement between Executive and the Company (the “Separation Agreement”).
The Releasees are intended to be third-party beneficiaries of this Supplemental Release, and this Supplemental Release may be enforced
by each of them in accordance with the terms hereof in respect of the rights granted to such Releasees hereunder. Executive agrees
as follows:

 

1.                 
Executive understands that the payment specified in Section 2(b)(i) of the Separation Agreement represents, in part, consideration
for signing this Supplemental Release, and is not salary, wages or benefits to which he was already entitled. Executive understands
and agrees that he will not receive the payment specified in Section 2(b)(i) of the Separation Agreement unless he executes this
Supplemental Release within twenty-one (21) days after his execution of the Separation Agreement.

 

2.                  Except
as provided in Paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of this Supplemental Release, in consideration of the payments and benefits (less all
applicable withholdings) set forth in the Separation Agreement, Executive, on behalf of himself and his agents, spouse,
heirs, executors, successors and assigns, knowingly and voluntarily releases, remises, and forever discharges the Company,
its parents, subsidiaries or Affiliates, together with all of the foregoing entities’ respective current and former
principals, officers, directors, partners, shareholders, agents, representatives, attorneys, insurers, members, managers, and
employees, and each of the above listed Person’s heirs, executors, successors and assigns whether or not acting in his
or her representative, individual or any other capacity (collectively, the “Releasees”), to the fullest extent
permitted by law, from any and all debts, demands, actions, causes of actions, accounts, covenants, contracts, agreements,
claims, damages, costs, expenses, omissions, promises, and any and all claims and liabilities whatsoever, of every name and
nature, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, both in law and equity (“Claims”), which Executive ever had,
now has, or may hereafter claim to have against the Releasees, including but not limited to, those related to or arising from
Executive’s employment with the Company, the cessation thereof, the Employment Agreement, or any other matter, cause or
thing whatsoever relating thereto arising from the beginning of time to the date hereof. The foregoing release shall apply to
any Claim of any type, including, without limitation, any Claims with respect to Executive’s entitlement to any wages,
bonuses, benefits, payments, or other forms of compensation; any claims of wrongful discharge, breach of contract, breach of
the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violation of public policy, defamation, personal injury, or emotional distress;
any Claims of any type that Executive may have arising under the common law; any Claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (the “ADEA”), the
Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Executive
Retirement Income Security Act, the Texas Human Rights Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the federal Workers’
Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, each as amended; and any other federal, state or local
statutes, regulations, ordinances or common law, or under any policy, agreement, contract, understanding or promise, written
or oral, formal or informal, between any of the Releasees and Executive, and shall further apply, without limitation, to any
and all Claims in connection with, related to or arising out of Executive’s employment relationship, or the termination
of employment, with the Company or any Releasee and to any Claims for fraud or fraud in the inducement or fraudulent
misrepresentation in relation to any such matters.

 

     

     

    

 

3.                 
Executive represents and warrants that Executive has not filed any lawsuit or any proceeding, charge, complaint or action
asserting any claim released by this Supplemental Release before any federal, state, or local administrative agency or court against
any Releasee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Supplemental Release limits Executive’s ability to
file a charge or complaint with any federal, state or local governmental agency or commission (collectively, “Government
Agencies”) or limits Executive’s ability to provide information to or communicate with any Government Agencies or otherwise
participate in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any Government Agencies in connection with any charge or
complaint, whether filed by Executive, on his behalf, or by any other individual. However, to the maximum extent permitted by law,
Executive agrees that if such a charge or complaint is made, Executive shall not be entitled to recover any individual monetary
relief or other individual remedies. This Supplemental Release does not limit or prohibit Executive’s right to receive an
award for information provided to any Government Agency to the extent that such limitation or prohibition is a violation of law.
Executive also hereby agrees that nothing contained in this Supplemental Release shall constitute or be treated as an admission
of liability or wrongdoing by any of the Releasees.

 

4.                 
This Supplemental Release includes a release of claims for age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act of 1967 (the “ADEA”). In accordance with the ADEA, Executive acknowledges that the ADEA requires that he be advised
to consult with an attorney before he waives any claim under the ADEA, and Executive recognizes that, by the Separation Agreement
and Supplemental Release, he has been so advised. In addition, the ADEA allows Executive 21 days to decide whether to waive claims
under the ADEA, although he is not required to wait the entire 21 days if he chooses to accept sooner. Under the ADEA, Executive
has seven days after signing this Supplemental Release to revoke the waiver, as described further herein. If Executive does not
revoke this Supplemental Release during the seven-day revocation period, then it shall become effective on the eighth day after
he signs it. If Executive elects to revoke this Supplemental Release during the seven-day revocation period, such revocation must
be in writing and, within seven (7) days of the date upon which this Supplemental Release was signed by him, personally delivered
or emailed to the Company, ATTN: Soumit Ray, General Counsel, at soumit@daseke.com. Executive agrees that this Supplemental Release
does not waive or release any rights or claims that he may have which arise after the date he executes this Supplemental Release.

 

5.                  Nothing
in this Supplemental Release shall be deemed to release (i) Executive’s right to enforce the terms of the Separation
Agreement, (ii) any rights to indemnification (including pursuant to Section 14 of the Employment Agreement), or to coverage
under the Company’s or its Affiliates directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, (iii) Executive’s
rights to exercise his vested Non-Qualified Stock Options pursuant to the terms of the governing grant agreement(s), (iv) any
Claim that cannot be waived under applicable law, including any rights to workers’ compensation or unemployment
insurance, (v) unpaid salary earned through the Separation Date, (vi) reimbursement for business expenses incurred
prior to the Separation Date, (vii) rights to vested 401(k) benefits, or (viii) rights under COBRA.

 

     

     

    

 

6.                 
Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Releasees that Executive is the sole owner of any Claims that Executive
may now have or in the past had against any of the Releasees and that Executive has not assigned, transferred, or purported to
assign or transfer any such Claim to any Person or entity. Executive represents that Executive has suffered no work-related injuries
while providing services for the Company and represents Executive does not intend to file any claim for compensation for work-related
injury. Executive further represents that Executive has not filed any lawsuits or claims against any of the Releasees, or filed
any charges or complaints with any agency against any of the Releasees. Executive represents that he has not reported any alleged
improper conduct or activity to the Company or any of its Affiliates; that he has no knowledge of any such conduct or activity;
and that he has not been retaliated against for reporting any allegations of wrongdoing by the Company or any of its Affiliates

 

7.                 
Executive acknowledges that this Supplemental Release, together with the Separation Agreement, represents the settlement
of any and all claims and potential claims that Executive may have against the Releasees. Executive accepts the Separation Agreement
and this Supplemental Release as being in full and complete accord, satisfaction, compromise, and settlement of any and all such
claims or potential claims and expressly agrees that he is not entitled to and shall not receive any further payment or recovery
of any kind from the Company, and that the Company shall have no further monetary or other obligation of any kind to Executive,
including any further obligation for any costs, expenses, and attorneys’ fees except as provided in the Separation Agreement.

 

BY SIGNING
THIS SUPPLEMENTAL RELEASE, I REPRESENT AND AGREE THAT:

 

		·	I HAVE READ IT CAREFULLY AND VOLUNTARILY
CONSENT TO EVERYTHING IN IT;

 

		·	I UNDERSTAND ALL OF ITS TERMS AND KNOW THAT
I AM GIVING UP IMPORTANT RIGHTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RIGHTS UNDER THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1967, AS
AMENDED, TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, AS AMENDED; THE EQUAL PAY ACT OF 1963, THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
OF 1990; AND THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED;

 

		·	I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY
BEFORE EXECUTING IT AND I HAVE DONE SO OR, AFTER CAREFUL READING AND CONSIDERATION, I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO DO SO OF MY OWN VOLITION;

 

		·	I HAVE BEEN AFFORDED 21 DAYS FROM THE DATE
OF MY RECEIPT OF THIS SUPPLEMENTAL RELEASE TO CONSIDER IT AND TO THE EXTENT I SIGN IT PRIOR TO THE END OF SUCH PERIOD, I AM DOING
SO VOLUNTARILY;

 

     

     

    

 

		·	I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE SEVEN (7) DAYS AFTER
THE EXECUTION OF THIS SUPPLEMENTAL RELEASE TO REVOKE IT AND THAT THIS SUPPLEMENTAL RELEASE SHALL NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE OR ENFORCEABLE
UNTIL THE REVOCATION PERIOD HAS EXPIRED;

 

		·	I AGREE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUPPLEMENTAL
RELEASE MAY NOT BE AMENDED, WAIVED, CHANGED OR MODIFIED EXCEPT BY AN INSTRUMENT IN WRITING SIGNED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE COMPANY AND BY ME.

 

	SIGNED:                                                         	DATE:                                 
	               CHRISTOPHER R. EASTER	 

 

     

     

    

 

EXHIBIT B

 

STANDSTILL
RESTRICTIONS

 

(a)              
acquire or offer to acquire, agree to acquire or acquire rights to acquire, directly or indirectly, whether by purchase,
tender or exchange offer, through the acquisition of control of another person, by joining a group, through swap or hedging transactions
or otherwise, beneficial ownership of any voting securities of the Company or any voting rights decoupled from the underlying voting
securities of the Company;

 

(b)              
(i) nominate, recommend for nomination, give notice of an intent to nominate or recommend for nomination a person,
or consent to be nominated, for election at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company, or any action by written
consent of the Company’s stockholders in lieu thereof, and any adjournment, postponement, rescheduling or continuation thereof
(each, a “Stockholder Meeting”) at which the Company’s directors are to be elected; (ii) initiate, encourage
or participate in, or support, any solicitation of proxies with respect to any Stockholder Meeting;
(iii) submit, initiate, encourage or make any stockholder proposal for consideration at, or bring any other business before, any
Stockholder Meeting; or (iv) initiate, encourage or participate in any “withhold” or
similar campaign with respect to any Stockholder Meeting;

 

(c)              
form, join or participate in any group with respect to any voting securities of the Company or deposit any voting
securities of the Company in any voting trust or subject any Company voting securities to any arrangement or agreement with respect
to the voting thereof;

 

(d)              
demand an inspection of the Company’s books and records;

 

(e)              
(i) make any public or private proposal with respect to, (ii) make any public statement or otherwise knowingly publicly
or privately encourage, advise or assist any person with respect to or (iii) knowingly initiate or in any way participate in, directly
or indirectly: (A) any change in the number or term of directors serving on the Board or the filling of any vacancies on the Board,
(B) any amendment to, or waiver of, any provision of the Company’s Charter or By-Laws or this Agreement, (C) any change in
the capitalization or dividend policy of the Company, (D) any other change in the Company’s management, business, operations,
strategy, governance, corporate structure, agreements, affairs or policies or (E) any tender offer, exchange offer, merger, acquisition,
business combination or other transaction involving the Company;

 

(f)               
take any action challenging the validity or enforceability of this Exhibit B or the Agreement (other than
a proceeding challenging the enforceability of Executive’s release of ADEA claims provided for in Exhibit A to the Agreement).

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